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1. English Literature - Old Spec Master Decks > A Doll's House Revision > Flashcards

A Doll's House Revision Flashcards

AQA Paper 2 Revision

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1
Q

Why were Ibsen’s plays often described as ‘scandalous’ or ‘inappropriate’?

A

Because they challenged the social norms of European society in the late 19th century.

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2
Q

Despite Ibsen’s popularity his plays were often described as what?

A

Scandalous and inappropriate.

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3
Q

What two literary groups does Ibsen’s work fit into?

A

Realism and Modernism

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4
Q

Ibsen was described as ‘the father of _____ ‘ in drama.

A

Realism

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5
Q

Ibsen was often thought of as a pioneer of what?

A

Modernism

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6
Q

When was A Doll’s House first performed?

A

1879

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7
Q

What was the Napoleonic Code?

A

A law in Europe that prevented women from engaging in financial transactions

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8
Q

In the late 19th century, why did so many women refuse to marry?

A

Because the laws regarding what married women could do when it came to finances were so limiting.

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9
Q

What happens at the beginning of the 20th century, which could be linked to an emerging change of attitudes towards women in the late 19th century?

A

Women’s suffrage.

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10
Q

Which Russian dramatist, who also critiqued family, society and morality, was writing at the same time as Ibsen?

A

Anton Chekhov

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11
Q

Who is A Doll’s House thought to be partially based on?

A

Laura Kieler

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12
Q

How did Laura Kieler influence the play?

A

Kieler also loaned money behind her husband’s back. When he discovered what she had done he had her committed to an insane asylum for 2 years.

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13
Q

What did Kieler do after being released from an insane asylum that is drastically different to the play?

A

She returned to live with her husband and children.

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14
Q

Why was A Doll’s House considered so scandalous?

A

Because of its criticism of 19th century marriage and the portrayal of a woman abandoning her family and her role.

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15
Q

Due to the scandal surrounding the play, what was Ibsen forced to do?

A

Write an alternative ending.

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16
Q

What happens in the alternative ending?

A

Nora changes her mind and decides to stay with Torvald after seeing her children.

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17
Q

What did Ibsen call the alternative ending he was forced to write?

A

‘a barbaric outrage’.

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18
Q

When seeing the Christmas Tree in Act One, how does Torvald refer to Nora?

A

‘little skylark’ and ‘little squirrel’

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19
Q

Why did Nora borrow money?

A

To fund a trip to Italy in order to save Torvald’s life as he had grown ill.

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20
Q

Who did Nora borrow money from?

A

Krogstad

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21
Q

What does Nora dressing up for a fancy dress ball to dance the tarantella symbolise?

A

The idea of performance and identity. Nora is dressing up to appease others, in a similar way that she plays her role of a house wife to appears Torvald.

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22
Q

What does Nora declare at the end of Act One?

A

That she has thirty-one hours to live (threatening to kill herself) to save Torvald from having to defend her and ruin his career.

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23
Q

Why didn’t Mrs. Linde marry Krogstad initially?

A

Because a richer man provided her with a better way to support her family.

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24
Q

How does Ibsen use Mrs. Linde’s first marriage to critique society?

A

It is made clear that she married out of necessity for status rather than love - something that is mirrored in Torvald’s view of his own marriage.

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25
Q

Why does Mrs. Linde refuse to let Krogstad take back the letter?

A

Because she believes it is better for the truth to come out.

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26
Q

Why does Torvald decide to forgive Nora?

A

Because Krogstad rescinds his threat and there is no longer any danger to his reputation.

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27
Q

Why dos Nora leave?

A

Because she wants to discover a true sense of who she is, free from the constraint of marriage and gender boundaries.

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28
Q

What are some of the animalistic names Torvald uses to refer to Nora?

A

squirrel, skylark, songbird, pet.

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29
Q

What do the macaroon’s symbolise? (three things)

A
  1. Nora’s internal desires for more than she is supposed to have.
  2. Torvald’s control of his wife in every aspect.
  3. Nora’s ‘deceitful’ nature as she continues to eat them anyway.
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30
Q

Using quotation: How does Torvald feel about his children?

A

They are ‘unbearable to anyone except mothers’.

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31
Q

Torvald’s indifferent attitude to the death of his friend, Dr. Rank, is crucial in the process of reshaping him as the what of the play?

A

Antagonist

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32
Q

Who is the first antagonist of the play?

A

Krogstad

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33
Q

Who arguably becomes the second antagonist of the play?

A

Torvald

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34
Q

Who is the antagonist of the play? (Three choices)

A

Torvald
Krogstad
‘Late 19th century society’

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35
Q

How does Mrs. Linde both fit and challenge the roles expected of women?

A
  1. She desires to work, earn money and survive independently.
  2. She wishes to serves others, fitting into the more traditional role of women as nurturers.
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36
Q

Why does Ibsen have Mrs. Linde both embody and challenge ideas of stereotypical female roles?

