A Doll's House

NAME Ambika Rautray DRAMA DATA SHEET Title: A Doll’s House Author: Henrik Ibsen Date of publication: 1879 Genre(s) and characteristics of the genre(s): Realistic, Modern Prose Drama- It is where people move and talk in a manner similar to that of our everyday behavior. It uses the stage as an environment rather than a platform to act upon. Social and political ideas are expressed through dramatic irony.

PERIOD 1-4 PAGE ONE Biographical information about the author: Henrik Ibsen is considered to be the father of modern prose drama. He was born in Skien, Norway, on March 20, 1828. In 1858, he married Suzannah Thoreson and they eventually had one son together. His early years as a playwright were not profitable but he gained valuable experience. Historical information about the period of publication: This was a period where women where still considered to their role in the doctrine of spheres. In the 19th century marriage norms were very strict. In 1888, married women in Norway were finally given control over their own money, but the Norway of Ibsen’s play predates this and is conservative.

Brief plot summary (just the highlights please): Act I of A Doll’s House begins on Christmas Eve. Nora Helmer enters her living room, which is the setting of the entire play. Torvald, Nora’s husband, greets Nora affectionately but then lectures her about spending too much money on Christmas gifts. Helene, the maid, tells the Helmers that their dear friend Dr. Rank has come to visit. At the same time another unknown visitor arrives. To Nora’s surprise, her school friend Christine Linde enters the scene. Mrs. Linde also surprisingly comes to meet Nora, and she tells Nora about how she has been working hard in the past years with no husband and family to support anymore. Mrs. Linde’s mother has passed away and her brothers have grown up. Instead of feeling less obligations, Mrs. Linde says that she wants a job and wonders if Torvald could give her a job at the bank. Krogstad finally arrives and goes to Torvald’s study room. Nora acts queasy when Krogstad enters and Dr. Rank calls Krogstad ‘morally sick.’ After talking with Krogstad, Torvald enters the living room and states that he may be able to give Mrs. Linde a job at the bank. It is revealed that Torvald wants to fire Krogstad from the bank which lowers Krogstad’s already low reputation. Therefore, Krogstad asks Nora to use her influence in telling Torvald to let him keep his job. When Nora refuses, Krogstad blackmails her with her forged signature of her father on a contract between Krogstad and Nora. Act II begins on Christmas day itself. The Christmas tree is disheveled as well as Nora who is pacing back and forth in her living room, full of anxiety. Mrs. Linde arrives to help Nora mend her dress. Torvald leaves the house. Dr. Rank arrives and tells Nora about his impending death. To cheer Dr. Rank up Nora begins to flirt with him. After Dr. Rank leaves, Krogstad enters angry about his dismissal from his job. He now wants respect and changes the terms of the blackmail to getting a higher position at the bank. He puts a letter in the Helmers’ letterbox telling Torvald about Nora’s forgery. In the beginning of Act III, Krogstad and Mrs. Linde meet while the costume party is going on upstairs. Their conversation shows that they were one deeply in love, but Mrs. Linde left Krogstad for a wealthier man in order to support her family. Mrs. Linde tells Krogstad that she wishes to be with him now since she is free of her family obligations. After Krogstad leaves, Nora and Torvald enter after dancing the Tarantella. After Mrs. Linde leaves, Torvald tells Nora how desirable she looked when she was dancing the Tarantella. Torvald reads Krogstad’s revealing letter and gets angry. He blames Nora for ruining her happiness ad also calls her a hypocrite and liar. Nora walks out. (This page worth 10 points) (1+1+1+7)

NAME Ambika Rautray DRAMA DATA SHEET Description of author’s style: The author uses a lot of dramatic irony to engage the audience as well as build suspense. Also, the lighting techniques show revelations (light) and secrets (dark). The author uses sound effects to portray a change within a character. The author’s use of blocking also represents the dominant character in the scene and foreshadows. The gestures are also significant because they show signs of affection or lack of affection.

PERIOD 1-4 PAGE TWO Sample passage that shows author’s style (include info where passage is found): [SCENE.--A room furnished comfortably and tastefully, but not extravagantly. At the back, a door to the right leads to the entrance-hall, another to the left leads to Helmer's study. Between the doors stands a piano. In the middle of the left-hand wall is a door, and beyond it a window. Near the window are a round table, arm-chairs and a small sofa. In the right-hand wall, at the farther end, another door; and on the same side, nearer the footlights, a stove, two easy chairs and a rocking-chair; between the stove and the door, a small table. Engravings on the walls; a cabinet with china and other small objects; a small book-case with well-bound books. The floors are carpeted, and a fire burns in the stove. It is winter. A bell rings in the hall.](Act I, pg. 1, exposition)

