Due Wednesday, November 29th - "A Doll House" by Henrik Ibsen - Finish reading Act I

Ghosts! When I heard Regina and Oswald in there, it was as though ghosts rose up before me. But I almost think we are all of us ghosts, Pastor Manders. It is not only what we have inherited from our father and mother that "walks" in us. It is all sorts of dead ideas, and lifeless old beliefs, and so forth. They have no vitality, but they cling to us all the same, and we cannot shake them off. Whenever I take up a newspaper, I seem to see ghosts gliding between the lines. There must be ghosts all the country over, as thick as the sands of the sea. And then we are, one and all, so pitifully afraid of the light.

                                                                                          Mrs. Alving from Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen

Gillian Anderson as Nora

Homework:

1)  Finish reading Acts I of A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen.
2)  In your journal, please attend to the following questions.  Write in complete sentences and/or copy questions into your journal so this can be used as a study guide in the future.

ACT I

1. What does the fact that Nora pays the porter twice what she owes him suggest about Nora? What might this incident foreshadow about the play?
   
   
2. What is the significance of the fact that Nora eats macaroons, hides the package in her pocket, and wipes the crumbs from her lips?
   
   
3. Torvald Helmer has several pet names for Nora. What do they include, and what do they say about how he regards her?
   
   
4. What points do Helmer and Nora each make in their first conversation about money?
   
   
5. How does this set up a framework for future action?
   
   
6. What does Nora’s flirtatious behavior suggest about her relationship with Helmer?
   
   
7. What literary element is used when Helmer refers to Nora’s father, and what does Helmer say about the father?
   
   
8. What does the reader learn when Helmer raises the subject of sweets, saying, “Hasn’t Miss Sweet-Tooth been breaking rules in town to-day”?
   
   
9. When the family was short of money, what did Nora do so they could all celebrate Christmas? What does this symbolize, and what does it suggest about her character?
   
   
10. What does the reader infer about the Helmer family’s choice to have servants even when they are in tight economic circumstances?
    
    
11. When the doorbell rings, why does Helmer say, “If it is a caller, remember that I am not at home”?
    
    
12. How is Nora’s self-centeredness illustrated in her initial conversation with Mrs. Linde?
    
    
13. More exposition occurs when Nora discusses Helmer’s early career with Mrs. Linde.  What does the reader learn about Helmer’s career?
    
    
14. What behavioral problem does Mrs. Linde chide Nora about?
    
    
15. What does Nora reveal about how she and Helmer have managed financially? How did they raise the money needed to go to Italy for his health? What is significant about her comments?
    
    
16. What does Mrs. Linde admit about her marriage?
    
    
17. Why has Mrs. Linde come to Nora’s house?
    
    
18. Mrs. Linde says to Nora, “. . . you know so little of the burdens and troubles of life.”  What literary devices are used here?
    
    
19. What is Mrs. Linde’s initial reaction as Nora begins to reveal the source of the 250 pounds? What does this conversation reveal about the status of women?
    
    
20. Nora suggests that she might have obtained the money from an admirer, but she is insulted when Mrs. Linde suggests imprudence on Nora’s part. How does this exchange add to the reader’s understanding of Nora?
    
    
21. Nora gives Mrs. Linde a summary of the source of the funds. In terms of the “well-made play,” why is this important?
    
    
22. How has Nora managed her own finances to address her debts?
    
    
23. Why has Nora’s work copying documents been so important?
    
    
24. What dangers exist in Nora’s employment?
    
    
25. At this point in the play, where is the power allocated among Helmer, Nora, and Mrs. Linde?
    
    
26. Who is Krogstad?
    
    
27. What else could Krogstad possibly come to the Helmer home to discuss?
    
    
28. What does the reader learn when Nora and Mrs. Linde discuss Krogstad?
    
    
29. What is revealed in the conversation between Dr. Rank and Mrs. Linde?
    
    
30. What can the reader infer from Nora’s question as to whether “all the people who are employed in the Bank” are now “dependent on Torvald”?
    
    
31. What is important about Nora’s offer of macaroons to Dr. Rank?
    
    
32. How does Nora manage the conversation when she asks her husband to give Mrs. Linde a job?
    
    
33. Why is Nora’s management of the conversation significant?
    
    
34. Why does Ibsen insert a scene of Nora romping with her children?
    
    
35. What is Krogstad’s relationship with Nora?
    
    
36. What is ironic about the following conversation?
    Nora: When anyone is in a subordinate position, Mr. Krogstad, they should really be careful to avoid offending anyone who—who—
    Krogstad: Who has influence?
    
    
37. What is discordant about Krogstad’s request that Nora influence Helmer in the matter of Krogstad’s job?
    
    
38. Why does Krogstad think he is being fired?
    
    
39. In another example of exposition, what does Krogstad reveal about himself?
    
    
40. What does Krogstad mean when he says, “I have the means to compel you”?
    
    
41. What is Nora’s reaction?
    
    
42. What does Krogstad reveal about the bond used to secure the loan?
    
    
43. Why did Nora forge her father’s signature?
    
    
44. How does the conversation end?
    
    
45. Why does Ibsen show Nora telling her children that she cannot play with them?
    
    
46. What does Helmer scold Nora for when he returns?
    
    
47. Why does Ibsen include the conversation between Helmer and Nora about the fancy dress ball?
    
    
48. What is ironic about Krogstad’s crime?
    
    
49. What does Helmer say about Krogstad’s morals and his current life?
    
    
50. What does Helmer say about mothers, and why is this ironic?
    
    
51. Why does Nora reject the return of her children at the end of this act?
    
    
52. What does Nora’s final comment—“It’s not true. It can’t possibly be true.”—say about her state of mind?
    
    
53. Looking over Act I, identify the protagonist and antagonist and classify Nora, Helmer, Krogstad, Mrs. Linde, and Doctor Rank as to whether they are round or flat characters.
    
    
54. Are lesser characters used to create foils to Nora and Helmer?
     
55. What are the main themes of the play, as established in Act I?