A

Because Ibsen isn’t arguing that women shouldn’t perform the nurture role at all, he is arguing that they should have the choice to do both.

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37
Q

What crime did Krogstad commit?

A

Forgery

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38
Q

Why does Krogstad blackmail Nora?

A

Because he has losing his job. He is another example of the unmerciful nature of society forcing people towards immorality.

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39
Q

Why was Anne Marie forced to give up her children?

A

Because they were born out of wedlock and the father refused to support them.

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40
Q

How does Nora refer to her secret of borrowing money?

A

Her ‘pride’

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41
Q

How does Nora describe being in control of her money?

A

‘almost like being a man.’

42
Q

When discussing being in control of her money, Nora states that it was ‘almost like being a _____’.

A

Man

43
Q

What is the Christmas tree a symbol of?

A

It symbolizes family happiness and unity.

44
Q

At the beginning of Act Two, what happens to Christmas tree according to the stage directions?

A

It looks ‘bedraggled.’

45
Q

What does the Christmas tree becoming ‘bedraggled’ symbolise?

A

It symbolises that the happiness of the household is withering as Nora starts to lose her innocence.

46
Q

How might the tarantella symbolise Nora’s independence?

A

The fiery, passionate dance allows her to escape the perfect, mild-mannered Victorian doll she plays.

47
Q

How might the tarantella symbolise Nora’s opression?

A

Torvald desires her when she performs it; it acts as another symbol of her trying to appease men.

48
Q

What do the doll’s houses mentioned early on in the play represent?

A

The false marriage that Nora and Torvald are ‘playing’ at.

49
Q

What does Nora’s comment that the doll’s are cheap and will break soon anyway foreshadow?

A

The breaking up of her family life by leaving Torvald.

50
Q

What does Nora refer to her children as when she is playing with them?

A

‘Little dollies’

51
Q

What does Nora referring to her children as ‘little dollies’ indicate?

A

That her children are likely to be forced into the same roles that she has.

52
Q

‘Nora! Just like a _______.’ (Act One)

A

Woman

53
Q

What does Torvalds comment that her spending money is ‘just like a woman’ reinforce?

A

That women cannot be trusted with finances; the reason the Napoleonic Code exists.

54
Q

‘I would _____ ______ of doing anything you didn’t want me to.’ (Act One)

A

‘never dream’

55
Q

What does a ‘safe job and a good fat income’ indicate? (Act One)

A

The importance of money and status in that society.

56
Q

‘But it was tremendous ___ all the same, sitting there working and earning money like that.’ (Act One)

A

fun

57
Q

How does Nora describe working and earning money in Act One?

A

fun

58
Q

Why does Nora brag about ‘[having] a little influence now and again’? (Act One)

A

Because she feels a brief sense of power that she rarely experiences.

59
Q

When bragging about getting Mrs. Linde a job, Nora talks about being a woman and ‘people in subordinate positions’. Why has Ibsen done this?

A

To link the characters of Nora and Krogstad. They cannot act freely or work their way to what they want because of those in power - symbolised for both through the character of Torvald.

60
Q

What is ironic about Torvald stating that he would not ‘necessarily want to condemn a man for a single mistake’? (Act One)

A

Because at the end of the play he so easily condemns a women (his wife) for one mistake.

61
Q

‘not so heartless that I would necessarily want to condemn a ___ for a single mistake like that.’ (Act One)

A

man

62
Q

How does ‘he can never drop the mask’ (Act One) once again link Nora and Krogstad?

A

It serves as a reminder of the mask she has to wear, playing her strict Victorian role.

63
Q

How is dramatic irony employed when Torvald says: ‘A fog of lies like that in a household, and it spreads disease and infection’? (Act One)

A

The audience are aware that Torvald’s house is also full of lies but he does not realise it.
It also foreshadows the disease and infection that will come to ruin his family home too.

64
Q

‘A fog of lies like that in a household, and it spreads ____ and _____ to every part of it.’ (Act One)

A

disease/infection

65
Q

‘When a poor girl’s been in trouble she _____ make the best of things.’ (Act Two)

A

must

66
Q

Analyse: ‘[Torvald] says he wants me all to himself.’ (Act Two)

A

It shows the possessive nature of their relationship. At this moment in the play, Nora finds it endearing, suggesting she is not fully aware of her role yet.

67
Q

‘So __ ____ I stopped doing it.’ (Act Two)

A

of course

68
Q

Analyse: ‘So of course I stopped doing it.’ (Act Two)

A

‘Of course’ shows how engrained societal expectations are for women. To Nora at this stage in the play it is so self-evident that she obeys her husband without question.

