A Doll's House Skills Assessment

Torvald Helmer uses names like sweet tooth, squirrel, spendthrift, featherbrain; Torvald treats Nora like she is inferior

List pet names Torvald Helmer calls his wife, Nora. What does this use of pet names imply about their relationship?

Debt steals the beauty of a home; She does not care about people, they are strangers

How does Helmer feel about debt? What does Nora say about people you borrow money from?

Nora feels like they can squander money for the holidays

Why does Nora feel that they can now squander some money?

Nora wants money for Christmas

What does Nora want for Christmas?

Helmer says Nora can’t help spending money because her father spent money like crazy so it is hereditary

Why does Helmer say Nora can’t help spending money?

The fuss over the macaroons tells you that Helmer treats Nora like a child/doll

What does the fuss over the macaroons tell you about Nora and Torvald”s relationship?

Nora made flowers and other decorations for the tree. Helmer thought they were boring

How does Helmer describe their Christmas decorations of last year? What were their decorations for the tree?

Mrs Linde is Nora’s childhood friend. Eight years.

Who is Mrs Linde? How long has it been since she and Nora have seen each other?

Nora just likes having a lot of money while Mrs Linde says only have what you need

Compare Nora and Mrs Linde’s comment about having “stacks of money”

Nora has done odd jobs to earn money

What has Nora done to earn money?

Nora was in Italy when her father died

Where was Nora when her father died?

Mrs Linde married him for economic benefits, support for her sick mother and two little brothers. She has nothing after he died

Why did Mrs Linde marry her husband? What did she have when he died?

She has nothing to live for that is why she feels “unspeakably empty.” Her mother and husband died, she has no children. her brothers can take care of themselves now. Nora says Mrs Linde is free and she should rest

Why does Mrs Linde feel “unspeakably empty?” Why does she say she has nothing to live for now? What does Nora cal it? What does Nora call it?

Mrs Linde sees Nora and Torvald because she needs a job

Why has Mrs Linde come to see Nora and Torvald?

Nora has always had a rich life and she never earned anything that is what Mrs Linde thinks and why she calls her a child

What does Mrs Linde think of Nora’s life? Why does she call Nora a “child?”

She took out a loan, which is illegal without a man’s consent (father, husband, brother), to take Torvald to Italy so he can live and not die

What did Nora do in the past that shows she understands life can be hard for people?

She took out a loan. Krogstad and Linde know. He hates debt and will feel less manly

How did Nora get the money for Italy? Who knows about this? Why didn't she tell Torvald?

Nora says her husband will love her less when she gets old

Nora says her husband will love her less when what happens?

Nora only spent half of the money given from Torvald’s to buy clothes and the remaining to pay it back

How has Nora paid back the money?

Being able to earn money is manly to Nora

What was it like “almost like being a man” to Nora?

Krogstad is a lawyer that talks about bank business with Torvald

Who is Krogstad? Why is he here?

Torvald’s friend. He describes Krogstad as corrupt to the core, morally deceased

Who is Dr Rank? How does he describe Krogstad?

Nora has a rebellious streak with macaroons and cursing

What do the macaroons and cursing tell you about Nora?

Nora begged him. Linde is a widow and she has some experience

How did Nora get Helmer to hire Mrs Linde?

Nora has a good relationship in the beginning and adores her kids

Does Nora have a good relationship with her children?

He thinks he’s getting fired. He committed forgery

What happened to Krogstad at the bank? What happened in the past?

He blackmails Nora into convincing Torvald to not fire him/ His leverage is that he knows Nora didn't get consent from her father to get a loan because of the dates. Her father died 9/29 but the loan was signed for 10/2. Nora says “she should not know who they were.”

How does Krogstad have power over Nora? Tell the whole story, including what way Nora’s father was involved. Remember what Nora has said about people you borrow money from?

Krogstad will get her arrested if he doesn’t get his job back

What will Krogstad do if he doesn’t get his job back?

