Revision document produced by an A* English Literature A-level student containing key quotes, relevant context, production notes and critic quotes for every theme in ‘A Doll’s House’. This will save a student from countless hours of researching which could instead be used for practising essay...
A* Literature Essay Plan - Hidden Truths in 'Paradise Lost' and 'A Doll's House'
A* Literature Essay Plan - Marriage in 'A Doll's House' and 'Paradise Lost'
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English Literature
Drama and poetry pre-1900
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Genre (AO3):
● Ibsen manipulated the well-made play by removing the resolution and restoration of order at the end, leaving the audience uncomfortable and
challenging social norms - provoke reaction from the audience in different ways, danger to established Victorian traditions
● realist style allows him to challenge the idyllic relationships often presented in the well-made play
● Ibsen rejects the well-made play as doesn’t give him enough scope to explore realities of life in a rapidly changing Norway
● Realist play - lack of stock characters avoids stereotypical presentations of women as either the angel or monster - can be human
● Changed the function of theatre through his presentation of subjects focused on social science, educating his audience rather than entertaining
● Advanced his minimalistic staging, concentrating around the bourgeois living room and cut down number of parts - reflects Nora’s isolation
● Audiences and critics alike disapproved of the new ending and soon in Germany they returned to performing the original version
● ‘Fourth Wall’ tradition developed where audience was able to observe scenes as if they were a wall of the living room
● House-lights began to be dimmed for the performance - taking the focus of the audience’s attention away from the social event of ‘being seen’ and on
to the play itself
● Many critics attacked the ‘realism’ of the play, refusing to believe that any woman would choose to leave her children
Family and Marriage
AO1 Quotes AO3 Context AO5 Ideas
Nora and Torvald Ibsen’s realist style allows him to challenge the idyllic Garland Production - Nora attempts to be affectionate
“Little squirrel” “takes her playfully by the ear” “wags his finger” relationships often presented in the well-made play. towards Torvald while he works, stroking his head and holding
his hand, however he brushes her off; perhaps he doesn't wish
“It’s incredible what an expensive pet she is for a man to keep” The Tarantella has been labeled as a dance to cure sickness to feel inferior and wants to preserve his dignity.
according to legend and it is considered unlucky to dance
“It’d completely wreck our relationship” alone when performed as an act of courtship Garland Production - “Is little squirrel sulking?” - Nora
motions as if she is an animal and whines as an act of
“But, Mr Krogstad, I have no influence!” The Victorian dichotomy of the public and private spheres. The submission, which pleases Torvald
public sphere was considered amoral and the only way
“(wags his finger) My little songbird must never do that again” through which the husbands could purify themselves from that Young Vic Production - rotating stage reveals confining
evil place was through their wives who kept the home pure nature of bourgeois environment, continuously being judged
“So little Miss Independent’s in trouble and needs a man to by society and unable to escape expectations, constant
rescue her” The Story of an Hour shows conflicted emotions similar to performance
- Mocks Nora for desiring independence Nora’s as Louise appears relieved at her freedom yet misses
her husband’s affection - perhaps she is afraid without Young Vic Production - Nora and Rank sit at a table during
“Torvald’s so hopefully in love with me that he wants to have patriarchal influence due to ingrained societal expectations their conversation in Act 2, presenting them more like husband
me all to himself… he got quite jealous” and wife, “serious conversation” which she lacks with Torvald
In the gulf between Nora and Torvald at the end of the play the
, “Squirrel would do lots of pretty tricks for you if you granted her divergence aspect of Darwin’s theory of evolution is present - “Ibsen is not condemning immorality but instead accusing the
wish” while they both originate from the same bourgeois institution of marriage of crimes against humanity” (Wright)
environment, Nora has ‘evolved’ due to the different situations
“We shall share it, Nora - as man and wife” she has been through and seeks for a cure to the restrictions “Ibsen uses the motif of disease to counterbalance the
society has placed on her, whereas Torvald fails to change insidious, harmful nature of marriage itself” (Wright)
“My child shall have her way”
The 19th century Norweigan society reinforced the patriarchal “He was a prisoner, too… it’s for his sake as well as her own
“He leads her, despite her efforts to resist him, gently into the ideal within marriage, making women virtually powerless and that she departs” (Taylor)
room” rendering them dependent upon their husband
“ultimately Nora and Torvald are both victims of the society
“Don’t look at me like that, Torvald!... You mustn’t talk to me that’s created them” (Duncan)
like that tonight”
“My most treasured possession… mine, mine alone, all mine”
“I pretend to myself that you’re my secret mistress… I pretend
to myself that you are my young bride”
“Aren’t I your husband?”
“It means she has become his property in a double sense…
she is now not only his wife but also his child”
“My poor, helpless, bewildered little creature”
“First and foremost you are a wife and mother”
“For eight years I had been living here with a complete
stranger”
Must live her life through other people, such as Dr Rank, who
provide her with an intellectual outlet from her marriage, desire
for liberation widens gulf in marriage, other characters highlight
oppressive nature of marriage
Mrs Linde and Krogstad
“Not even a feeling of loss or sorrow”
“Just unspeakably empty. No one to live for anymore”
“A wife can’t borrow money without her husband’s consent”
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