Read the excerpt from act 2 of A Doll's House.Nora: That letter is from Krogstad.Mrs. Linde: Nora—it was Krogstad who lent you the money!Nora: Yes, and now Torvald will know all about it.Mrs. Linde: Believe me, Nora, that's the best thing for both of you.Nora: You don't know all. I forged a name.Mrs. Linde: Good heavens—!Nora: I only want to say this to you, Christine—you must be my witness.Mrs. Linde: Your witness? What do you mean? What am I to—?Nora: If I should go out of my mind—and it might easily happen—Mrs. Linde: Nora!Nora: Or if anything else should happen to me—anything, for instance, that might prevent my being here—Mrs. Linde: Nora! Nora! you are quite out of your mind.Nora: And if it should happen that there were some one who wanted to take all the responsibility, all the blame, you understand—Mrs. Linde: Yes, yes—but how can you suppose—?Nora: Then you must be my witness, that it is not true, Christine. I am not out of my mind at all; I am in my right senses now, and I tell you no one else has known anything about it; I, and I alone, did the whole thing. Remember that.
What dramatic irony occurs in this passage? Select two options.
Read the excerpt from act 2 of A Doll's House.Rank: And what other nice things am I to be allowed to see?Nora: Not a single thing more, for being so naughty. [She looks among the things, humming to herself.]Rank: [after a short silence] When I am sitting here, talking to you as intimately as this, I cannot imagine for a moment what would have become of me if I had never come into this house.Nora: [smiling] I believe you do feel thoroughly at home with us.Rank: [in a lower voice, looking straight in front of him] And to be obliged to leave it all—Nora: Nonsense, you are not going to leave it.Rank: [as before] And not be able to leave behind one the slightest token of one's gratitude, scarcely even a fleeting regret—nothing but an empty place which the first comer can fill as well as any other.Nora: And if I asked you now for a—? No!Rank: For what?Nora: For a big proof of your friendship—Rank: Yes, yes!Nora: I mean a tremendously big favour—Rank: Would you really make me so happy for once?Nora: Ah, but you don't know what it is yet.Rank: No—but tell me.Nora: I really can't, Doctor Rank. It is something out of all reason; it means advice, and help, and a favour—Rank: The bigger a thing it is the better. I can't conceive what it is you mean. Do tell me. Haven't I your confidence?Nora: More than anyone else. I know you are my truest and best friend, and so I will tell you what it is. Well, Doctor Rank, it is something you must help me to prevent. You know how devotedly, how inexpressibly deeply Torvald loves me; he would never for a moment hesitate to give his life for me.
Read the excerpt from act 2 of A Doll's House.Nora: [going up to HELMER] I have wanted you so much, Torvald dear.Helmer: Was that the dressmaker?Nora: No, it was Christine; she is helping me to put my dress in order. You will see I shall look quite smart.Helmer: Wasn't that a happy thought of mine, now?Nora: Splendid! But don't you think it is nice of me, too, to do as you wish?Helmer: Nice?—because you do as your husband wishes? Well, well, you little rogue, I am sure you did not mean it in that way. But I am not going to disturb you; you will want to be trying on your dress, I expect.Nora: I suppose you are going to work.Helmer: Yes. [Shows her a bundle of papers.] Look at that. I have just been into the bank. [Turns to go into his room.]Nora: Torvald.Helmer: Yes.Nora: If your little squirrel were to ask you for something very, very prettily—?Helmer: What then?Nora: Would you do it?Helmer: I should like to hear what it is, first.Nora: Your squirrel would run about and do all her tricks if you would be nice, and do what she wants.Helmer: Speak plainly.Nora: Your skylark would chirp about in every room, with her song rising and falling—Helmer: Well, my skylark does that anyhow.Nora: I would play the fairy and dance for you in the moonlight, Torvald.
Read the excerpt from act 2 of A Doll's House.Mrs. Linde: Listen to me, Nora. You are still very like a child in many things, and I am older than you in many ways and have a little more experience. Let me tell you this—you ought to make an end of it with Doctor Rank.Nora: What ought I to make an end of?Mrs. Linde: Of two things, I think. Yesterday you talked some nonsense about a rich admirer who was to leave you money—Nora: An admirer who doesn't exist, unfortunately! But what then?Mrs. Linde: Is Doctor Rank a man of means?Nora: Yes, he is.Mrs. Linde: And has no one to provide for?Nora: No, no one; but—Mrs. Linde: And comes here everyday?Nora: Yes, I told you so.Mrs. Linde: But how can this well-bred man be so tactless?Nora: I don't understand you at all.Mrs. Linde: Don't prevaricate, Nora. Do you suppose I don't guess who lent you the two hundred and fifty pounds?
Read the excerpt from act 2 of A Doll's House.Mrs. Linde: When you introduced him to me yesterday, he declared he had often heard my name mentioned in this house; but afterwards I noticed that your husband hadn't the slightest idea who I was. So how could Doctor Rank—?Nora: That is quite right, Christine. Torvald is so absurdly fond of me that he wants me absolutely to himself, as he says. At first he used to seem almost jealous if I mentioned any of the dear folk at home, so naturally I gave up doing so. But I often talk about such things with Doctor Rank, because he likes hearing about them.Mrs. Linde: Listen to me, Nora. You are still very like a child in many things, and I am older than you in many ways and have a little more experience. Let me tell you this—you ought to make an end of it with Doctor Rank.
