An old powerpoint from highschool for higher level IB engilsh. A doll's house is one of my favorite plays so if you're trying to cheat your way from reading it I'll be mad. Read it, it's awesome. And yes, the characters are excruciatingly whiny and obnoxious and all remind me of my sister. Hope it helps!

1. HENRIK IBSEN
NIKITA
MARK
SATYA

2. DRAMATIC IRONY
Ibsen usesdramaticironytobuildtensiontowards the climax of the play.
Italsomeansthatwesee the real nature of the
Helmer’srelationshipwithoutpretence.
Thisis a virtuethat Ibsen wishedtheretobe more of in hiscontemporary society.
The mainexampleofthis in Act3, iswhen the audience isawareof
Linde &Krogstad’splantoreveal the loantoThorvald.
“Helmermustknowallaboutit. Thisunhappy secret
mustbedisclosed.” (P.63)

3. JUXTAPOSITION WealsoseeThorvald and Nora contrast Linde and Krogstad, as the
Helmer’srelationshipfallsapart the other’sisrekindled. Ibsen
usesthistechniquetoemphasisehow society hadbecome so fixated on
outwardappearancethat the truereasonsforcoupling.
T and Nappear happy buthaverealproblems.
“Alltheseeightyears–shewhowasmyjoy and pride– a hypocrite, a liar-
worse, worse- a criminal!” (P. 72)
K and Lhavehadproblemsbut are happy witheachother.
“Allmy life...I haveworked, and ithasbeenmygreatest and
onlypleasure...Nils, give me someone and somethingto work for.”
(P.61)

4. JUXTAPOSITION In particular Mrs. Linde’simportanceas a minor
characterisastojuxtaposeNora
Nora Mrs.
hasneverhadto Lindehashadto
work and work allher life,
treatsherrelatio and
nshipsas way treatsrelationships
tobecaredfor. as way
ofcaringforothers

5. SYMBOLISM SLAMMING DOOR
Nora walks out on her
husband and children and
asserts her humanity
The final stage direction of the
sound of the door slamming
shut could symbolize the
closing of the 19th century
beliefs and the birth of
modernism
“my duty to myself” –Nora (act 3)

6. SYMBOLISM CLOTHES
Nora'sfancydressfor the WhensheleavesTorvald in
party symbolizes the the last act, she first
charactersheplays in changesintodifferentcloth
hermarriagetoTorvald es
Pg. 55, Act 2 NORA:
Yes, nobody is to have the
chance of admiring me in
my dress until to-morrow.
Thisrepresentsherdecisiontobecomenew woman. Shetakes out herdressto
wear a usualeverydaydaygarment, withthatsheputshernew persona of a
free women.

7. SYMBOLISM TARANTELLA DANCE
-The dance itself centralizes
around dancing until one is so
exhausted that they fall to the
ground or a miracle occurs and
the person is saved
Someonebittenby the -The dance originated in
tarantella
usuallymovesaroundwi Taranto, where Italians would
dely in agony, but in the attempt to rid themselves of
processofsuch wide Tarantula venom through
movements, ends up
working the poison out dancing. They would dance
of the system. until death.

8. "An atmosphere oflieslikethatinfects and poisons the whole life of a
SYMBOLISM home.” (Torvald)
-Act1
“I don’t believe in wonderful things anymore” (Nora)
-Act 3
(p.82)
ByleavingTorvald
(uponfinishing the dance)
shehas in
effectridherselfofpoison.
Shemanifestsherpsychologic RELEASE OF
aldiscomfortphysically.
POISON
“Wonderfulthings” couldbe
a referenceto a miracle–like
the onethathas just
=
occurred–unexpected, TARANTELLA
surprising, unlikely DANCE

9. “…a trifle too realistic” - Torvald
SYMBOLISM -Act 3
Hermental and
physicalpainismanifeste
d in herrapid and
oftenundirectedmovem
ents.

10. SYMBOLISM RINGS
“I havebeenperformingtricksforyou, Torvald,”
Nora comestorealizethat in additiontoherliteral dancing and
singingtricks, shehasbeenputting on a show throughouthermarriage…
Rings = Symbol of perpetuity and continuity
Exchange of rings represents change.
There is a concept of time without end explored.

11. SYMBOLISM

12. MOTIFS
Loss of innocence
(Despite Nora illegally taking out a loan, Nora’s motives
were honest and innocent. She losses this innocence
when she leaves Torvald.)
“It gives me great pain, Torvald, for you have always been
so kind to me, but I cannot help it. I do not love you
anymore” (pg. 79)

13. DOLL IMAGERY
IMAGERY
Torvald rules Nora as ifshewere a marionetteon a
string.
Thisis comparable tothehanginghorseheadsonthe
set ofEquuswhich are alsoused as a
pointedreferencetothepuppet-likewaysofthesociety
Dr. Dysartgrew up in (70’sBritain).
AlsoTorvald?

14. DOLL IMAGERY
IMAGERY
EVIDENCE OF DOLLHOUSE –
(Nora lives in a doll house and is played with like a
doll throughout her life by her father or Trovald.) “I
have been your doll-wife, just at home I was was
papa’s doll-child” (77)
EVIDENCE OF DOLL AS OBJECTIFICATION OF NORA-
“Doll-child (…) play (…) transferred from Papa’s hands
into yours (…) arranged everything (…) tricks for you (…)
room has been nothing but a playroom p.76

15. BIRD IMAGERY
IMAGERY
Lexical field of bird imagery
“singing-bird (74)
dove (74)
hawk’s claws (74)
poor beating heart (74)
scared, helpless, darling (75)
Birds are normallyappreciatedbymost
people, butthey are stilllocked in cages…
NORA (+ OTHER 19TH CCENTURY WOMEN)=
Admired and idolized(“lovelysingingbird,” “look at
mydearesttreasure”)
butnotRespected(“sillyfeatherbrain”)

16. OnepurposecouldbeSocial criticism
IMAGERY
DOLL AND BIRD IMAGERY
Constriction and Thesenicknamesthat
restraintswithinhero Torvaldgives Nora
wn home are
allusuallyfollowedby
the possessive "my,"
signalingTorvald'sbel
iefthat Nora ishis.

17. Ibsen shows character development
DEVELOPMENT through the use of language. The use
CHARACTER
of past tense and describing her past
self shows how she has developed as
a character.
“When the whole thing was past, as far as you were
concerned it was exactly as if nothing at all
hadhappened. Exactly as before, I was your little skylark,
your doll which you would in future treat with doubly
gentle care, because it was so brittle and fragile” (80).

18. ACT 1
DEVELOPMENT
Child like personality.
Loyal pet
CHARACTER
To have a clean beautiful house, the way Torvald likes it.
ACT 2
Seems more desperate.
Thinks individually.
Erases the image of a silly girl
“Oh, if it is a wife who has any head for business…..has the wit
to be little bit clever.”
Gains sense of reality
Independent
Enlightened + Self Awareness
Real protagonist