Drama Analysis

Due: 7/2 at 11:30 PM on D2L

Goal: Write a short drama analysis of A Doll’s House

Essay Length: 4 pages
Sources: 4 outside sources (does not include primary text)
Format: MLA8

Assignment
Write an analysis of A Doll’s House based on one of the prompts provided below. Please note
that the play is much longer than the pieces of short fiction read during the first unit of this
course. Because of this, you will want to limit your analysis to one character, one element of
fiction, or one theme. This will allow you to analyze the entirety of the character, element, or
theme instead of jumping around in the text. Keep in mind that you must show knowledge of the
entire play in your essay, but not through summary—through analysis.

Prompts
1. When Nora submits to Torvald, telling him, “Whatever you do is always right,” Torvald
replies, “Now my little lark’s talking like a human being.” But later, Nora says “Before
all else, I’m a human being.” Compare and contrast Torvald’s and Nora’s definitions of
“human being” throughout the play.

2. Consider the character of Torvald Helmer. Is Torvald an antagonist? A misogynist? Or

could Torvald be just as much a victim of nineteenth century societal norms as Nora?

3. Many Ibsen critics argue that A Doll’s House is not a feminist play, and is more about
asserting self, regardless of gender. Yet Joan Templeton, in her afterword to the Signet
Classics edition of Ibsen: Four Major Plays Volume I, disagrees, asserting that “Make
(Nora) a man, and the play becomes not only ludicrous, but impossible.” What do you
think? Is A Doll’s House a play about feminism or humanism? Explain.

Sources
This essay should also include four outside sources located in the SCC databases. Each outside
source must be incorporated in the essay as support for your points or as a way for you to refute
an opposing point of analysis.

MLA8 Format
The essay should follow MLA8 document format.

Grading
The drama analysis is worth 20% of your course grade.

Textbook
Please note that you should read and reference the chapters in the drama section of the textbook
throughout this unit. The textbook provides in-depth discussion, examples, and questions to aid
in your understanding of the concepts discussed in class.