Questions on Act III of A Doll’s House
1. (a) What draws Mrs. Linde and Krogstad back to each other ? (b) Do these two characters have more in common than Nora and Torvald do ? Explain. (c) How does Nora’s and Torvald’s situation contrast with Mrs. Linde’s and Krogstad’s situation at the end of the play ?
2. Why does Mrs. Linde tell Krogstad not to ask for his letter back ?
3. After Nora and Torvald return from the party, why does Nora tell Torvald to « go away » and « leave [her] alone » ?
4. (a) How would you describe Torvald’s reaction to the news that Rank is going to die ? (b) What does Torvald’s reaction reveal about his personality ?
5. (a) What is ironic about Torvald’s comment that now that Rank is gone, he and Nora will be « thrown back on each other completely » ? (b) What other examples of irony can you find in his comments to Nora ?
6. How does Rank’s demise parallel the collapse of Nora and Torvald’s marriage ?
7. When Torvald asks Nora if she understands what she has done, she responds, « Yes. I’m beginning to understand everything now. » What is it that she is actually beginning to understand ?
8. (a) What does Torvald’s response to the letter reveal about the true nature of his feelings for Nora ? (b) What conclusions do you draw about him based on this response ?
9. (a) How does Torvald’s reaction to the note along with the immediate shift in his attitude following the receipt of the second note expose him as a hypocrite ? (b) Why is Nora unmoved by Torvald’s declaration that he has forgiven her ?
10. Explain whether you think that Torvald truly understands Nora’s reasons for leaving.
11. How does the play’s title relate to Nora’s explanation of her decision to leave Torvald and the children ?
12. When this play was first performed, the people in the audience were stunned by Nora’s decision to leave her husband and children, since it puts her duty to her family second to her responsibility to herself. (a) Do you agree with her decision ? Why or why not ? (b) Do you think that her decision is as shocking today as when the play was first performed ? Explain.
18 September 2009
15 September 2009
QUESTIONS ON ACT II: A DOLL’S HOUSE
1. How does the condition of the Christmas tree at the beginning of the second act relate to the developments in the characters’ lives?
2. (a) What is the significance of Nora’s openly questioning whether her children would forget her if she were “gone for good”? (b) What later event might her question foreshadow or hint at?
3. What later event might be foreshadowed by Dr. Rank’s comment: “Those who go away are soon forgotten”?
4. (a) In what way does Dr. Rank’s condition parallel Nora’s situation? (b) (b) How does Rank’s condition parallel Krogstad’s situation? (c) What options are available to Nora and Krogstad that are unavailable to Rank?
5. (a) How would you characterize Nora’s relationship with Dr. Rank? (b) How would you describe her relationship with Anne-Marie? (c) What do Rank and Anne-Marie offer her that her husband does not?
6. (a) What is the significance of the fact that it begins to get dark during Nora’s conversation with Rank? (b) What does the lamp that the maid brings into the room symbolize or represent?
7. Why does Nora cover her ears when Rank speaks of suffering for the sins of his father?
8. Why does Nora decide not to ask Rank for the money?
9. (a) What is Krogstad’s attitude toward Torvald? (b) How is his attitude conveyed?
10.What is ironic about Torvald’s comment that Nora dances “as
If her life were at stake”?
11.What might be the “miracle” for which Nora says she is
waiting? Explain your answer.
12.What do you think that you might learn about personal
relationships from the problems facing Nora and Torvald?
13.(a) For which characters in the play do you have the most
sympathy? Why? (b) Which characters do you find dis-
tasteful ? Why?
14.How do you react to Nora’s comment that “there are some people that one loves most and other people that one would almost
prefer to be with”? Explain.
1. How does the condition of the Christmas tree at the beginning of the second act relate to the developments in the characters’ lives?
2. (a) What is the significance of Nora’s openly questioning whether her children would forget her if she were “gone for good”? (b) What later event might her question foreshadow or hint at?
