50+ SAQ of A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen

A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen

1. Who is the first character to appear on stage?
   Nora Helmer.
2. What does Nora buy at the beginning of the play?
   Macaroons.
3. Why does Torvald discourage Nora from eating macaroons?
   He believes they are bad for her teeth.
4. What is Torvald’s new job at the bank?
   Bank manager.
5. What secret does Nora reveal to Mrs. Linde about her trip to Italy?
   She secretly borrowed money for the trip.
6. What forged document does Krogstad possess?
   Nora's signature on a loan document.
7. What crime does Torvald accuse Krogstad of committing in the past?
   Forgery.
8. Why does Nora consider herself to be like a doll?
   She has always been treated as a plaything by her father and husband.
9. Who is Dr. Rank, and what is his ailment?
   A family friend; he is dying from tuberculosis of the spine.
10. What is the final action Nora takes before leaving her home?
    She slams the door behind her.
11. How does Torvald react to Krogstad’s first letter?
    He is furious and blames Nora.
12. What does Mrs. Linde encourage Krogstad to do?
    Leave the letter in the mailbox to let the truth come out.
13. What is Torvald’s pet name for Nora?
    "Little squirrel" or "little skylark."
14. Why does Nora contemplate suicide?
    To prevent Torvald from taking the blame for her forgery.
15. How does Dr. Rank reveal his feelings for Nora?
    By confessing his love in a veiled manner.
16. What does Nora plan to do with the loan repayment?
    Secretly save up and pay it off herself.
17. What role does Mrs. Linde play in resolving the conflict?
    She persuades Krogstad to reconsider his actions.
18. What is the significance of the tarantella dance in the play?
    It symbolizes Nora’s desperation to distract Torvald and delay the revelation.
19. What letter does Dr. Rank send to Torvald, and what does it signify?
    A calling card with a black cross; it signifies his impending death.
20. Why does Torvald forgive Nora after reading Krogstad’s second letter?
    The loan and forgery are resolved, so his reputation is no longer at risk.
21. What theme is highlighted by Nora’s realization about her marriage?
    The lack of equality and personal freedom.
22. How does Ibsen critique societal norms in the play?
    By showcasing the constraints placed on women in a patriarchal society.
23. What is the significance of money in the play?
    It symbolizes power, control, and independence.
24. How does Ibsen depict the role of women in 19th-century society?
    As subservient and confined to domestic spheres.
25. What does the Christmas tree symbolize?
    Nora's deteriorating emotional state and facade of happiness.
26. What is the main moral conflict of the play?
    The clash between societal expectations and personal authenticity.
27. Why is Nora’s act of forgery important thematically?
    It demonstrates her agency within a restricted role.
28. How does the title A Doll’s House relate to the central theme?
    It reflects Nora’s constrained and artificial life in her marriage.
29. What does Torvald value most?
    His social reputation.
30. What does Nora value most by the end of the play?
    Her independence and identity.
31. What does the locked mailbox represent?
    Torvald's control over Nora.
32. What is the significance of the costumes in the play?
    They symbolize the roles Nora plays to appease Torvald.
33. Why does Ibsen use the tarantella as a symbol?
    It mirrors Nora’s frantic effort to escape her predicament.
34. What does Dr. Rank’s illness represent?
    Moral and societal decay.
35. How does the lamp function symbolically in Dr. Rank’s scene with Nora?
    It symbolizes illumination and truth.
36. What do the macaroons symbolize?
    Nora’s small acts of rebellion against Torvald’s control.
37. Why is the play set during Christmas?
    To juxtapose themes of renewal and disillusionment.
38. What does the door slamming at the end signify?
    Nora’s break from her oppressive life.
39. How does the play use letters as a symbol?
    They serve as catalysts for truth and conflict.
40. What does Krogstad’s transformation symbolize?
    The possibility of redemption and change.
41. In what year was A Doll’s House published?
    1879.
42. What societal issue does the play primarily address?
    Women’s rights and autonomy.
43. How was the play received at the time of its release?
    It was controversial and sparked debates about gender roles.
44. What inspired Ibsen to write the play?
    Real-life stories of women struggling under societal constraints.
45. How did critics react to Nora leaving her children?
    Many condemned it as immoral and unnatural.
46. What alternate ending was forced upon Ibsen?
    Nora stays for her children’s sake.
47. What movement is A Doll’s House associated with?
    Realism.
48. How does the play challenge 19th-century marital norms?
    By portraying marriage as a restrictive and unequal institution.
49. What was unusual about Nora’s character for the time?
    Her assertion of independence and rejection of societal roles.
50. What legal rights did women lack during the play’s setting?
    The right to borrow money or control their finances without male consent.