ELA 10 - A Doll's House, Pt3: Theme and Society (Pre-test)
Which statement best explains how the conventions of plot and setting contribute to the theme? Read the excerpt from act 3 of A Doll's House. Mrs. Linde [looking at her watch]: Not yet—and the time is nearly up. If only he does not—. [Listens again.] Ah, there he is. [Goes into the hall and opens the outer door carefully. Light footsteps are heard on the stairs. She whispers.] Come in. There is no one here. Krogstad [in the doorway]: I found a note from you at home. What does this mean? Mrs. Linde: It is absolutely necessary that I should have a talk with you. Krogstad: Really? And is it absolutely necessary that it should be here? Mrs. Linde: It is impossible where I live; there is no private entrance to my rooms. Come in; we are quite alone. The maid is asleep, and the Helmers are at the dance upstairs. - A) The use of letters and secret meetings develops the theme that hiding the truth will eventually lead to hardship. B) The use of questions develops the theme that the truth can be discovered only by asking the right questions. C) The use of doorways develops the theme that being too open about the truth can cause conflict and heartache. D) The use of conversations beginning abruptly develops the theme that getting to the point will always reveal the truth.
A) The use of letters and secret meetings develops the theme that hiding the truth will eventually lead to hardship.
Which 1800s societal expectation does the excerpt most challenge? Read the excerpt from act 3 of A Doll's House. Nora: And I—how am I fitted to bring up the children? Helmer: Nora! Nora: Didn't you say so yourself a little while ago—that you dare not trust me to bring them up? Helmer: In a moment of anger! Why do you pay any heed to that? Nora: Indeed, you were perfectly right. I am not fit for the task. There is another task I must undertake first. I must try and educate myself—you are not the man to help me in that. I must do that for myself. And that is why I am going to leave you now. Helmer [springing up]: What do you say? Nora: I must stand quite alone, if I am to understand myself and everything about me. It is for that reason that I cannot remain with you any longer. - A) Women were expected to raise children and be caregivers. B) Women were supposed to educate themselves without assistance. C) Women were obligated to share the same opinions as men. D) Women were required to forgive men's emotions, especially anger.
A) Women were expected to raise children and be caregivers.
Which descriptions are examples of archetypes? Select THREE options. - A) a recurring model for a setting that is accepted by most people B) a conflict between characters that is unique to a plot C) a reflection of the traditions common throughout a society D) a pattern of behavior exhibited by several characters E) a character who is an embodiment of the human experience
A) a recurring model for a setting that is accepted by most people - and - C) a reflection of the traditions common throughout a society - and - E) a character who is an embodiment of the human experience
What widely accepted archetype of the late 1800s does this text challenge? Read the excerpt from act 3 of A Doll's House. Krogstad: But, tell me, wasn't it for that very purpose that you asked me to meet you here? Mrs. Linde: In my first moment of fright, it was. But twenty-four hours have elapsed since then, and in that time I have witnessed incredible things in this house. Helmer must know all about it. This unhappy secret must be disclosed; they must have a complete understanding between them, which is impossible with all this concealment and falsehood going on. Krogstad: Very well, if you will take the responsibility. But there is one thing I can do in any case, and I shall do it at once. - A) the man as a ruler B) the man as a trickster C) the woman as a mother D) the woman as a caregiver
A) the man as a ruler
What evidence from the text best supports the theme that society places limits on the roles of women? Read the excerpt from act 3 of A Doll's House. Helmer: Listen to her, Mrs. Linde! She had danced her Tarantella, and it had been a tremendous success, as it deserved—although possibly the performance was a trifle too realistic—a little more so, I mean, than was strictly compatible with the limitations of art. But never mind about that! The chief thing is, she had made a success—she had made a tremendous success. Do you think I was going to let her remain there after that, and spoil the effect? No, indeed! I took my charming little Capri maiden—my capricious little Capri maiden, I should say—on my arm; took one quick turn round the room; a curtsey on either side, and, as they say in novels, the beautiful apparition disappeared. An exit ought always to be effective, Mrs. Linde; but that is what I cannot make Nora understand. Pooh! this room is hot. [Throws his domino on a chair, and opens the door of his room.] Hullo! it's all dark in here. Oh, of course—excuse me—. - A) "She had danced her Tarantella, and it had been a tremendous success." B) "I took my charming little Capri maiden . . . on my arm." C) "An exit ought always to be effective, Mrs. Linde." D) "But that is what I cannot make Nora understand.
B) "I took my charming little Capri maiden . . . on my arm."
Which themes are best demonstrated by the evidence in this passage? Select TWO options. Read the excerpt from act 3 of A Doll's House. Mrs. Linde: I could not endure life without work. All my life, as long as I can remember, I have worked, and it has been my greatest and only pleasure. But now I am quite alone in the world—my life is so dreadfully empty and I feel so forsaken. There is not the least pleasure in working for one's self. Nils, give me someone and something to work for. - A) Mrs. Linde's need for Krogstad to give things to her demonstrates the theme "a lack of independence has costs." B) Mrs. Linde's desire to work to support her family demonstrates the theme "making sacrifices to support others is worth it." C) Mrs. Linde's view of her and Krogstad's family life demonstrates the theme "the family unit can oppress women." D) Mrs. Linde's view of her past decisions demonstrates the theme "a lack of love and family can make one feel purposeless." E) Mrs. Linde's choice to pursue a life supporting Krogstad demonstrates the theme "society demands women be caregivers."