3. What later event might be foreshadowed by Dr. Rank’s comment: “Those who go away are soon forgotten”?
4. (a) In what way does Dr. Rank’s condition parallel Nora’s situation? (b) (b) How does Rank’s condition parallel Krogstad’s situation? (c) What options are available to Nora and Krogstad that are unavailable to Rank?
5. (a) How would you characterize Nora’s relationship with Dr. Rank? (b) How would you describe her relationship with Anne-Marie? (c) What do Rank and Anne-Marie offer her that her husband does not?
6. (a) What is the significance of the fact that it begins to get dark during Nora’s conversation with Rank? (b) What does the lamp that the maid brings into the room symbolize or represent?
7. Why does Nora cover her ears when Rank speaks of suffering for the sins of his father?
8. Why does Nora decide not to ask Rank for the money?
9. (a) What is Krogstad’s attitude toward Torvald? (b) How is his attitude conveyed?
10.What is ironic about Torvald’s comment that Nora dances “as
If her life were at stake”?
11.What might be the “miracle” for which Nora says she is
waiting? Explain your answer.
12.What do you think that you might learn about personal
relationships from the problems facing Nora and Torvald?
13.(a) For which characters in the play do you have the most
sympathy? Why? (b) Which characters do you find dis-
tasteful ? Why?
14.How do you react to Nora’s comment that “there are some people that one loves most and other people that one would almost
prefer to be with”? Explain.
12 September 2009
ACT 1: A Doll's House
Students,
Don't forget to print out the remaining questions on Act 1 for Monday's class!
Don't forget to print out the remaining questions on Act 1 for Monday's class!
11 September 2009
On Themes...
Recognizing Themes
A Doll’s House is an example of a literary work with numerous possible themes. To be considered valid, each of these possible themes must be supported by evidence in the play. For example, the idea that the play is an expression of the need for women to escape from the confinement and restriction that they faced in nineteenth-century European society is supported by the condescending manner in which Torvald treats Nora and by his frequent references to the respective roles of men and women.
Questions :
1. What evidence in the play supports the theme concerning the characteristics of a successful marriage ?
2. What evidence supports the theme that society and authority hinder the development of individuality ?
3. What evidence suggests that the play is about « the struggle which all serious-minded human beings have to wage with themselves to bring their lives into harmony with their convictions » ?
4. What theme does the play convey concerning the role of morality in people’s lives, and how is this theme conveyed ?
A Doll’s House is an example of a literary work with numerous possible themes. To be considered valid, each of these possible themes must be supported by evidence in the play. For example, the idea that the play is an expression of the need for women to escape from the confinement and restriction that they faced in nineteenth-century European society is supported by the condescending manner in which Torvald treats Nora and by his frequent references to the respective roles of men and women.
Questions :
1. What evidence in the play supports the theme concerning the characteristics of a successful marriage ?
2. What evidence supports the theme that society and authority hinder the development of individuality ?
3. What evidence suggests that the play is about « the struggle which all serious-minded human beings have to wage with themselves to bring their lives into harmony with their convictions » ?
4. What theme does the play convey concerning the role of morality in people’s lives, and how is this theme conveyed ?
Notes continued...
NOTES AND QUESTIONS ON CHARACTERIZATION
In modern dramas, such as A Doll’s House, characters are generally developed through dialogue, action, and physical appearance. Although they may be regarded as an element of a character’s appearance of behavior, it is worth noting that personal possessions, such as Nora’s macaroons, may also play a minor role in character development.
1. What is revealed about Torvald’s personality through his explanation of his decision to fire Krogstad and his refusal to reconsider his decision?
2. What seems to be Torvald’s main concern in life? Support your answer.
3. How does Torvald’s main concern contrast with Nora’s primary concern?
4. How would you characterize Nora based on her comments and actions in the first acts?
5. (a) How would you characterize Dr. Rank? (b) How is his personality conveyed?
Predictions
After reading the first two acts of A Doll’s House, make predictions about the outcome of the play based on what you have already learned about the characters and their situations. Support your predictions with details from the first two acts.
