Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the reason for Mrs. Linde's visit to Nora?
What is the reason for Mrs. Linde's visit to Nora?
- To borrow money from Nora
- To attend a costume party
- To discuss her mother's passing
- To seek employment with Nora's help (correct)
What is the secret that Nora reveals to Mrs. Linde?
What is the secret that Nora reveals to Mrs. Linde?
- She has been borrowing money from her father
- She has been fired from her job
- She has been lying to Torvald about her mother's passing
- She has been working in secret to repay a debt (correct)
What is Krogstad's occupation?
What is Krogstad's occupation?
- Lawyer
- Bank manager
- Low-level employee at the bank (correct)
- Doctor
Why does Krogstad want Nora to use her influence to help him?
Why does Krogstad want Nora to use her influence to help him?
What is Dr. Rank's condition?
What is Dr. Rank's condition?
Why does Torvald refuse to rehire Krogstad?
Why does Torvald refuse to rehire Krogstad?
What is Krogstad's new demand in his blackmail of Nora?
What is Krogstad's new demand in his blackmail of Nora?
What does Nora do to distract Torvald from the letterbox?
What does Nora do to distract Torvald from the letterbox?
What is the occasion where Nora will perform the tarantella?
What is the occasion where Nora will perform the tarantella?
How does Torvald react to Krogstad's presence?
How does Torvald react to Krogstad's presence?
What is the occasion at the beginning of the play?
What is the occasion at the beginning of the play?
What is the recent change in Torvald's career that affects their lifestyle?
What is the recent change in Torvald's career that affects their lifestyle?
Who is the first visitor to arrive at the Helmer's residence?
Who is the first visitor to arrive at the Helmer's residence?
What is the reason for Nora's surprise at seeing Kristine Linde?
What is the reason for Nora's surprise at seeing Kristine Linde?
What was Kristine's situation after her husband's death?
What was Kristine's situation after her husband's death?
Why did Nora and Torvald have to travel to Italy?
Why did Nora and Torvald have to travel to Italy?
What was Kristine's responsibility for years?
What was Kristine's responsibility for years?
What is the setting of the entire play?
What is the setting of the entire play?
What is Nora's initial concern when Torvald chides her about spending money?
What is Nora's initial concern when Torvald chides her about spending money?
What is the tone of Torvald's greeting to Nora when she enters the room?
What is the tone of Torvald's greeting to Nora when she enters the room?
What does Nora manage to get Torvald to promise?
What does Nora manage to get Torvald to promise?
Why did Mrs. Linde leave Krogstad in the past?
Why did Mrs. Linde leave Krogstad in the past?
What does Krogstad agree to do for Mrs. Linde?
What does Krogstad agree to do for Mrs. Linde?
What does Dr. Rank's visiting card with a black cross signify?
What does Dr. Rank's visiting card with a black cross signify?
Why does Torvald call Nora a hypocrite and a liar?
Why does Torvald call Nora a hypocrite and a liar?
What does Krogstad return to Torvald?
What does Krogstad return to Torvald?
What does Nora realize she must do at the end of the play?
What does Nora realize she must do at the end of the play?
What is Torvald's treatment of Nora compared to?
What is Torvald's treatment of Nora compared to?
What does Nora do at the end of the play?
What does Nora do at the end of the play?
What is the occasion where Krogstad meets Mrs. Linde?
What is the occasion where Krogstad meets Mrs. Linde?
Where is Thrushcross Grange located?
Where is Thrushcross Grange located?
Who meets Heathcliff in the story?
Who meets Heathcliff in the story?
What is Nelly Dean's occupation?
What is Nelly Dean's occupation?
Who does Mr. Earnshaw bring back from Liverpool?
Who does Mr. Earnshaw bring back from Liverpool?
Why does Mr. Earnshaw send Hindley away?
Why does Mr. Earnshaw send Hindley away?
Who inherits Wuthering Heights after Mr. Earnshaw's death?
Who inherits Wuthering Heights after Mr. Earnshaw's death?
Who does Hindley return with after inheriting Wuthering Heights?
Who does Hindley return with after inheriting Wuthering Heights?
What is the relationship between Catherine and Heathcliff?
What is the relationship between Catherine and Heathcliff?
Who does Mr. Earnshaw prefer over his own son, Hindley?
Who does Mr. Earnshaw prefer over his own son, Hindley?
What is the setting of Lockwood's narrative?
What is the setting of Lockwood's narrative?
What is the reason for Catherine's prolonged stay at Thrushcross Grange?
What is the reason for Catherine's prolonged stay at Thrushcross Grange?
Why does Heathcliff run away from Wuthering Heights?
Why does Heathcliff run away from Wuthering Heights?
How does Heathcliff acquire Wuthering Heights?
How does Heathcliff acquire Wuthering Heights?
What is the reason for Heathcliff's cruel treatment of Isabella?
