Ibsen context Flashcards
Who is considered to be the most widely performed playwright after Shakespeare?
Henrik Johan Ibsen
Ibsen is widely recognized for his influence on modernism in European theatre.
In what year was Henrik Ibsen born?
1828
What was the occupation of Ibsen’s father, Knud Ibsen?
Merchant
What significant event happened to Ibsen’s family when he was seven years old?
They went bankrupt
How did Ibsen’s childhood poverty affect his later works?
It influenced his distaste for those who abandoned his family.
At what age did Ibsen create a puppet theatre?
12
What was Ibsen’s relationship with his mother like?
Close and strong
What career did Ibsen pursue after leaving school at age 15?
Pharmaceutical apprenticeship
What was the name of Ibsen’s first significant play?
Catilina
What language did Ibsen write all his plays in?
Riksmal
What was the controversial play that Ibsen wrote in 1862?
Love’s Comedy
What major themes did Ibsen often satirize in his works?
Social customs and values
What was Ibsen’s first true success in the contemporary style?
A Doll’s House
She was the inspiration for Nora in A Doll’s House?
Laura Kieler
What significant theme does The Master Builder explore?
representation of Man turning against God, a dramatisation of inter-generational conflict, an exploration of Nietzschean concepts of morality and the relationship between imagination and reality. Hilda demands that Solness make the ascent to the top of the building in order to prove his dedication to her and that he will follow through on providing her with the kingdom of her dreams. Although others plead with Solness not to do it, spurred on by his devotion to Hilda, he climbs the house. As he reaches the top, he seems to be struggling, eventually toppling to the ground, lifeless.
In what year did Ibsen die?
1906
What was the title of Ibsen’s final work?
When We Dead Awaken
What major social issues did Ibsen address in his later works?
Death, gender, murder, and suicide
Fill in the blank: Ibsen’s plays are known for their _______ realism.
unapologetic
True or False: Ibsen’s style was characterized by a quick-witted satirical approach.
True
What was the impact of Ibsen’s works on modern theatre?
They significantly shaped the theatre culture of Europe and the West.
