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.