A Doll’s House
By
Henrik Ibsen
LC Revision Notes
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1 A Doll’s House – LC Revision Notes – English Literature
© irevise.com 2016.
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2 A Doll’s House – LC Revision Notes – English Literature
Table of Contents
Context ................................................................................................................................... 5
A Note on the Title ............................................................................................................................. 5
Summary ................................................................................................................................ 6
Analysis .................................................................................................................................. 9
Act 1 ................................................................................................................................................... 9
From the opening of the play to the announcement of Dr. Rank’s and Mrs. Linde’s arrivals ........ 9
From the beginning of Nora’s conversation with Mrs. Linde to Nora’s promise to talk to Torvald
about finding Mrs. Linde work ........................................................................................................ 9
From Mrs. Linde’s accusation that Nora is still a child to the exit of Dr. Rank, Torvald, and Mrs.
Linde .............................................................................................................................................. 10
From the entrance of Nora’s children to the end of Act One ....................................................... 11
Act Two ............................................................................................................................................ 12
Act 3 ................................................................................................................................................. 13
From the opening of the act to the arrival of Krogstad’s second letter ....................................... 13
From Torvald’s attempt to start over after burning Krogstad’s contract to the end of the play . 14
Characters............................................................................................................................. 16
Nora ................................................................................................................................................. 16
Torvald Helmer – Nora’s husband ................................................................................................... 16
Krogstad ........................................................................................................................................... 17
Mrs. Linde ........................................................................................................................................ 17
Dr. Rank............................................................................................................................................ 17
Bob, Emmy, and Ivar ........................................................................................................................ 18
Anne-Marie ...................................................................................................................................... 18
Nora’s father .................................................................................................................................... 18
Themes, Motifs & Symbols .................................................................................................... 19
Themes............................................................................................................................................. 19
The Sacrificial Role of Women ...................................................................................................... 19
Parental and Filial Obligations ...................................................................................................... 19
The Unreliability of Appearances .................................................................................................. 20
Motifs ............................................................................................................................................... 20
Nora’s Definition of Freedom ....................................................................................................... 20
Letters ........................................................................................................................................... 20
Symbols ............................................................................................................................................ 21
The Christmas Tree ....................................................................................................................... 21
3 A Doll’s House – LC Revision Notes – English Literature