Socio-historical Context
How did 19th century audiences receive Ibsen's play, and what does this reveal about society at the time?
Task: Read and highlight aspects of the article that describe how audiences received Ibsen’s play. When you are done highlighting, collate your findings in a chart or a mind map.
| reception_-_adh.pdf |
A Doll's House - Title Analysis
- What is the function of a doll and a doll house?
- What does a child do with a doll? What is the purpose of playing with a doll?
- Who makes the rules for each doll?
- According to your understanding of 19th century Norway, why is this play called A Doll's House?
A DOLL'S HOUSE: ACT 1
Setting: Nora and Torvald's living room
Essential Question
Setting: Nora and Torvald's living room
Essential Question
- What role does the stage play in Ibsen's production?
Using the stage directions on page 23, draw the stage on poster paper. Add as much detail as possible in order to bring the room to life. How do you imagine it? Be sure to research unfamiliar words in order to get the full effect.
As we study the play, we will continue to refer to these sketches and add notes about the symbolism of each item.
Discussion Questions:
As we study the play, we will continue to refer to these sketches and add notes about the symbolism of each item.
Discussion Questions:
- Based on the items in the house, what assumptions can you make about this family? Explain.
- A bell rings in the hall outside. After a moment we hear the front door being opened. NORA enters the room, humming contentedly to herself. - Why does Nora ring the bell?
- The whole play takes place in a single room. What could this type of setting symbolize?
Characters: Nora and Helmer
Essential Questions
How does Ibsen present the character of Nora in Act 1?
What sort of marriage do Helmer and Nora share and why?
Discussion Points and Activities [pages 24-28]
- Make a list of any of Nora's behaviors. To what extent is she conforming to her role as a wife?
- How do Helmer and Nora speak to one another? Use specific examples from pages 24-28 to support your ideas.
- Look at the pet names Helmer uses for Nora. To what extent are these pet names symbolic?
- What do you make of their discussion of money on pages 24-26?
- Make note of the stove in Act 1. When is it mentioned and for what purpose?
Characters: Mrs Linde
Essential Questions
- - Why does Ibsen juxtapose Nora and (Mrs) Christine Linde?
- - What insight do we get into Nora's character and her marriage?
- - How does the audience's perspective on Nora change?
Task: Comb through Act 1 and identify each of Mrs. Linde's characteristics that stand in stark contrast to Nora's.
Task: Read the passage on pages 35-38. Annotate your text according to the questions below.
- What do you notice about these characters? Why has Ibsen juxtaposed Nora and Mrs Linde?
- Structurally, what is Mrs. Linde's function in the play? Why did Ibsen need to bring her character on stage?
Task: Read the passage on pages 35-38. Annotate your text according to the questions below.
- To what extent is Nora acting or playing her role in her marriage?
- Read Nora's lines on page 36. How does Nora feel in her marriage? What does this passage suggest about Nora?
- Nora confesses to how she's been paying back her debt. What does this confession reveal about Nora and her capabilities? How does this contradict the Nora we saw in the opening scene?
- What is the significance of the line, "But it was great fun, though, sitting there working and earning money. It was almost like being a man." (37)? - Why did Nora need to make up "an old gentleman" in her fantasy about how she earned money?
- Where do you see Nora’s internal struggle surface in her speeches? What is she fighting?
- How does Nora act when Krogstad enters? What does this signal to the audience?
Characters: Dr Rank and Krogstad
Essential Questions
Essential Questions
- Who is Dr Rank and Krogstad?
- What is Krogstad's function in the play?
- How does Ibsen contrast the influence of Dr Rank and Krogstad on Helmer?
Task 1: Read pages 38-50. Draw a stick figure of Krogstad and Dr Rank. As we read, add details to the image to describe these two characters. You might include:
- images to describe appearance or demeanour
- adjectives to describe behaviours or attitudes
- quotations that describe the characters' attitudes or behaviours
- How did Krogstad help Nora? Why did she need his help?
- Where do you see Krogstad blackmailing or threatening Nora?
- What does this revelation tell the audience about Nora and her situation?
