A Doll’s House, Part 1: Dramatic Structure and Characterization Answers

Read the passage from A Doll’s House.Nora: Come here. [Pulls her down on the sofa beside her.] Now I will show you that I too have something to be proud and glad of. It was I who saved Torvald's life.Mrs. Linde: "Saved"? How?Nora: I told you about our trip to Italy. Torvald would never have recovered if he had not gone there—Mrs. Linde: Yes, but your father gave you the necessary funds.Nora: [smiling] Yes, that is what Torvald and all the others think, but—Mrs. Linde: But—Nora: Papa didn't give us a shilling. It was I who procured the money.Mrs. Linde: You? All that large sum?Nora: Two hundred and fifty pounds. What do you think of that?Mrs. Linde: But, Nora, how could you possibly do it? Did you win a prize in the Lottery?Nora: [contemptuously] In the Lottery? There would have been no credit in that.Mrs. Linde: But where did you get it from, then?Nora: [humming and smiling with an air of mystery]. Hm, hm! Aha!Mrs. Linde: Because you couldn't have borrowed it.Nora: Couldn't I? Why not?Mrs. Linde: No, a wife cannot borrow without her husband's consent.Nora: [tossing her head] Oh, if it is a wife who has any head for business—a wife who has the wit to be a little bit clever—

Read the passage from A Doll’s House.Helmer: That is like a woman! But seriously, Nora, you know what I think about that. No debt, no borrowing. There can be no freedom or beauty about a home life that depends on borrowing and debt. We two have kept bravely on the straight road so far, and we will go on the same way for the short time longer that there need be any struggle.Nora: [moving towards the stove]. As you please, Torvald.Helmer: [following her]. Come, come, my little skylark must not droop her wings. What is this! Is my little squirrel out of temper? [Taking out his purse.] Nora, what do you think I have got here?Nora: [turning around quickly]. Money!Helmer: There you are. [Gives her some money.] Do you think I don't know what a lot is wanted for housekeeping at Christmas-time?Nora: [counting]. Ten shillings—a pound—two pounds! Thank you, thank you, Torvald; that will keep me going for a long time.

Which lines support the inference that Torvald sometimes treats Nora like a child? Select three options.

Read the passage from A Doll’s House.Nora: Good gracious, can't you understand? There was no old gentleman at all; it was only something that I used to sit here and imagine, when I couldn't think of any way of procuring money. But it's all the same now; the tiresome old person can stay where he is, as far as I am concerned; I don't care about him or his will either, for I am free from care now. [Jumps up.] My goodness, it's delightful to think of, Christine! Free from care! To be able to be free from care, quite free from care; to be able to play and romp with the children; to be able to keep the house beautifully and have everything just as Torvald likes it! And, think of it, soon the spring will come and the big blue sky! Perhaps we shall be able to take a little trip—perhaps I shall see the sea again! Oh, it's a wonderful thing to be alive and be happy. [A bell is heard in the hall.]

Which statement best describes the dramatic structure of the play A Doll’s House?

Read the passage from A Doll’s House.Mrs. Linde: Listen to me, Nora dear. Haven't you been a little bit imprudent?Nora: [sits up straight] Is it imprudent to save your husband's life?Mrs. Linde: It seems to me imprudent, without his knowledge, to—Nora: But it was absolutely necessary that he should not know! My goodness, can't you understand that? It was necessary he should have no idea what a dangerous condition he was in. It was to me that the doctors came and said that his life was in danger, and that the only thing to save him was to live in the south. Do you suppose I didn't try, first of all, to get what I wanted as if it were for myself? I told him how much I should love to travel abroad like other young wives; I tried tears and entreaties with him; I told him that he ought to remember the condition I was in, and that he ought to be kind and indulgent to me; I even hinted that he might raise a loan. That nearly made him angry, Christine. He said I was thoughtless, and that it was his duty as my husband not to indulge me in my whims and caprices—as I believe he called them. Very well, I thought, you must be saved—and that was how I came to devise a way out of the difficulty—Mrs. Linde: And did your husband never get to know from your father that the money had not come from him?Nora: No, never. Papa died just at that time. I had meant to let him into the secret and beg him never to reveal it. But he was so ill then—alas, there never was any need to tell him.Mrs. Linde: And since then have you never told your secret to your husband?Nora: Good Heavens, no! How could you think so? A man who has such strong opinions about these things! And besides, how painful and humiliating it would be for Torvald, with his manly independence, to know that he owed me anything! It would upset our mutual relations altogether; our beautiful happy home would no longer be what it is now.

Read the passage from A Doll’s House.Nora: And when she heard you had been appointed manager of the Bank—the news was telegraphed, you know—she travelled here as quick as she could. Torvald, I am sure you will be able to do something for Christine, for my sake, won't you?Helmer: Well, it is not altogether impossible. I presume you are a widow, Mrs. Linde?Mrs. Linde: Yes.Helmer: And have had some experience of book-keeping?Mrs. Linde: Yes, a fair amount.Helmer: Ah! well, it's very likely I may be able to find something for you—Nora: [clapping her hands] What did I tell you? What did I tell you?Helmer: You have just come at a fortunate moment, Mrs. Linde.Mrs. Linde: How am I to thank you?Helmer: There is no need. [Puts on his coat.] But today you must excuse me—Rank: Wait a minute; I will come with you. [Brings his fur coat from the hall and warms it at the fire.]

Read the passage from A Doll’s House.Helmer: [calls out from his room]. Is that my little lark twittering out there?Nora: [busy opening some of the parcels]. Yes, it is!Helmer: Is it my little squirrel bustling about?Nora: Yes!Helmer: When did my squirrel come home?Nora: Just now. [Puts the bag of macaroons into her pocket and wipes her mouth.] Come in here, Torvald, and see what I have bought.Helmer: Don't disturb me. [A little later, he opens the door and looks into the room, pen in hand.] Bought, did you say? All these things? Has my little spendthrift been wasting money again?Nora: Yes but, Torvald, this year we really can let ourselves go a little. This is the first Christmas that we have not needed to economize.Helmer: Still, you know, we can't spend money recklessly.Nora: Yes, Torvald, we may be a wee bit more reckless now, mayn't we? Just a tiny wee bit! You are going to have a big salary and earn lots and lots of money.Helmer: Yes, after the New Year; but then it will be a whole quarter before the salary is due.

Read the passage from A Doll’s House.Helmer: That is like a woman! But seriously, Nora, you know what I think about that. No debt, no borrowing. There can be no freedom or beauty about a home life that depends on borrowing and debt. We two have kept bravely on the straight road so far, and we will go on the same way for the short time longer that there need be any struggle.Nora: [moving towards the stove]. As you please, Torvald.Helmer: [following her]. Come, come, my little skylark must not droop her wings. What is this! Is my little squirrel out of temper? [Taking out his purse.] Nora, what do you think I have got here?Nora: [turning around quickly]. Money!Helmer: There you are. [Gives her some money.] Do you think I don't know what a lot is wanted for housekeeping at Christmas-time?Nora: [counting]. Ten shillings—a pound—two pounds! Thank you, thank you, Torvald; that will keep me going for a long time.Helmer: Indeed it must.