MAY 18: Lesson Two - A Doll's House

Introduction

Lesson Four - A Doll's House
Duration - 5 blocks (5 x 80 min + homework)

"Our home has been nothing but a playroom. I have been our doll-wife, just as at home I was papa's doll-child; and here the children have been my dolls." - Nora, to her husband, Torvald, in A Doll's House 

A Doll’s House, a realistic three-act play, focuses on late nineteenth century life in a middle-class Scandinavian household, in which the wife is expected to be contentedly passive and the husband paternally protective. Nora Helmer, however, has subverted this model. At that time, a woman could not sign a legal contract alone; thus, when her beloved husband, Torvald, became ill, Nora secretly obtained a loan by forging her father’s signature so that they could travel to a warmer climate. As the play opens, Torvald is about to become manager of the bank and Nora has almost repaid the loan through odd jobs and scrimping on the household expenses. Nora discloses her actions to her friend Kristine Linde and exults in her accomplishment. (enotes.com)

Part One

Document
A Doll's House Context

Website
Henrik Ibsen - Biography

Read through the document linked above which outlines the context in which Henrik Ibsen's drama, A Doll's House is set. Consider how the society of the drama is different from ours. Consider that there may be similarities, as well.

Part Two

The Play

A Doll's House - PDF

A Doll's House - website

A Doll's House - audio

A Doll's House - video

Review A Doll's House, pausing at the end of each scene to read the analysis which corresponds with each it. This discussion is found linked below.

Explore the literature notes websites, below, which contain notes, analysis, and discussions of A Doll's House.

• SparkNotes
• PinkMonkey
• Shmoop
• LitCharts
• GradeSaver
• ResearchGuide

Consider what the analyses and bookmarked sites have to say about the motifs (reoccurring ideas or themes) in A Doll's House.

Assignment

(100 marks)

Open a new PowerPoint document. Label it E301U3L2surname
In this document, complete the assignment outlined below.
Submit this assignment using the Dropbox for U3L2 Dollhouse motif

Choose ONE of the motifs (reoccurring ideas or themes) in A Doll's House

When an individual responds to injustice, there is often a decisive moment between the emotion and the response. Consider what playwright Henrik Ibsen has to say about the role kindness plays when individuals attempt to determine their own destiny in his play, A Doll's House. You are going to focus on ONE motif in the novel that ties together what he has to say. (Keep in mind that you are free to explore a lack of kindness.)

In your presentation, you must do the following:

• Slide 1: Choose ONE of the motifs in A Doll's House. Explain in a paragraph of at least 200 words, how this motif ties together the play. Why is it important?
• Slides 2-6: FIVE sets of quotations, each one referencing your chosen motif, from the play illustrated by photos. (One set per slide.) (You may want to use the website UNSPLASH to find your photos.)
  
• Slides 7-11: What does EACH of the quotations, which references your chosen motif, add to the play? Discuss each one separately in at least three sentences.
• Slides 12-16: Why did you choose EACH one of the photos that you did? How does it support the quotation you have paired it with? Discuss each one separately in at least three sentences. 
• Slide 17: Why did you place your images in the order that you did?  What effect you were you attempting to achieve? Discuss in a paragraph of at least three sentences.
• Slide 18: How does this motif illustrate the role of kindness, or lack thereof? Provide a thesis statement to answer the question, "What idea does playwright Henrik Ibsen develop regarding the role kindness plays when individuals attempt to determine their own destiny?" Explain your thesis in a paragraph of at least three sentences.

Conclusion