Group A

Thumbelina

HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

Once upon a time, a woman couldn’t stay pregnant, and she was very sad
about that. Everything changed on the day she welcomed an old lady into her
home. When she was going away, she gave the woman a unique and rare gift.
It was a seed that hid a special secret. After a while, the seed became a flower
and then a girl small as a thumb. The woman named her Thumbelina.

Even though she was small Thumbelina was very curious, and one day she
started investigating the magical world around her. Soon she met an evil frog
she wanted to marry her for her son. Thumbelina did not want to spend her
life next to that frog, so she ran away into the woods. She was kind, and it did
not take long before the forest animals started to love her.

While she was on the run from the frog, a mouse welcomed her into her home.
She stayed there until Mister Mole did not want to marry her. It was reason
enough for her to run away again and so she spend some time in the forest.

It wasn’t easy to run away, but she was kind-hearted and helped everyone, so
everyone helped her. She helped a swallow to heal her wing, so they became
inseparable. While they were traveling together, Thumbelina met a nice and
kind boy and fell in love with him.

She couldn’t believe that a boy her height existed and that she wasn’t the only
one. She met him while he was sitting on a flower in a garden which he ruled.
He was a king there, and he fell in love with Thumbelina and changed her
name into Maya.
Group B

Summary of Doll’s House

Henrik Ibsen describes the story of a married woman who considered her life to be quite satisfied with
her husband in their “doll house” of which she is the doll. However, with the development of the play,
she is insulted by her husband for a forgery that she did for his sake, even after knowing the truth. When
the matter is solved, her husband tried to calm her down, but she becomes aware of her status in
the “doll’s house” and at once leaves it. Thus, she is the modern woman who fights against  gender
discrimination.

As the play opens, Nora enters her home along with a number of gifts as it is Christmas Eve. Her
husband (manager at a bank) who is reading books, chides Nora for spending lavishly on these things as
the last year they were out of money because she spent too much. However, as Halmer is about to get a
promotion, Nora doesn’t find anything wrong with spending money.
The maid comes and announces that Mrs Linde (A widow who is an old school friend of Nora) and  Dr.
Rank (a rich family friend who is secretly in love with Nora) have come. While Halmer goes away, Nora
attends Mrs Linde and both ladies start telling about their lives to each other.
Linde tells about her unhappy life. Her husband died without leaving fortune or children for her. She
further tells Nora that her mother got ill and she had to take care of her brothers as well. This is why she
appears to be older than Nora who seems to be quite young and innocent.

Nora says that her life was equally difficult. Since one last year, they had a hard time as her husband got
ill and she had to take him to Italy for his recovery. The expenses of treatment were quite high and she
had to borrow money from Krogstad by forging her father’s signatures without telling him and even her
husband.

Since then she is secretly saving to pay off her debt. Also,  Halmer became a bank manager and thus
their economic conditions got better. Linda tells Nora that she came in search of a job.

Nora assures to help her. Krogstad (an employee at Torvald’s bank) appears and goes straight to Halmer.
His appearance makes Nora uneasy.

A little later Halmer comes out and when Nora tells him about Mrs Linde, he at once agrees to give her a
job at his bank. All leave and Nora remains alone.

Just then Krogstad comes and tells Nora that her husband is about to fire him from the job and asks her
to pursue her husband to let him retain his job or else he will disclose her crime (forgery) to him.

Saying this he leaves. When Halmer returns back, Nora pleads him not to fire Krogstad from his job but
Halmer tells about his hypocrisy and lies and remains unmoved to his decision.

The next day Nora being quite worried again pleads her husband not to dismiss Krogstad adding that he
will defame him, but fails to convince Halmer.
Dr Rank comes and as Nora is about to ask for some financial help, he confesses his love for her as he is
about to die of Tuberculosis. Nora is stunned. She gives up the idea of asking for money from him.

A little later Krogstad comes. Nora asks Dr. rank to go to Halmer’s study room. Nora tells Krogstad that
she tried her best to persuade her husband but he did not change his mind.

At this Krogstad says that he will write a letter to Halmer telling about the forgery. Nora begs him not to
do so but he puts the letter in the Halmer’s mailbox.

Ad
Nora tells Linde about the critical situation. Linde reveals that she was in love with Krogstad before her
marriage and even today they love each other. She assures to help Nora by persuading Krogstad.

When Halmer tries to open his mailbox, Nora uses her charms to prevent him from opening it saying
that he should keep business aside till the next night party.

Halmer agrees. Nora feels guilty and even thinks of committing suicide to save her husband from the
shame of the revelation of her crime.

The next night, Linde and Krogstad meet. Linde tells him that she had to marry a rich man who could
support her and her family. She also tells that she is a widow now and also free from family obligation.
She expresses her desire to live with him.

Krogstad is quite pleased. He decides to take back his letter but Linde says that Halmer should know the
truth for the sake of marriage. Nora and Halmer return back. Dr Rank who secretly followed them
finding Nora alone bids final goodbye as his death is near.

Halmer reads Krogstad letter and is quite outraged over his wife’s forgery. He abuses Nora. Just then
maid comes with another letter of Krogstad.

Halmer reads the letter and is overjoyed to learn that Krogstad has had a change of heart and has
returned the bond. He at once forgives his wife.

However, Nora realises that her husband never loved her and she was just a doll whom he played with.
She decides to end up living in Halmer’s house and in spite of his pleas she goes out  ‘slamming the door
behind her’.