He asks what Krogstad was there for and Nora lies. Torvald knows she is lying and that she wants him to put in a good word for Krogstad. He treats her like a child

Krogstad leaves Torvald returns. Describe the dialogue between Torvald and Nora. What do they say? How does he treat her?

He asks Torvald to arrange her costume for the Stensburg’s ball. Since she wants his help, he basically has complete control over her

What favor does Nora ask Torvald? How does the costume symbolize Nora?

Torvald wonders how people can live with always lying and how it affects everyone around them, like family and friends. This is ironic because Nora did that

What does Torvald say about lies and guilt? How is this ironic?

Torvald believes they were exposed to deceit and guilt from a young age

Accoring to Torvald, why do people go bad early in life?

She thinks her deceits will horrifically impact on her children if she’s near them

What is Nora thinking about at the end of Act I with her children?

Whether Krogstad will report her to the authorities

As Act 2 opens, what is Nora worried about the most?

Nora’s wondering if she should abandon her children for their sake. Since she is always with them, it’ll make it hard for her

From Nora’s conversation with Anne-Marie, describe her relationship with her children

Give away her child. She got pregnant, she had to take care of Nora and the father wasn’t around so she had to give away her child away so he/she could have a good life. This is ironic because Nora is thinking of running away so her children can have a good life

What did Anne-Marie have to do (concerning children) when she was younger? Why? How did this make their conservation about children ironic?

Anne-Marie is Nora’s former nanny

Who is Anne-Marie?

He wants Nora to be dressed as Neapolitian peasant-girl and dance the tarantella

What does Toravald want Nora to be, and do at the party?

His father was promiscuous so Rank got sick. He has syphilis. He’s depressed

How has Dr Rank been sick? What diseases does he have?

Henrik Ibsen. Set it in the late 19th century. Norwegian.

Who is the writer? What is the time? What is the place?

Torvald gets jealous when Nora talks about her old friends so she only talks about them with Rank

Dr Rank knows about Christine, Torvald doesn’t. Why?

She acts like a child and says she’ll do anything for him if he doesn’t fire Krogstad

How does Nora approach Torvald about keeping Krogstad on at the bank?

He already told everyone at the bank that he is firing Krogstad and if he doesn’t, it’ll make him seem like Nora has control over him. They were college friends and Krogstad would call Torvald by his first name at work, which is embarassing

Why won’t Torvald rehire Krogstad for Nora? How do Torvald and Krogstad know each other from the past?

His syphilis is worsening. He got the syphilis from his father who was promiscuous

What is happening with Dr Rank? Why is his illness so unfair?

Dr Rank says “Those who go away are soon forgotten.”

What does Dr Rank say about “those who got away?”

Dr Rank is in love with Nora

Why won’t Nora ask Dr Rank for the money?

She loved her father but had fun with the maids because they let her do what she wanted. She compares her father to Torvald

Why did Nora prefer to be with the maids rather than her father? Who does she compare her father to?

Krogstad was eventually fired

What happened to Krogstad eventually?

He’ll keep the secret as long as Nora doesn’t do anything sneaky. He wants a promotion from Torvald

Why won’t Krogstad expose Nora for now? What does he want Torvald to do for him?

Krogstad blames Torvald

Who does Krogstad blame for making him go back to his “old ways?”

Krogstad and Mrs Linde had a relationship

What is the connection between Mrs Linde and Krogstad?

Nora pretends she needs help with the tarantella and dances terribly

How does Nora try to keep Torvald from getting the letter?

She is counting because that’s how long she has left until Torvald gets the letter

Why is Nora counting down until thirty hours pass?

Krogstad and Mrs Linde had a relationship. He feels that women leave their current significant others the moment someone better comes along. She couldn’t wait for Krogstad to be successful

Describe the conservation between Krogstad and Mrs Linde. What is their history? How does he feel about their past?

Mrs Linde broke up with Krogstad due to economic necessity

Why did Mrs Linde break up with Krogstad when they were young?