What is the reason for Heathcliff's cruel treatment of Isabella?
What is the result of Catherine and Edgar's marriage?
What is the result of Catherine and Edgar's marriage?
Why does Nelly serve as Cathy's nursemaid?
Why does Nelly serve as Cathy's nursemaid?
What is the reason for Linton's secret romance with Cathy?
What is the reason for Linton's secret romance with Cathy?
What is the result of Edgar's death?
What is the result of Edgar's death?
Why does Lockwood end his tenancy at Thrushcross Grange?
Why does Lockwood end his tenancy at Thrushcross Grange?
What is the final situation of Cathy at Wuthering Heights?
What is the final situation of Cathy at Wuthering Heights?
Why does Heathcliff stop Hareton's education?
Why does Heathcliff stop Hareton's education?
What does Heathcliff become obsessed with towards the end of the novel?
What does Heathcliff become obsessed with towards the end of the novel?
What event occurs shortly after Heathcliff spends a night walking on the moors?
What event occurs shortly after Heathcliff spends a night walking on the moors?
What do Hareton and Cathy plan to do on the next New Year's Day?
What do Hareton and Cathy plan to do on the next New Year's Day?
What is the approximate year of Nelly's birth?
What is the approximate year of Nelly's birth?
Why is the chronology of the novel difficult to reconstruct?
Why is the chronology of the novel difficult to reconstruct?
When does Hareton's birth occur?
When does Hareton's birth occur?
What is the inscription on the stone above the front door of Wuthering Heights?
What is the inscription on the stone above the front door of Wuthering Heights?
What is the occasion for Catherine's first visit to Thrushcross Grange?
What is the occasion for Catherine's first visit to Thrushcross Grange?
When does Heathcliff arrive at Thrushcross Grange?
When does Heathcliff arrive at Thrushcross Grange?
Study Notes
A Doll's House
- The play opens on Christmas Eve, with Nora Helmer entering her well-furnished living room, carrying several packages.
- Torvald Helmer, Nora's husband, comes out of his study and greets her playfully, but then chides her for spending too much money on Christmas gifts.
- The conversation reveals that the Helmers have had to be careful with money for many years, but that Torvald has recently obtained a new position at the bank that will afford them a more comfortable lifestyle.
- Kristine Linde, a former school friend, arrives and tells Nora that she has been left with no money and no children after her husband's death.
- Nora reveals that she illegally borrowed money for a trip to Italy to save Torvald's life, and has been secretly working to repay the debt.
- Krogstad, a low-level employee at the bank, arrives and reveals that he is the source of Nora's secret loan, and blackmails her to ensure his job security.
Act Two
- The act opens on the following day, Christmas, with Nora anxiously pacing her living room.
- Mrs. Linde helps Nora sew her costume for the ball that evening, and Nora reveals her distress and secret loan.
- Torvald refuses to keep Krogstad employed, and Nora's suspicious behavior leads Mrs. Linde to guess that Dr. Rank is the source of her loan.
- Krogstad demands an explanation for his dismissal and reveals that he has changed the terms of the blackmail, insisting on a higher position at the bank.
- Nora begs Torvald not to open the letter, and Mrs. Linde offers to speak with Krogstad on her behalf.
- The act ends with Nora performing the tarantella, and Krogstad leaving the letter detailing her debt and forgery in the Helmers' letterbox.
Conclusion
- Torvald finds the letter and is outraged, calling Nora a hypocrite and a liar.
- Nora declares that she must "make sense of herself and everything around her" and leaves Torvald, slamming the door behind her.
Wuthering Heights
- The story is told through flashbacks recorded in diary entries, and events are often presented out of chronological order.
- The novel is set in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, with the main events occurring between 1777 and 1802.
- The story revolves around the tumultuous relationships between the Earnshaw and Linton families, particularly the obsessive love of Catherine and Heathcliff.
Chronology
- ~1761: Heathcliff and Catherine are born.
- 1777: Mr. Earnshaw dies; Hindley and Frances take possession of Wuthering Heights.
- 1780: Catherine becomes engaged to Edgar Linton; Heathcliff leaves Wuthering Heights.
- 1783: Catherine and Edgar are married; Heathcliff arrives at Thrushcross Grange in September.
- 1784: Catherine becomes ill with brain fever; her daughter Cathy is born late in the year; Catherine dies.
- 1797: Young Cathy meets Hareton and visits Wuthering Heights for the first time.
- 1800: Cathy stages her romance with Linton in the winter.
- 1801: Cathy is imprisoned by Heathcliff and forced to marry Linton; Edgar Linton dies; Linton dies; Heathcliff assumes control of Thrushcross Grange.
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Description
Test your understanding of the opening scene of Henrik Ibsen's play, A Doll's House. Learn about the characters, setting, and themes introduced in the first scene. Examining the relationships between Nora and Torvald, and the background of their financial struggles.