Task 2: Contrasting the Influence of Dr Rank and Krogstad on Helmer
Examine the scenes in Act 1 involving Krogstad and paraphrase or outline the essential exchanges between Helmer and Doctor Rank & Helmer and Krogstad. Consider:
- What is the nature of their discussion?
- How does Ibsen describe the nature of Dr Rank and Krogstad?
- How does Helmer react to that particular character? Describe Helmer's reaction and how an actor might play Helmer on stage.
- How does the audience view Krogstad and Dr Rank due to the conversations?
For consideration:
- In Act I, Doctor Rank refers to Krogstad as being "morally twisted” (p 39). How does this affect the way the audience reacts to Krogstad? How does it affect the way other characters react to him? How does the comment affect Nora?
- What is Helmer’s immediate reaction when he learns that Krogstad has asked Nora to intercede for him? How does this begin to establish Krogstad’s character? What does it reveal about Helmer? Does Helmer change his mind about Krogstad? What does this say about Helmer?
Essential Questions
- How has Nora changed throughout Act One?
Task: Today's activity is a synthesis of Act One. This is important to do after every major section of a text as we work towards developing our Paper Two skills. Using your notes, identify ways in which Nora has evolved over the course of Act One.
- How does Ibsen present Nora at the start or Act One?
- How does the audience see Nora differently at the end of Act One?
- How do the other characters (Helmer, Krogstad, Mrs Linde, Dr Rank) influence Nora's characterization?
To support your graphic, please use:
Optional Task: Begin your "Major Review" document that will be completed at the end of each literary work. You could start adding detail to it now. Feel free to adapt and change the look of it to suit your needs.
- How does Ibsen present Nora at the start or Act One?
- How does the audience see Nora differently at the end of Act One?
- How do the other characters (Helmer, Krogstad, Mrs Linde, Dr Rank) influence Nora's characterization?
To support your graphic, please use:
- Quotations from the text and/or specific examples from the text (use page numbers)
- References to specific literary features (metaphor, symbolism, setting, pet names (which are symbolic as a whole but could be a metaphor individually), foreshadow etc.
- Your own descriptive adjectives
Optional Task: Begin your "Major Review" document that will be completed at the end of each literary work. You could start adding detail to it now. Feel free to adapt and change the look of it to suit your needs.
A DOLL'S HOUSE: ACT 2
Essential Question:
- How is the maternal aspect of Nora's life represented at the beginning of Act 2?
Focus your analysis on pages 55 and 56.
The same room. In the corner by the piano the Christmas tree stands, stripped and dishevelled, its candles burned to their sockets. NORA's outdoor clothes lie on the sofa. She is alone in the room, walking restlessly to and fro. At length she stops by the sofa and picks up her coat (p. 55).
Revisit the Christmas tree motif
The same room. In the corner by the piano the Christmas tree stands, stripped and dishevelled, its candles burned to their sockets. NORA's outdoor clothes lie on the sofa. She is alone in the room, walking restlessly to and fro. At length she stops by the sofa and picks up her coat (p. 55).
Revisit the Christmas tree motif
- To what extent does the Christmas tree reflect Nora's mental state? Revisit the tree in Act 1 and compare it now to Act 2.
- Why is it stripped and dishevelled at the start of Act 2? What is significant about the candles being burned?
- Draw a Christmas tree on your setting poster and add a note to the back about the symbolism
Nora and the nurse
- - What do you notice about their relationship?
- - Social situation/context: What has happened to the nurse? What are your thoughts on these two women? In what ways are they similar and different?
- - Why has Ibsen included this minor character?
Essential Question
- To what extent is Nora changing?
| act_2_close_reading_-_nora_and_helmer.pdf |
Character Types - Be on the lookout for characters who fit these types through your reading of the play.
- Protagonist: The main character. He/she is faced with a conflict that must be resolved.
- Antagonist: The main character who conflicts with the protagonist. Can also be seen as the obstacle the main character must overcome.
- Minor Characters: A character who is not central to the storyline, but interacts with the main characters.
