Act III- A Doll’s House

Mrs. Linde and Krogstad

1.  How did Linde’s and Krogstad’s previous relationship end? Why?

2.  What metaphor does Krogstad use to describe himself at the present moment?

3.  What kind of mutual deal do they, Linde and Krogstad, reach?

4. What do they decide to do about the letter?  Which one is behind the decision?

Linde, Nora and Helmer

1.  Where have they just come from?

2.  What comment about Nora’s appearance does Helmer make?

3.  What foreshadowing promise does Nora make to Helmer about taking her away from the dance?

4.  What is the reason that Helmer gives for taking her away so soon?

5.  What does Linde tell Nora she must do? Why?

6.  What does Helmer say about Mrs. Linde, after she has gone?

Nora, Rank and Helmer

1.  What does Helmer confess to Nora about his imagination?  What does Helmer “make believe to himself”?

2.  What is Nora’s overall response to Torvald?

3.  Who interrupts Nora and Torvald and what do they want?

4.  What message do Nora and Torvald receive in their mailbox from Dr. Rank?

5.  Explain fully the reason why Helmer will miss Dr. Rank?

Nora and Helmer

1.  What does Helmer call Nora’s proclamation of love?

2.  What realization does Nora come up with besides the knowledge of her crime, during Torvald’s tirade?

3.  Who does Torvald blame for Nora’s behavior, besides Nora?

4.  What conditions does Helmer put on their relationship?

5.  What is the most important thing that is important to Helmer?

6.  What does the new letter, given to the maid, mean for Helmer?

7.  Why is Nora not as relieved as Helmer?

8.  What does Helmer conclude about Nora’s sense of responsibility?

9.  What decision does Nora make, in response to the above question and the last two Acts?

10.  Why does she plan to take the action explained above- what reasons does she give?

11.  What odd aspect of their relationship does Nora point out to Helmer?

12.  Who does Nora believe she has been “wronged” by? And why? List them in order.

13.  What is the significance of the title of the play, as summarized by Nora’s character?

14.  What does Nora plan to achieve by her course of action?

15.  For what reasons is this irresponsible, according to Helmer?

16.  Why would it be irresponsible for her to stay, according to Nora?

17.  What ideas does Nora call into question?  List at least three ideas.

18.  What is “the wonderful thing [that] did not happen”?

19.  What do Helmer and Nora exchange?

20.  What does Nora refer to Torvald Helmer as?

Act II of A Doll's House

Nora/Nurse

1.  Before the nurse comes in, what is it that Nora is carrying on about?  Who is the “someone”?  What is the “thing”?

2.  What did the nurse "do" with her child, that Nora asks about?  And why?

3.  How often does the nurse's daughter see her?

4.  What does Nora hint at to her nurse?

Nora and Mrs. Linde

1.  Why has Nora called Christine back to the house?

2.  What are Nora and Christine’s differing opinions of the day before and why?

3.  What does Christine notice about Doctor Rank?

4.  What does Doctor Rank suffer from and why?

5.  What advice does Christine give to Nora and why?

6.  On the top of page 33, who is it that Nora refers to as “the other one” that “she must make an end of it with”?

7.  What does Nora conceal from Christine?

Nora and Helmer

1.  What does Nora ask of Helmer?

2.  What reason does Nora give Helmer for sparing Krogstad (concerning her father)?

3.  What difference doe Helmer point out between Nora’s father and himself?  How is his statement ironic?  Which kind of irony?

4.  What is it that Helmer explains is the reason he must dismiss Krogstad?  Include two reasons why.

5.   What is Helmer’s response to Nora’s “obstinacy”?

6.  What promise does Helmer make to Nora about “sharing” a burden?

7.  What happens in the stage direction that informs the audience about Nora’s mood and Dr. Rank’s future?

Dr. Rank and Nora

1.  What does Dr. Rank inform Nora of?

2.  Who is Doctor Rank jealous of, taking his place?

3.  What else does Dr. rank admit to Nora?

4.  What does Nora admit about love and companionship? 

5. Who does Nora compare Torvald with?

Nora and Krogstad

1.  Why has Krogstad come to speak with Nora?

2.  What does he explain he will do?

3.  What are Krogstad’s long term plans for Helmer and the bank?

4.  What does Krogstad leave in the letterbox?

Nora and Christine

1.  What does Nora explain to Christine?

2.  What is the “wonderful thing” that is going to happen, according to Nora?

3.  What do Christine and Nora plan to do to divert disaster?

The Tarantella

1.  What observation does Helmer make about Nora?

2.  What does Nora request of Helmer? Why?

3.  What does Helmer discover?

4.  Who plays the piano?  Who’s first, second and third?

5.  For what reason is Nora dancing so wildly?

6. “What is it that you are waiting for?”  Mrs. Christine Linde asks this question of Nora.  What do you think she is waiting for?  What “wonderful” thing?