B) Mrs. Linde's desire to work to support her family demonstrates the theme "making sacrifices to support others is worth it." - and - D) Mrs. Linde's view of her past decisions demonstrates the theme "a lack of love and family can make one feel purposeless."
What evidence from the passage best supports the theme that one's true nature is revealed in times of distress? Read the excerpt from act 3 of A Doll's House. Helmer [reeling]: True? Is this true, that I read here? Horrible! No, no—it is impossible that it can be true. Nora: It is true. I have loved you above everything else in the world. Helmer: Oh, don't let us have any silly excuses. Nora [taking a step towards him]: Torvald—! Helmer: Miserable creature—what have you done? Nora: Let me go. You shall not suffer for my sake. You shall not take it upon yourself. Helmer: No tragic airs, please. [Locks the hall door.] Here you shall stay and give me an explanation. Do you understand what you have done? Answer me! Do you understand what you have done? - A) "True? Is this true, that I read here?" B) "No, no—it is impossible that it can be true." C) "Miserable creature—what have you done?" D) "Here you shall stay and give me an explanation."
C) "Miserable creature—what have you done?"
How do the stage directions best support the theme that the truth can never be hidden? Select TWO options. Read the excerpt from act 3 of A Doll's House. Helmer [kissing her on the forehead]: Goodnight, my little singing-bird. Sleep sound, Nora. Now I will read my letters through. [He takes his letters and goes into his room, shutting the door after him.] Nora [gropes distractedly about, seizes HELMER'S domino, throws it round her, while she says in quick, hoarse, spasmodic whispers]: Never to see him again. Never! Never! [Puts her shawl over her head.] Never to see my children again either—never again. Never! Never!—Ah! the icy, black water—the unfathomable depths—If only it were over! He has got it now—now he is reading it. Goodbye, Torvald and my children! [She is about to rush out through the hall, when HELMER opens his door hurriedly and stands with an open letter in his hand.] - A) When Helmer kisses Nora on the forehead, he is telling her that he will always love her despite what happens. B) When Helmer takes his letters and shuts the door to his room, he is demonstrating that he wants his personal business hidden from Nora. C) When Nora wraps her shawl around herself, she is attempting to hide from Helmer and symbolically keep her secrets hidden. D) When Nora speaks in spasmodic whispers, she is showing that the truth about Helmer is causing her a great deal of distress. E) When Helmer stands with the open letter, he is showing Nora that he knows of her actions and wants to confront her.
C) When Nora wraps her shawl around herself, she is attempting to hide from Helmer and symbolically keep her secrets hidden - and - E) When Helmer stands with the open letter, he is showing Nora that he knows of her actions and wants to confront her.
What evidence from the passage best supports the theme that society placed expectations on men and women based on gender? Read the excerpt from act 3 of A Doll's House. Helmer [walking up and down]: He had so grown into our lives. I can't think of him as having gone out of them. He, with his sufferings and his loneliness, was like a cloudy background to our sunlit happiness. Well, perhaps it is best so. For him, anyway. [Standing still.] And perhaps for us too, Nora. We two are thrown quite upon each other now. [Puts his arms round her.] My darling wife, I don't feel as if I could hold you tight enough. Do you know, Nora, I have often wished that you might be threatened by some great danger, so that I might risk my life's blood, and everything, for your sake. - A) "I can't think of him as having gone out of them. He, with his sufferings and his loneliness, was like a cloudy background to our sunlit happiness." B) "And perhaps for us too, Nora. We two are thrown quite upon each other now." C) "My darling wife, I don't feel as if I could hold you tight enough." D) "I have often wished that you might be threatened by some great danger, so that I might risk my life's blood, and everything, for your sake."
D) "I have often wished that you might be threatened by some great danger, so that I might risk my life's blood, and everything, for your sake."
What evidence from the text best supports the theme that it is important to have independence? Read the excerpt from act 3 of A Doll's House. Nora: Alas, Torvald, you are not the man to educate me into being a proper wife for you. Helmer: And you can say that! Nora: And I—how am I fitted to bring up the children? Helmer: Nora! Nora: Didn't you say so yourself a little while ago—that you dare not trust me to bring them up? Helmer: In a moment of anger! Why do you pay any heed to that? Nora: Indeed, you were perfectly right. I am not fit for the task. There is another task I must undertake first. I must try and educate myself—you are not the man to help me in that. I must do that for myself. And that is why I am going to leave you now. Helmer [springing up]: What do you say? Nora: I must stand quite alone, if I am to understand myself and everything about me. It is for that reason that I cannot remain with you any longer. - A) "Alas, Torvald, you are not the man to educate me into being a proper wife for you." B) "Didn't you say so yourself a little while ago—that you dare not trust me to bring them up?" C) "Indeed, you were perfectly right. I am not fit for the task." D) "I must stand quite alone, if I am to understand myself and everything about me."
D) "I must stand quite alone, if I am to understand myself and everything about me."
