English homework.

01/03/13
1. Write 2 paragraphs explaining why A Dolls House is
described a
Well made play.
2. The last sound the audience hears is the door slamming
shut after Noras departure. Examine the significance
(dramatically and literary) of this stage device.

1: A doll's house as a well-made play.

A well-made play is a form of French theatre that started
in France and was introduced by Eugene Scribe. It talks
about one subject; its plot is structural and continues in a
normal arrangement of incidents. A doll's house contains
most of the characteristics or features of the well-made
play. The play is going forward in logical order; there are
no flashbacks, no metaphysical concerns. Second feature
is the presence of a secret, which is known to the
audience but not known to the hero of the play, and this
secret in the play was the forgery that Nora did to save
her husbands life. It was known to the audience but not to
Helmer. Also there is always a threat to the security and
safety of the hero and there is a state of suspense when
Krogstad was threatening Nora to tell her husband Helmer
about the forgery. There also were timely arrivals of

characters coming from outside country or returning back

from a long journey like Mrs. Linde.

Another aspect is the settings of the play as it was very

realistic. Ibsen described very carefully the furniture the
living room, also describing the real settings, lots of exits
and entrance as in the real life. The lowest point of the
hero's fortune occurs just before what happened with Nora
at the end of the play, that is when she wanted to commit
suicide. However after this she started to realize herself as
just playing the role of the doll from her father's hand then
to her husbands hand, and decided to talk about it with
her husband for the first time. Finally for the conclusion it
was logical and clear, and it was not supposed to have any
remainder or unsolved quotient to puzzle the audience.

2. Noras departure
Noras dramatic departure from the scene shows that she
is definitely leaving the household, therefore abandoning
her husband and her children. This shows that she wishes
to end all sorts of relationship with her family and start a
new life.

Ibsen cleverly chooses to end the play on that surprising

note to point out that Noras decision was made, and that
she wouldnt change her mind.