Doll House Analysis Question Review - PowerPoint Presentation

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Slide1

Doll House Analysis Question Review

World Lit

, Fall 2011Slide2

1. One of the main characteristics of modern drama is realism. How realistically does Act I of

A Doll House

portray the relationship between Nora and Torvald? Develop your thoughts in an essay supported by examples.

RealisticallyShows basic home-lifeTraditional family structureFlawed relationships (no marriage is “perfect”)

Not RealisticallyNo way she could keep a secret for so longNo man would be so clueless as to his wife’s personalitySlide3

2. Attitudes about the role of women in the world have changed significantly since Ibsen’s play was written. Do you think that what happens to Nora and

Helmer

is nonetheless relevant to men and women today? In a brief essay, state your opinion. Then, give examples of issues with which men and women today do or do not continue to struggle.

Still Relevant

Spouses still keep secretsIndividuals still pretend to be someone they aren’t

Not Relevant AnymoreWomen are not dependent on men the way Nora was on her father or husbandSlide4

3. In Act II of

A Doll House,

nineteenth-century beliefs about men, women, and marriage intensify Nora’s conflicts. In a brief essay, describe how and why Nora feels increasingly trapped by the roles she is expected to play as a wife and mother and how those roles increase her feelings of desperation about her situation.

Nora is expected to be: submissive, only concerned with the home/children, she’s not expected to be able to “handle” complicated situationsNora feels trapped because: she had a secret that would cause her to be rejected by society, she is expected to be someone she’s not, and she was never encouraged to develop her own thoughts or strengthsSlide5

4. How is the theme of

A Doll House

reflected in the title? Develop your answer in an essay supported by examples from the text.Dollhouse = plaything, fake, seemingly perfect

Marriage is seemingly perfect, but eventually shows its flawsTorvald treats Nora as his plaything, she in turn treats the children as her playthingsIn a way, their marriage is fake---they don’t truly know or understand each otherSlide6

5. By the end of Act III of

A Doll House,

Nora finally decides to take responsibility for her life by leaving Torvald and her children. In an essay, evaluate whether she has made the right decision. Use details from the play to support your evaluation.

Good Decision

Her marriage was basically fake, not worth savingIf she doesn’t understand herself or the world around her, she has no business raising children“If Momma ain’t happy,

ain’t nobody happy”Torvald is kind of a jerk, good riddanceBad DecisionSHE LEFT HER CHILDREN!

(and her husband)

She should have tried harder to make it work

Left no explanation, didn’t want kids to contact her, no support from her (ex)husband

She had

no plan!