Mrs Linde needs someone to take care of and Krogstad’s young children need a mother

How do they reconcile? Why does Mrs Linde feel that they should get back together?

The letter is still in the mailbox. She wants the letter to stay there but he will demand it back

What about Krogstad’s letter? What does Mrs Linde want him to do with it? What does Krogstad want to do with it?

Mrs Linde says Nora and Torvald need to straighten out their lives, be honest, enough secrecy

What does Mrs Linde say needs to happen in the Helmer household?

She was perfect in the costume. He pretends Nora is his secret bride-to-be/mistress

What does Torvald say about Nora and her costume during the party? What does he pretend?

“Come now — little Nora talking about scientific research!” He thinks it’s cute that she would be that smart. Torvalds treats Nora as an inferior

How does Torvald describe Nora talking about “scientific research?” Again, what does he think of her?

He would be invisible as a costume

What would be Dr Rank’s costume at the next party?

The masquerade party symbolizes appearances and pretending

What is the symbolism of a masquerade party?

Dr Rank announces his death with a black cross on his calling cards

How did Dr Rank announce his “death?”

Nora dresses up as a Neapolitan girl for a costume party, a role chosen and directed by her husband, Torvald, symbolizing her status as his doll

What does Nora dress up as for the costume party?

He is furious. He calls her a hypocrite, a liar, a criminal. He says her father has no religion, morals, and a sense of duty. His reputation is ruined

Describe Torvald’s reaction to the letter? How does he describe Nora? How does he describe her father? How will this affect him?

Torvald decides Nora is too corrupt to see their children after learning about her forgery, planning to keep up appearances outside

What does Torvald decide about Nora and their children?

Krogstad is apologizing for trying to blackmailing them. He is happy with Mrs Linde and forgives Nora. He says “Im saved.”

What was in the second letter involving Krogstad and Mrs Linde?

He only cared about his reputation, not hers. It shows Torvald only cares about himself

Why is Nora upset over Torvald’s reaction to the second letter? What does it show her about their relationship?

Nora points out that they’ve never had a serious talk about anything

What did Nora point out about their marriage and their relationship?

Nora describes that Torvald thinks it’s fun to be in love with her and not actually in love with her

How does Nora describe Torvald’s “love?”

Both her father and husband molded her into what they wanted her to be

How is Nora’s relationship with her husband the same as it was with her father?

Like a doll, you choose what it wears, what it says, acts and thinks. She has been controlled her entire life

Why does Nora call herself a “doll wife” and a “doll child?”

“Playtime’s over. Now for the schooling.” He’s going to teach her how to be a good wife

Torvald’s reaction is to describe their new relationship as what?

Nora leaves to discover herself as a person

Why does Nora decide to leave Torvald and their children at the end of the play?

Nora was hoping Torvald takes the blame for her crime

Describe the miracle Nora was waiting for?

When he showed his hate for her when he got Krogstad’s first letter

How did Nora come to this realization about Torvald? After what happened?

Nora realizes her faith was shallow, based on Torvald’s rules, and ultimately sacrifices “sacred” duties to herself over religious or martial laws

What does Nora realize about her faith in the play?

The law serves to highlight the injustice and oppression women faced in the 19th century society, through the legal restrictions that define Nora Helmer’s actions and life

How was the laws during this time for women?

Nora says the greatest miracle would be if Torvald and her could both transform into different people and have a genuine marriage

What does Nora say would be the greatest miracle?

A spendthrift is a person who spends a lot of money

What is the definition of spendthrift?

Nora’s relationship with her children has shifted from a playful, affectionate bond to a realization that she must leave them to avoid corrupting them at the end of the play

How has Nora’s relationship changed with her children at the end of the play?

Krogstad is responsible for the letters. He writes the first one revealing Nora’s forgery to Torvald. Blackmailing her in order to keep his job. And the second one taking back his threats after his past with Mrs Linde is revealed

Who is responsible for the two letters? And what are in them?