1. How will Torvald react if he reads Krogstad’s letter?
2. How will Torvald’s reaction affect Nora and Torvald’s marriage?
3. What will become of Dr. Rank?
4. What will become of Krogstad and Mrs. Linde?
Appropriate Diction
In realistic drama, the diction, or the writer’s choice of words, must be appropriate for the characters. For example, it would be inappropriate to have uneducated people speak in elaborate, elevated language. However, this type of language would be suitable for a group of scholars.
1. How would you describe the language used by the characters in A Doll’s House?
2. Explain why this type of language is appropriate for these characters.
3. How does the language used add to the realism of the play?
In modern dramas, such as A Doll’s House, characters are generally developed through dialogue, action, and physical appearance. Although they may be regarded as an element of a character’s appearance of behavior, it is worth noting that personal possessions, such as Nora’s macaroons, may also play a minor role in character development.
1. What is revealed about Torvald’s personality through his explanation of his decision to fire Krogstad and his refusal to reconsider his decision?
2. What seems to be Torvald’s main concern in life? Support your answer.
3. How does Torvald’s main concern contrast with Nora’s primary concern?
4. How would you characterize Nora based on her comments and actions in the first acts?
5. (a) How would you characterize Dr. Rank? (b) How is his personality conveyed?
Predictions
After reading the first two acts of A Doll’s House, make predictions about the outcome of the play based on what you have already learned about the characters and their situations. Support your predictions with details from the first two acts.
1. How will Torvald react if he reads Krogstad’s letter?
2. How will Torvald’s reaction affect Nora and Torvald’s marriage?
3. What will become of Dr. Rank?
4. What will become of Krogstad and Mrs. Linde?
Appropriate Diction
In realistic drama, the diction, or the writer’s choice of words, must be appropriate for the characters. For example, it would be inappropriate to have uneducated people speak in elaborate, elevated language. However, this type of language would be suitable for a group of scholars.
1. How would you describe the language used by the characters in A Doll’s House?
2. Explain why this type of language is appropriate for these characters.
3. How does the language used add to the realism of the play?
More Notes
CHARACTERIZATION IN DRAMA
Characterization is the means by which a writer reveals a character’s personality. In a work of fiction, a character may be developed through a variety of different methods, including direct statements about the character’s personality and insights into the character’s thoughts and feelings. Similarly, the verse dramas written before Ibsen’s time often included soliloquies in which characters revealed their innermost thoughts directly to the audience. In contrast, realistic dramas generally do not include soliloquies, because in real life people rarely recite their thoughts aloud. As a result, characters in a realistic drama must be developed through physical appearances, comments, and actions and through other characters’ remarks about them. Everything the audiemce learns about the characters, including their names and occupations, must be revealed through the characters’ comments, actions, and appearances. Yet the dialogue cannot be written with the sole intention of conveying details about the characters. Instead, the dialogue must seem natural and realistic, as if it were taken from real-life conversations.
Characterization is the means by which a writer reveals a character’s personality. In a work of fiction, a character may be developed through a variety of different methods, including direct statements about the character’s personality and insights into the character’s thoughts and feelings. Similarly, the verse dramas written before Ibsen’s time often included soliloquies in which characters revealed their innermost thoughts directly to the audience. In contrast, realistic dramas generally do not include soliloquies, because in real life people rarely recite their thoughts aloud. As a result, characters in a realistic drama must be developed through physical appearances, comments, and actions and through other characters’ remarks about them. Everything the audiemce learns about the characters, including their names and occupations, must be revealed through the characters’ comments, actions, and appearances. Yet the dialogue cannot be written with the sole intention of conveying details about the characters. Instead, the dialogue must seem natural and realistic, as if it were taken from real-life conversations.
Act I, A DOLL'S HOUSE
Questions on Act I of A Doll’s House
1. Torvald refers to Nora by such names as his « little lark, » his « squirrel, » and the « little spendthrift. » (a) What does his use of these names suggest about his attitude about her ? Explain. (b) What seems to be Torvald’s attitude toward women in general, and how is his attitude revealed ?