- Dynamic: A character who changes over time. Change usually occurs due to resolving a conflict
- Static: A character who does not change over time.
- Round: Anyone who has a complex personality. Often portrayed as a conflicted or contradictory character.
- Flat: Possesses one kind of personality trait or characteristic. Often, little is known of these characters. The role of a flat character is to participate in incidents that move the action forward, or to act in a predictable way that moves a character to change.
- -Foil: Personal qualities contrast with another character (usually the protagonist). By providing this contrast, we get to know more about the other character. In some cases, the character is used as a foil to the main plot (as a way of unravelling the plot for the audience or reader).
- -Stock: Stock characters are those types of characters who have become conventional or stereotypical through repeated use in particular types of stories. Stock characters are instantly recognizable to readers or audience members (e.g. the damsel in distress, the villain, the femme fatale, the mad scientist, the hero, the geeky boy with glasses, the maid/nurse, and the faithful sidekick).
Character: Dr. Rank
Essential Question
Task One: Read the following quotations and locate them in the text. Answer the corresponding questions.
Dr. Rank's Illness
NORA: No, last night it was very noticeable. But he's got a terrible disease -- he's got spinal tuberculosis, poor man. His father was a frightful creature who kept mistresses and so on. As a result Dr Rank has been sickly ever since he was a child - you understand - (p. 57).
RANK: With death on my hands? And all of this to atone for someone else's sin? Is there justice in that? And in every single family, in one way or another, the same merciless law of retribution is at work -- (p. 65).
HELMER: You're a funny little creature. Just like your father used to be. Always on the look-out for some way to get money, but as soon as you have any it just runs through your fingers and you never know where it's gone. Well, I suppose I must take you as you are. It's in your blood. Yes, yes, yes, these things are hereditary, Nora" (27).
Essential Question
- What does the presence of Dr Rank reveal about Nora?
- As a minor character, what is Rank's purpose in this play?
Task One: Read the following quotations and locate them in the text. Answer the corresponding questions.
Dr. Rank's Illness
NORA: No, last night it was very noticeable. But he's got a terrible disease -- he's got spinal tuberculosis, poor man. His father was a frightful creature who kept mistresses and so on. As a result Dr Rank has been sickly ever since he was a child - you understand - (p. 57).
RANK: With death on my hands? And all of this to atone for someone else's sin? Is there justice in that? And in every single family, in one way or another, the same merciless law of retribution is at work -- (p. 65).
- Illness: What is the implication about Dr Rank's illness? Where does it sound like he acquired this illness? Do you think his reasoning is scientific?
HELMER: You're a funny little creature. Just like your father used to be. Always on the look-out for some way to get money, but as soon as you have any it just runs through your fingers and you never know where it's gone. Well, I suppose I must take you as you are. It's in your blood. Yes, yes, yes, these things are hereditary, Nora" (27).
- Hereditary: What parallels do you notice between Dr Rank and Nora?
|
Nora and Dr Rank's Conversation
|
Nora and Dr Rank's Relationship
|
What does Dr. Rank's presence reveal about Nora?
What does Dr. Rank's presence reveal about Torvald?
What does Dr. Rank's presence reveal about Torvald?
Essential Question
- What is the function of Krogstad's appearance at the end of Act 2?
- To what are Nora and Krogstad referring on page 71-73? Discuss with examples.
- Why does Ibsen create this dialogue between Krogstad and Nora? What purpose does it serve the audience?
- What is your opinion of Krogstad? Justify with examples from Act 2
Essential Question
- What is the significance of the tarantella?
|
|
Discussion Questions:
|
Paper 2 Questions: With reference to A Doll's House, brainstorm how you would approach one of the questions below. Identify examples, characters, and examples from the text for your chosen question.
- Minor characters sometimes play major roles. Support this statement by explaining why minor characters are major in the literary work you have studied.
- Symbols can help a writer convey ideas, develop characters, establish atmosphere, etc. To what effect were symbols employed in the work you have studied?
Act 3
Essential Question:
Clothing and Torvald's Dominance (p 84-85)
- How has Nora's costume changed from Act 2 to Act 3? What would this signal to the audience?