What evidence from the text supports the prediction that Helmer will learn the contents of the letter? Select three options.
Read the excerpt from act 2 of A Doll's House.Nora: You never can tell what mischief these men may contrive. We ought to be so well off, so snug and happy here in our peaceful home, and have no cares—you and I and the children, Torvald! That is why I beg you so earnestly—Helmer: And it is just by interceding for him that you make it impossible for me to keep him. It is already known at the Bank that I mean to dismiss Krogstad. Is it to get about now that the new manager has changed his mind at his wife's bidding—Nora: And what if it did?Helmer: Of course!—if only this obstinate little person can get her way! Do you suppose I am going to make myself ridiculous before my whole staff, to let people think that I am a man to be swayed by all sorts of outside influence? I should very soon feel the consequences of it, I can tell you! And besides, there is one thing that makes it quite impossible for me to have Krogstad in the Bank as long as I am manager.Nora: Whatever is that?Helmer: His moral failings I might perhaps have overlooked, if necessary—Nora: Yes, you could—couldn't you?Helmer: And I hear he is a good worker, too. But I knew him when we were boys. It was one of those rash friendships that so often prove an incubus in afterlife. I may as well tell you plainly, we were once on very intimate terms with one another. But this tactless fellow lays no restraint on himself when other people are present. On the contrary, he thinks it gives him the right to adopt a familiar tone with me, and every minute it is "I say, Helmer, old fellow!" and that sort of thing. I assure you it is extremely painful for me. He would make my position in the Bank intolerable.
Read the excerpt from act 2 of A Doll's House.Helmer: Rank led me to expect a splendid transformation.Rank: [in the doorway] I understood so, but evidently I was mistaken.Nora: Yes, nobody is to have the chance of admiring me in my dress until tomorrow.Helmer: But, my dear Nora, you look so worn out. Have you been practising too much?Nora: No, I have not practised at all.Helmer: But you will need to—Nora: Yes, indeed I shall, Torvald. But I can't get on a bit without you to help me; I have absolutely forgotten the whole thing.Helmer: Oh, we will soon work it up again.Nora: Yes, help me, Torvald. Promise that you will! I am so nervous about it—all the people—. You must give yourself up to me entirely this evening. Not the tiniest bit of business—you mustn't even take a pen in your hand. Will you promise, Torvald dear?Helmer: I promise. This evening I will be wholly and absolutely at your service, you helpless little mortal. Ah, by the way, first of all I will just— [Goes towards the hall door.]Nora: What are you going to do there?Helmer: Only see if any letters have come.Nora: No, no! don't do that, Torvald!Helmer: Why not?Nora: Torvald, please don't. There is nothing there.
Read the excerpt from act 2 of A Doll's House.Helmer: [putting his papers together] Now then, little Miss Obstinate.Nora: [breathlessly]. Torvald—what was that letter?Helmer: Krogstad's dismissal.Nora: Call her back, Torvald! There is still time. Oh Torvald, call her back! Do it for my sake—for your own sake—for the children's sake! Do you hear me, Torvald? Call her back! You don't know what that letter can bring upon us.Helmer: It's too late.Nora: Yes, it's too late.Helmer: My dear Nora, I can forgive the anxiety you are in, although really it is an insult to me. It is, indeed. Isn't it an insult to think that I should be afraid of a starving quill-driver's vengeance? But I forgive you nevertheless, because it is such eloquent witness to your great love for me. [Takes her in his arms.] And that is as it should be, my own darling Nora. Come what will, you may be sure I shall have both courage and strength if they be needed. You will see I am man enough to take everything upon myself.Nora: [in a horror-stricken voice]. What do you mean by that?Helmer: Everything, I say—Nora: [recovering herself] You will never have to do that.Helmer: That's right. Well, we will share it, Nora, as man and wife should. That is how it shall be. [Caressing her.] Are you content now? There! There! Not these frightened dove's eyes! The whole thing is only the wildest fancy! Now, you must go and play through the Tarantella and practise with your tambourine. I shall go into the inner office and shut the door, and I shall hear nothing; you can make as much noise as you please. [Turns back at the door.] And when Rank comes, tell him where he will find me. [Nods to her, takes his papers and goes into his room, and shuts the door after him.]Nora: [bewildered with anxiety, stands as if rooted to the spot, and whispers] He was capable of doing it. He will do it. He will do it in spite of everything. No, not that! Never, never! Anything rather than that! Oh, for some help, some way out of it! [The door-bell rings.] Doctor Rank! Anything rather than that—anything, whatever it is! [She puts her hands over her face, pulls herself together, goes to the door and opens it. RANK is standing without, hanging up his coat. During the following dialogue it begins to grow dark.]
Did you find these answers helpful?