2. What else is revealed about Torvald’s personality in the opening scene, and how is it revealed ?
3. Considering what Nora reveals to Mrs. Linde later in the act, what is ironic or surprising about Torvald’s comments concerning Nora’s management of money ?
4. (a) How would you characterize Nora and Torvald’s relationship based on their interactions in the opening scene ? Support your characterization with details. (b) What details in the first act indicate that Nora and Torvald do not know each other very well ? (c) Considering the true nature of Nora and Torvald’s relationship, what is ironic about her comment that if he found out her secret, it « would just ruin their relationship » ?
5. (a) What aspects of Nora’s personality are revealed in the information that she reveals to Mrs. Linde ? How do these aspects of her personality contrast with the impression that she conveys to her husband ?
6. Krogstad arrives just as Nora is commenting that « it is marvelous to live and be happy ! » (a) What is the signifiance of his timing ? (b) How do Nora’s actions following Krogstad’s arrival reveal that she is nervous ?
7. When the children appear at the door, Torvald comments that this place is unbearable now for anyone but mothers. » (a) What does this comment suggest about his attitude toward his children ? (b) What do Nora’s interactions with her children suggest about her relationship with them ?
8. (a) What aspects of Krogstad’s personality are revealed through his interactions with Nora, and how are they revealed ? (b) What seems to have been the nature of his previous relationship with Mrs. Linde ? (c) What details in the first act hint at the nature of the relationship ?
9. (a) What do Torvald’s comments about morality reveal about his character ? (b) How do his comments relate to Nora’s situation ? (c) What are the implications of his comments on her situation ?
10. How and why did your impression of Nora change throughout the course of the first act ?
11. Given the behavior of the characters during the first act, what differences can you see between our society and the society depicted in the play ?
12. It has been said that people who live their lives to please others never find real happiness. Do you agree or disagree ? Explain your answer.
13. Explain whether you think that the situation depicted in the play seems like something that would occur in real life.
14. Explain how the detailed set described in Ibsen’s stage directions contributes to the play’s realisitic quality.
15. Nora’s beloved macaroons are an example of the type of minute details that Ibsen often included in his plays. How does this inclusion of the macaroons contribute to the development of both Nora’s and Torvald’s character and add to the play’s realism ?
16. Find a passage of dialogue that you find especially realistic. Then explain how this passage resembles a real-life conversation.
1. Torvald refers to Nora by such names as his « little lark, » his « squirrel, » and the « little spendthrift. » (a) What does his use of these names suggest about his attitude about her ? Explain. (b) What seems to be Torvald’s attitude toward women in general, and how is his attitude revealed ?
2. What else is revealed about Torvald’s personality in the opening scene, and how is it revealed ?
3. Considering what Nora reveals to Mrs. Linde later in the act, what is ironic or surprising about Torvald’s comments concerning Nora’s management of money ?
4. (a) How would you characterize Nora and Torvald’s relationship based on their interactions in the opening scene ? Support your characterization with details. (b) What details in the first act indicate that Nora and Torvald do not know each other very well ? (c) Considering the true nature of Nora and Torvald’s relationship, what is ironic about her comment that if he found out her secret, it « would just ruin their relationship » ?
5. (a) What aspects of Nora’s personality are revealed in the information that she reveals to Mrs. Linde ? How do these aspects of her personality contrast with the impression that she conveys to her husband ?
6. Krogstad arrives just as Nora is commenting that « it is marvelous to live and be happy ! » (a) What is the signifiance of his timing ? (b) How do Nora’s actions following Krogstad’s arrival reveal that she is nervous ?
7. When the children appear at the door, Torvald comments that this place is unbearable now for anyone but mothers. » (a) What does this comment suggest about his attitude toward his children ? (b) What do Nora’s interactions with her children suggest about her relationship with them ?
8. (a) What aspects of Krogstad’s personality are revealed through his interactions with Nora, and how are they revealed ? (b) What seems to have been the nature of his previous relationship with Mrs. Linde ? (c) What details in the first act hint at the nature of the relationship ?