MEMORABLE/SIGNIFICANT QUOTES Quotation (use … for long quotes: include page #) Why quote is memorable/significant: 1. Nora: One day I might, yes. Many years from 1. Shows that Nora has a sense of now, when I’ve lost my looks a little. Don’t what marriage is and that she is not laugh. I mean, of course, a time will come when indeed childish. Nora knows that Torvald is not as devoted to me, not quite so importance that the idea of happy when I dance for him, and dress for him, appearances plays in Torvald’s life. and play with him (Act I, pg. 22). Nora pretends to be naïve, but in reality, she is very intelligent. 2. Nora portrays the freedom during 2. Nora: Free. To be free, absolutely free. To spend her period contrasts with the idea of time playing with the children. To have a clean, freedom today. The irony is that beautiful house, the way Torvald likes it (Act I, Nora cannot find true freedom that pg. 23). is acceptable under her society. 3. The quote shows that Nora believes 3. Nora: Something glorious is going to happen that true love includes sacrifice (Act II, pg. 56). however she will be proven wrong at the end of the play. 4. This is the height of Torvald’s 4. Torvald: From now on, forget happiness. Now concern of reputation. Ironically, it’s just about saving the remains, the wreckage, Torvald’s obsession over reputation the appearance (Act III, pg. 73). is what will bring down his reputation in the face of society 5. Nora: I have been performing tricks for you, after his wife leaves him. Torvald. That’s how I’ve survived. You wanted it 5. This quote portrays Nora’s like that. You and Papa have done me a great revelations about her life so far. wrong. It’s because of you I’ve made nothing of Shows confusion of her identity. my life (Act III, pg. 76). She does not know who she is. This page worth ten points (2+8)

NAME Ambika Rautray

PERIOD 1-4

DRAMA DATA SHEET (This page worth ten points)

PAGE THREE

Characters Name

Role in the play

Why character is significant to play

Nora Helmer

Protagonist

Nora portrays a rebel against society as she matures throughout the play. She appears to be childish as first, but as the play progresses she turns out to be very intelligent and manipulating. She portrays a woman out of the doctrine of spheres.

Torvald Helmer

Supporting Character

He represents society. He is the actual child of the relationship. He is obsessed over reputation.

“hypocrite”, “ugly”

Krogstad

Antagonist

He helps Nora realize the shallow, selfish nature of Torvald through the use of letters.

“altered”, “unhappy”

Mrs. Linde

Foil to Nora

Adds to the realism of the play and brings out Nora’s characteristics.

“prudent”, “reasonable”, “mending”

Dr. Rank

Foil to Torvald

He brings out Torvald’s characteristics. Does not care about reputation.

“innocent”, “conceiving”, “accustomed”

The Helmer children (Bob, Emmy, Ivar)

Minor Characters

They portray Nora’s conflicting situation. Even though Nora loves them, she believes she is not matured enough to give them a healthy upbringing . She is the transportation point for the letters of ‘truth’ and she also portrays the idea that sacrifice is existent among each economic class in society.

Anne- Marie

Minor character

DRAMA DATA SHEET

Adjectives from play that describe the Character. “silly girl”, “doll”, “singing- bird”

“innocent”, “dolly”, “little”

“prudent”, “obliged”

PAGE FOUR

NAME Ambika Rautray

PERIOD 1-4

Setting (place and time): The story occurs during the 1870s. The story takes place in the Helmer’s living room. The setting aids in the idea of the trapped lifestyle of Nora Helmer. Other places that are mentioned are the ballroom and Torvald’s study room.

Significance of the opening scene: In the opening scene, Torvald talks to Nora in a childish manner. He worries about reputation through money and he talks in a demeaning manner. He calls Nora “little” and a “spendthrift.” Also, Nora is found eating macaroons and later lying to Torvald about eating them. These interactions between Torvald and Nora foreshadow the status of their relationship at the end of the play.

Major symbols/images/motifs and what they represent: The macaroons represent Nora’s rebellion, and the controlling nature of Torvald. The black cross and black hat associated with Dr. Rank that symbolizes death. This could foreshadow Nora’s marriage. The Christmas tree represents the psychological mind of Nora. New Year’s Day symbolizes the new life for Nora at the end of the play. Letters represent truth. However, they ironically represent the truth of Torvald’s nature versus Nora’s illegal actions.

Significance of the ending/closing scene: In the ending scene, Torvald becomes angry about what Nora has done to his reputation. He dehumanizes Nora, but then says that he has supposedly ‘forgiven’ her when he finds out that his reputation is secured once again. Nora is shown as a strong character when she decides to leave Torvald and her children, because she was not living in a ‘true’ marriage. She returns Torvald’s ring which symbolizes her strength as a woman. This idea of returning rings shows Nora’s transition to a new, independent phase in her life.

Themes for discussion: • The view of women in the 1870s. • Parental obligations to their children and vice versa. • The unreliability of appearances (Appearance vs. reality, people are not what they seem). • The idea of identity and establishing one’s identity.

Literary devices that the author uses (give examples from the work): Alliteration- “little lark” (Act I, pg.12) Metaphor- “An abyss has opened between us” (Act III, pg. 80) Hyperbole- “It is a thing hundreds of thousands of women have done” (Act III, pg. 80). Simile- “Oh, you think and talk like a heedless child” (Act III, pg. 80) -“You have loved me as a wife ought to love her husband” (Act III, pg. 74) Repetition- “Never! Never” (Act III, pg. 72) -“No, no” (Act III, pg. 72) Foreshadowing- “ Then you will be free” (Act II, pg. 59)

This page is worth twelve points (2+2+2+2+2+2)