IB Literature A English
Developing a plan for an individual oral:
Global Issue: Gender roles
Text/Passage 1: A Doll’s House by Henrik
Ibsen, Act Two
Nora. I can't dance tomorrow if I don't
practise with you.
Helmer [going up to her]. Are you really so
afraid of it, dear?
Nora. Yes, so dreadfully afraid of it. Let me
practise at once; there is time now, before
we go to dinner. Sit down and play for me,
Torvald dear; criticise me, and correct me as
you play.
Helmer. With great pleasure, if you wish
me to. [Sits down at the piano.]
Nora [takes out of the box a tambourine
and a long variegated shawl. She hastily
drapes the shawl round her. Then she
springs to the front of the stage and calls
out]. Now play for me! I am going to dance!
[HELMER plays and NORA dances. RANK
stands by the piano behind HELMER, and
looks on.]
Helmer [as he plays]. Slower, slower!
Nora. I can't do it any other way.
Helmer. Not so violently, Nora!
Nora. This is the way.
Helmer [stops playing]. No, no--that is not
a bit right.
Nora [laughing and swinging the
tambourine]. Didn't I tell you so?
Rank. Let me play for her.
Helmer [getting up]. Yes, do. I can correct
her better then.
[RANK sits down at the piano and plays.
NORA dances more and more wildly.
HELMER has taken up a position beside the
stove, and during her dance gives her
frequent instructions. She does not seem to
hear him; her hair comes down and falls
Text/Passage 2: The Awakening by Kate
Chopin
Edna had attempted all summer to learn to
swim. She had received instructions from
both men and women; in some instances
from the children. Robert had pursued a
system of lessons almost daily; and he was
nearly at the point of discouragement in
realizing the futility of his efforts. A certain
ungovernable dread hung about her when in
the water, unless there was a hand near by
that might reach out and reassure her.
But that night she was like the little
tottering, stumbling, clutching child, who of
a sudden realizes its powers, and walks for
the first time alone, boldly and with over-
confidence. She could have shouted for joy.
She did shout for joy, as with a sweeping
stroke or two she lifted her body to the
surface of the water.
A feeling of exultation overtook her, as if
some power of significant import had been
given to her to control the working of her
body and her soul. She grew daring and
reckless, overestimating her strength. She
wanted to swim far out, where no woman
had swum before.
Her unlooked-for achievement was the
subject of wonder, applause, and
admiration. Each one congratulated himself
that his special teachings had accomplished
this desired end.
“How easy it is!” she thought. “It is
nothing,” she said aloud; “why did I not
discover before that it was nothing. Think of
the time I have lost splashing about like a
baby!” She would not join the groups in
their sports and bouts, but intoxicated with
over her shoulders; she pays no attention to
it, but goes on dancing. Enter Mrs Linde.]
Mrs Linde [standing as if spell-bound in
the doorway]. Oh!--
Nora [as she dances]. Such fun, Christine!
Helmer. My dear darling Nora, you are
dancing as if your life depended on it.
Nora. So it does.
Helmer. Stop, Rank; this is sheer madness.
Stop, I tell you! [RANK stops playing, and
NORA suddenly stands still. HELMER goes
up to her.] I could never have believed it.
You have forgotten everything I taught you.
Nora [throwing away the tambourine].
There, you see.
Helmer. You will want a lot of coaching.
Nora. Yes, you see how much I need it. You
must coach me up to the last minute.
Promise me that, Torvald!
Helmer. You can depend on me.
Author’s attitude toward the global issue
(remember to include how the issue is
portrayed in the passage itself AND how
this passage relates to the work as a whole):
● The tarantella is symbolic of an
aspect of Nora’s personality which
she cannot ever show. It is a trait
directly showcasing her true
personality, involving passion and
energy. The dance is in need of self
expression in order to embody the
spirit of the tarantella. Itis essential
that Nora embraces the calling of her
true self in order to perfect the
dance, as it is fiery and contains
attitude. When Nora tunes into her
self, she is unable to control it, and
does not want to listen to the
instructions and controls or demands
given by her husband. This
reluctance to listen is representative
of her lack of freedom of self
expression for so long, as she is
finally able to rid of it. This is
her newly conquered power, she swam
alone.