9. (a) What do Torvald’s comments about morality reveal about his character ? (b) How do his comments relate to Nora’s situation ? (c) What are the implications of his comments on her situation ?
10. How and why did your impression of Nora change throughout the course of the first act ?
11. Given the behavior of the characters during the first act, what differences can you see between our society and the society depicted in the play ?
12. It has been said that people who live their lives to please others never find real happiness. Do you agree or disagree ? Explain your answer.
13. Explain whether you think that the situation depicted in the play seems like something that would occur in real life.
14. Explain how the detailed set described in Ibsen’s stage directions contributes to the play’s realisitic quality.
15. Nora’s beloved macaroons are an example of the type of minute details that Ibsen often included in his plays. How does this inclusion of the macaroons contribute to the development of both Nora’s and Torvald’s character and add to the play’s realism ?
16. Find a passage of dialogue that you find especially realistic. Then explain how this passage resembles a real-life conversation.
Act I, A DOLL'S HOUSE
REALISM
The movement towards realism in the theater occurred in the second half of the nineteenth century.
Realism began as a reaction to the excessively contrived, sentimental, and didactic melodramas that dominated drama in nineteenth-century Europe and America.
Realism began in Europe with playwrights like Ibsen, Strindberg, and Shaw, reaching America a few years later where it found its fullest American expression in Eugene O’Neill.
Realists take a mimetic approach to theater, striving to create the illusion of everyday life on stage, with the audience’s eavesdropping on a slice of life.
Realists tend to depict the middle, lower, and lower-middle classes : their work, family life, language, dress, and problems.
They prefer contemporary settings.
In a direct response to melodrama, realists strive to create complex characters, to make internal conflict as dramatic as external conflict.
They prefer the open ending, which does not resolve all the play’s questions and sometimes leaves in doubt the future of the protagonist. The resolution or denouement is generally short in realistic dramas and virtually non-existent sometimes.
The movement towards realism in the theater occurred in the second half of the nineteenth century.
Realism began as a reaction to the excessively contrived, sentimental, and didactic melodramas that dominated drama in nineteenth-century Europe and America.
Realism began in Europe with playwrights like Ibsen, Strindberg, and Shaw, reaching America a few years later where it found its fullest American expression in Eugene O’Neill.
Realists take a mimetic approach to theater, striving to create the illusion of everyday life on stage, with the audience’s eavesdropping on a slice of life.
Realists tend to depict the middle, lower, and lower-middle classes : their work, family life, language, dress, and problems.
They prefer contemporary settings.
In a direct response to melodrama, realists strive to create complex characters, to make internal conflict as dramatic as external conflict.
They prefer the open ending, which does not resolve all the play’s questions and sometimes leaves in doubt the future of the protagonist. The resolution or denouement is generally short in realistic dramas and virtually non-existent sometimes.
10 September 2009
Act I, A DOLL'S HOUSE
Students, please post your Reader's Response Journal entries to A Doll's House under the comments. Thanks!
01 September 2009
Assignments for the week of Aug. 31-Sept. 4
Flow Map Charts on Oedipus Rex were due Monday, 8/31. Projects on Oedipus Rex are due this Friday, 8/4. Unit Test on this play is this Thursday, 8/03. READ ALL NOTES ON THE BLOG AND STUDY TERMS WELL!
In-class essay: Comparative essay--Compare and contrast Oedipus and another major character from another play or novel that you've read. Must do prewriting, rough draft, get peer critiques from 3-4 peers, and edit/rewrite. Due Wednesday near the end of class. Must be in blue or black ink, on loose-leaf paper--Please DO NOT write on the back. Please double-space (skip lines to leave me space to comment, if necessary).
In-class essay: Comparative essay--Compare and contrast Oedipus and another major character from another play or novel that you've read. Must do prewriting, rough draft, get peer critiques from 3-4 peers, and edit/rewrite. Due Wednesday near the end of class. Must be in blue or black ink, on loose-leaf paper--Please DO NOT write on the back. Please double-space (skip lines to leave me space to comment, if necessary).
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