Revision Cards - A Doll's House: A Level, Key extracts

Helmer asks Nora what she would like for Christmas. Read from: ‘NORA: If you really want …’ to ‘HELMER: … a man to keep.’
WHY is it important? This is an early insight into the nature of the Helmer marriage – Nora manipulative, Helmer controlling.
WHAT themes does it explore? Money will prove to be central to the plot. Nora’s coy behaviour also reflects the theme of theatricality that will be developed in the course of the action.
HOW does it work dramatically? The marital banter suggests that this will be a domestic comedy about a dizzy young wife. The serious reasons behind Nora’s need for cash will be more surprising to the audience when later revealed to Mrs Linde.
WHAT language techniques does it employ? Both characters ask rhetorical questions; both use animal images and generalise about animal behaviour – perhaps to avoid a direct and adult conversation.

Key extracts

A Doll's House: A Level

Nora has been frightened by Helmer’s speech about lying mothers and tells the Nurse she will now be seeing less of the children. Read from: ‘NORA: Are they still asking to see me?’ to ‘NURSE: … didn’t lift a finger.’
WHY is it important? This scene shows that Nora does not leave her children lightly at the end of the play. Motherhood is a complex issue for her and she is already pondering her failings.
WHAT themes does it explore? The relationship between power, gender and money is seen starkly in the sad story of the Nurse.
HOW does it work dramatically? The revelation of a minor character as someone with a tragic story surprises us – and Nora, who finds an unexpected mirror of herself as a powerless woman.
WHAT language techniques does it employ? The Nurse’s answers are interesting because they are indirect. Nora’s questions about what she could ‘bear’ or ‘wanted’ do not seem relevant to someone with such limited power.

Key extracts

A Doll's House: A Level

Nora has tried to prevent Helmer from dismissing Krogstad, but when she calls him ‘petty’ Helmer decides to assert himself. Read from: ‘HELMER: There now …’ to ‘HELMER: … tell him where to find me.’
WHY is it important? The action ensures that Krogstad will reveal Nora’s crime. She feels that her whole life is falling apart.
WHAT themes does it explore? The idea of individuality comes to the fore in this key moment in Nora’s development. This is the first time she has overtly criticised her husband.
HOW does it work dramatically? The comedy in this scene – Helmer’s pomposity is at its height and his behaviour is very childish – is a powerful counterpoint to the action itself. When finally alone to consider what Krogstad’s dismissal will mean, Nora becomes desperate.
WHAT language techniques does it employ? Helmer’s comic variations in tone from pomposity (‘Let what will happen, happen.’) to patronage (‘make all the noise you want’), show his failure to communicate properly with Nora.

Key extracts

A Doll's House: A Level

Mrs Linde and Krogstad renew their old affection. He decides to take back his letter. Mrs Linde says the truth must come out. Read from: ‘KROGSTAD: I shall demand my letter back.’ to ‘MRS LINDE: … I must get my coat on.’
WHY is it important? It radically changes expectations about the ending of the play.
WHAT themes does it explore? It opens up new aspects of ‘society’ – we discover the hard life of someone Nora has seen as a ‘stranger’.
HOW does it work dramatically? It subverts audience expectations grounded in the conventions of the well-made play. Krogstad is not a villain – but nor will there be a happy ending.
WHAT language techniques does it employ? Mrs Linde has a brief soliloquy – a form usually associated with Nora. Her happiness stresses that in the real world, everyone, not just the heroine, has an inner life.

Key extracts

A Doll's House: A Level

Nora has performed her tarantella and Helmer insists on leaving the party. He then bustles Mrs Linde out. Read from: ‘HELMER: Well, we’ve got rid of her …’ to ‘NORA: Yes, I hope so.’
WHY is it important? The audience is keenly anticipating what will happen when Nora and Helmer are finally alone after the party.
WHAT themes does it explore? Nora’s growth as an individual is marked here. She speaks like an adult throughout.
HOW does it work dramatically? It creates suspense – will Nora give in to Helmer’s romantic overtures to win more time?
WHAT language techniques does it employ? Nora’s speech is full of irony. ‘Soon I shall sleep’ is a reference to suicide, like her hope for a quiet house. Helmer’s patronising ‘a real big human being’ ironically anticipates Nora’s later self-assertion.

Key extracts

A Doll's House: A Level

A Level Study Notes and Revision Guides