- What does the contrast in Nora and Torvald's clothing reveal or solidify for the audience?
- How does Torvald continue to show his dominance in this scene? Look up the etymology of Torvald and consider the implications in the play and specifically in this scene.
Torvald advances upon Nora (p 87-88)
-What is Nora's subtext throughout this scene, and how does it foreshadow the final scene?
-What role does the symbolic action of the tarantella play in this scene?
- "And then when we're about to go, and I wrap the shawl..."
-Describe Torvald's tone in this passage. What language choices stand out to you in this passage?
- Why does Ibsen create this tone at this point in the play?
-Does Helmer love Nora? What do you think? Explain
- To what extent is Torvald the representative voice of society?
Clothing and Torvald's Dominance (p 84-85)
- How has Nora's costume changed from Act 2 to Act 3? What would this signal to the audience?
- What does the contrast in Nora and Torvald's clothing reveal or solidify for the audience?
- How does Torvald continue to show his dominance in this scene? Look up the etymology of Torvald and consider the implications in the play and specifically in this scene.
Torvald advances upon Nora (p 87-88)
-What is Nora's subtext throughout this scene, and how does it foreshadow the final scene?
-What role does the symbolic action of the tarantella play in this scene?
- "And then when we're about to go, and I wrap the shawl..."
-Describe Torvald's tone in this passage. What language choices stand out to you in this passage?
- Why does Ibsen create this tone at this point in the play?
-Does Helmer love Nora? What do you think? Explain
|
The miracle
p. 27-28 p. 74 p. 79 p. 101-102 |
|
Essential Question:
How can contemporary techniques help us to comprehend traditional texts?
How can contemporary techniques help us to comprehend traditional texts?
|
|
Task: Use hashtags to highlight the subtext behind Nora and Helmer's speech, as well as Ibsen's underlying message to his audience. With a partner, choose one page from 92-97.
|
- (p.92-93) - Identify the irony of Helmer's speech and actions on these pages. What does this confirm for Nora and the audience? Why is this significant?
- (p.94-95) - How does Ibsen use this scene to show that Helmer has not evolved as a character? What would have had to happen to show character development?
- (p.96) - Nora takes off her fancy dress on page 96. How is this action symbolic?
- (p.96) - Review Helmer's speech on this page. What do you think about Helmer here? Identify particular words and phrases (and even metaphors/imagery) to support your analysis of Helmer.
Essential Question: To what extent is A Doll's House a social critique?
Ibsen claimed that A Doll's House was not about women's rights but about human rights. In a speech given at the Festival of Norwegian Women's Rights League in 1898, Ibsen said,
As you read, consider your thoughts on this declaration. Do you agree that this play is not inherently feminist? In what ways could this play apply to life today?
Task: As we read, identify at least four quotations or extracts that stand out to you as being a direct critique of society. After our study, complete the following task to synthesize your ideas.
Write out the quotation in full
- Paraphrase the quotation. What is being said? State it in your own words.
- Analysis: What aspect of society does Ibsen critique? How does he communicate this message? Consider specific words and phrases (i.e. diction - verbs, adjectives, nouns, adverbs -, tone, symbolism, imagery etc) within the quotation in your analysis. You might consider how a particular character has or has not changed.
- Audience: How would an 18th century audience react to this quotation? Is this quotation still relevant today? Explain.
Door imagery and symbolism
There are over 40 references to doors in this play. Consider why that might be.
"The street door is slammed shut downstairs" (104).
There are over 40 references to doors in this play. Consider why that might be.
- What themes are reinforced through the door imagery? Why are there so many references to doors?
"The street door is slammed shut downstairs" (104).
- What is significant about the final stage direction? As an audience member, what would you experience, and why would that be impactful?
- To what extent is this act symbolic (for Nora and for society?)
A Great Big Review for Paper 2!
Access this document for your Paper 2 Review of A Doll's House. Feel free to play around with the format and make it work for you. This is an opportunity to synthesize your notes and develop your thinking. Do not skip this step. Having a document like this will help you greatly as you begin comparing the texts and studying for exams.