She turned her face seaward to gather in an
impression of space and solitude, which the
vast expanse of water, meeting and melting
with the moonlit sky, conveyed to her
excited fancy. As she swam she seemed to
be reaching out for the unlimited in which
to lose herself.
Author’s attitude toward the global issue
(remember to include how the issue is
portrayed in the passage itself AND how
this passage relates to the work as a whole):
● Issue of the division of gender roles
and the negative impact of which it
has on an individual’s freedom is
conveyed throughout both passages
as its seen to limit the practice of
self expression
● Fear> she describes the water to
resemble “white serpents.”
‘Serpents’ in translated diction used
to convey the extent of the
character’s fear to the reader.
Reluctance to venture into the sea is
representative of women being
unable to explore their
individualities and characteristics
with freedom. Sea portrayed to be
access point to self expression, is
feared at first.
 alluring to her, and she does not
wish the moment or dance to end, as
it is the only time she is not in
control and can be herself.
Key strategies used in the passage to
develop the author’s point about the global
issue:
● allows Nora to lose her façade of the
perfect wife. Torvald desires her
while watching her dance, but it is
shown for him to enjoy the idea of
her performance impressing others
under his control. This shows how
appearance is the only valued
characteristic of Nora during their
time period, as her own qualities are
not valued. Nora wants to break free
and away from this idea, which is
expressed through her uncontrolled
dance.
● Nora says that her life depends on
the dance. As she does not mean this
literally, her words are symbolic of
the life in which she is able to
express her true characteristics. Her
life essentially ends as the dance
concludes, as she is conformed to fit
the trophy wife status within reality
once again.
● Dependency on men is seen in both
passages > Nora needs her husband
to help her and practice with her and
is desperate for his aid. This portrays
women to be helpless and
defenseless, as they had never
gained the freedom to explore on
their own. Nora is desperate for
Torvald’s help because she believes
she needs him to be successful.
However after dancing on her own,
this empowers her as the realizes,
similar to Edna, that this is false.
● In a sense, the tarantella to Nora is
Key strategies used in the passage to
develop the author’s point about the global
issue:
● She feels dread when left in the
water by herself and needs the
support of a hand for reassurance.
Alludes to the prevalence of women
being dependent on men, Edna is
accustomed to being aided. This
dependency on men shows how
women are provoked to lose a sense
of independence and individuality
>must appease the man to remain
secure throughout their life. Similar
to a defenseless child, Edna is
described as a “stumbling” child.
Works to portray women as the
helpless and submissive >men act as
the provider in their society.
● “of a sudden realized its powers”
(73). As she describes the setting to
have ‘powers’, this works to portray
the water as an escape as she is now
empowered in her abilities. Water is
difficult to control and dynamic, yet
dark and dangerous. Edna longs for
the freedom which the sea contains
as she similarly desires a life without
being an object to control. Setting is
symbolic of independence, but
original fear is representative of the
dangers of the modern world from a
woman’s perspective.
● The idea of persistence, feeling of
“exultation” to overcome her.
Lacked the emotion and passion,
now ability to achieve the
‘impossible’ empowers her, and
instils a craving passion for freedom
the sea to Edna, as they both are a
symbol of their lives free of control.
as the sea is now seen as seductive
and to be calling to her. The water is
symbolic of her life and withholds
the idea of reincarnation.if she
pursues this life of freedom of self
expression, she will experience a
rebirth. easy to drown in the sea>
failure in real life, the opportunity of
freedom is alluring. mental
awakening. gender roles are heavily
abided towards. newfound freedom
as essential and seductive to Edna.