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.