unreliability of appearances theme

Question 1

Nora’s personality

Answer 1

she initially seems a silly, childish woman, but as the play progresses, we see that she is intelligent, motivated, and by the conclusion, a strong-willed, independent thinker

Question 2

Torvald plays

Answer 2

the part of the strong, benevolent husband

reveals himself to be cowardly, petty and selfish when he fears Krogstad may expose the scandal

Question 3

Krogstad is

Answer 3

revealed to be a much more sympathetic and merciful character than he appears to be

Question 4

plays climax

Answer 4

largely a matter of resolving identity confusion - we see Krogstad as an earnest lover, Nora as an intelligent, brave woman, and Torvald as a simpering, sad man

Question 5

Torvald craves

Answer 5

respect from his employees, friends and wife

status and image are important to him

Question 6

disrespect angers Torvald

Answer 6

Nora calls him “petty” and Krogstad calls him by his first name

Question 7

Torvald’s obsession

Answer 7

with controlling his home’s appearance and his denial of reality have harmed his happiness irreparably

Question 8

shattering of illusions

Answer 8

each time an illusion is shattered, it signifies another wall of her Doll’s House breaking down, edging her close to freedom

Question 9

over three acts

Answer 9

the illusion of bourgeois contentment unravels

Question 10

doorbell

Answer 10

A bell represents openly asking the household for incoming, opposed to the more secretive knocking of Krogstad