69
Q

Who says ‘a man’s better at coping with these things than a woman’? (Act Two)

A

Nora

70
Q

‘A _____ better at coping with these things than a woman.’ (Act Two)

A

man’s

71
Q

What infuriates Torvald so much about the idea of hiring Krogstad back?

A

The idea that someone should find out he has ‘been talked over by his wife.’ (Act Two)

72
Q

‘Talked over by his ____’. (Act Two)

A

Wife

73
Q

‘As long as the _____ ______ gets her own stubborn way.’ (Act Two)

A

little woman

74
Q

‘Do you want to make me a laughing stock of __ _____?

A

the office

75
Q

How is society presented when Torvald states that if someone found out his wife had convinced him to rehire Krogstad, he’d ‘feel the consequences of that!’ (Act Two)

A

It presents society as harsh and unforgiving as it punishes anyone who does not go along with its narrow-minded prejudices.

76
Q

How is Nora presented when, after Dr Rank tells her he is dying she says: ‘You’ll see tomorrow how nicely I can dance.’? (Act Two)

A

As childish and two-dimensional at this point. Her inability to engage with the seriousness of the topic shows her as being as infantile as she is treated.

77
Q

‘You can pretend I’m doing it ___ ___ ___’ (Act Two)

A

just for you

78
Q

How can the quotation ‘You can pretend I’m doing it just for you’ be as both sexist and third-wave feminist?

A

Sexist - she is obeying the male gaze, using her dance to appease men.
Feminist - she is using her attractiveness to exert a degree of power over Dr. Rank.

79
Q

What does Krogstad view as most important, suggested by the quotation: ‘I won’t stand for being taken back again as an act of charity’? (Act Two)

A

Status and reputation

80
Q

‘A ____ _____ ____ thing like you.’ (Act Two)

A

precious / little / pampered

81
Q

‘____ me what to do, _____ me right – as you always do.’ (Act Two)

A

Tell / Keep

82
Q

Analyse Nora’s use of imperatives in: ‘Tell me what to do, keep me right - as you always do.’ (Act Two)

A

It shows Nora to still be helpless and in need of direction from men. This is of course a huge contrast to how Nora ends the play.

83
Q

‘You are dancing as though ___ ___ ____ ___ __.’ (Act Two)

A

‘your life depended on it’

84
Q

What is the significance of Nora dancing as though her ‘life depended on it?’

A

There is dark humour to the statement as she implies that her livelihood does literally depend on her ability to dance for her husband.

85
Q

‘A heartless woman throws a man over the moment something ____ _______ offers itself.’ (Act Three)

A

more profitable

86
Q

‘Without ______, I couldn’t live’ (Act Three)

A

work

87
Q

Why is Kristine Linde saying ‘without work, I couldn’t live’ significant? (Act Three)

A

Because it shows a desire to exist outside of the traditional roles of women.

88
Q

How does ‘give me somebody and something to work for’ present Mrs. Linde as a complex character?

A

On the one hard she wants to be independent and work, breaking gender roles. On the other, she wants to take cares of others, fulfilling traditional gender roles.

89
Q

What word does Mrs. Linde repeat when discussing Nora’s secret with Krogstad in Act Three?

A

must

90
Q

‘This unhappy secret ______ come out. Those two ____ have the whole thing out.’ (Act Three)

A

Must

91
Q

From a feminist perspective, why ‘must’ Nora’s secret come out?

A

Because it acts as the catalyst for her change. She must reveal her secret in order to challenge the social order and thus begin to break free from it.

92
Q

How does the following quotation from Act Three reframe Torvald? ‘His suffering and loneliness seemed almost to provide a background of dark cloud to the sunshine of our lives.’

A

It reframes him as a clear antagonist. He cares not for the death of his friend and states he only kept him around as it made them look and feel better about their lives.

93
Q

What does ‘his suffering and loneliness seemed almost to provide a background of dark cloud to the sunshine of our lives.’ indicate about Torvald? (Act Three)

A

That his idea of a happy and meaningful life is based on outside appearance, foreshadowing his reaction when Nora reveals her secret.

94
Q

‘indescribably moving and satisfying in knowing that he has forgiven ____ wife’ (Act Three)

A

his

95
Q

‘It made her his ______ in a double sense’ (Act Three)

A

property

96
Q

In Act Three how does Torvald define his wife when linking her to the idea of property?

A

‘his wife’ and ‘his child’

97
Q

‘I have been your ______ wife, just as at home I was Daddy’s _____ child.’ (Act Three)

A

doll

98
Q

‘And the children have been my ______.’ (Act Three)

A

dolls

99
Q

In Act Three, as the play draws to the conclusion, what does Nora compare her marriage to?

A

playing with dolls

100
Q

‘I am an _________, just as much as you are.’ (Act Three)

A

Individual

101
Q

‘I have to think things for ________, and get things ______.’ (Act Three)

A

myself/clear

102
Q
A

1. English Literature - Old Spec Master Decks (15 decks)

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