A Doll's House Excerpt Questions - Nora’s Fears

Nora’s  Fears

Nora: (jumping up and going to him) oh, dear, nice Doctor Rank, I never meant that at all. But surely you can understand that being with Torvald is a little like being with Papa –

(enter MAID from the hall)

Maid: if you please, ma’am. (Whispers and hands her a card)

Nora: (glancing at the card) oh! (Puts it into her pocket)

Rank: is there anything wrong?

Nora: No, no, not in the least. It is only something – it is my new dress –

Rank: what? Your dress is lying there.

Nora: Oh, yes, that one: but this is another. I ordered it. Torvald mustn’t know about it –

Rank: Oho! Then was the great secret.

Nora: Of course. Just go in to him: he is sitting in the inner room. Keep him as long as –

Rank: Make our mind easy; I won’t let him escape (goes into HELMER’S room)

Nora: (to the MAID) And he is standing waiting in the kitchen?

Maid: Yes; he came up the back stairs.

Nora: But didn’t you tell him no one was in?

Maid: Yes, but it was no good.

Nora: He won’t go away?

Maid: No; he says he won’t until he has seen you, ma’am.

Nora: Well, let him come in – but quietly. Helen you mustn’t say anything about it to anyone. It is a surprise for my husband.

Maid: Yes, ma’am, I quite understand. (exit)

Nora: This dreadful thing is going to happen! It will happen in spite of me! No, no, no, it can’t happen – it shan’t happen!

 QUESTION 2 (25 marks)

a)     Place this excerpt in its immediate context                                                   (3 mks)

b)    Identify and illustrate  the character trait of the following characters          (4 mks)

i)Rank

ii)Nora

c)     Who is in the kitchen and why has he come?                                                (3mks)

d)    Identify and illustrate the dominant theme in the excerpt.                            (2mks)

e)     “……… being with Torvald is a little like being with papa” what does Nora mean by this statement?                                                                                                (2mks)

f)     Explain an incidence of dramatic irony from the excerpt.                            (2mks)

g)    Why is Nora quick to usher Dr. Rank out of the room?                                (2 mks)

h)    “This dreadful thing is going to happen. “Rewrite in reported speech.       (1mk)

i)      Explain the dreadful thing that Nora fears might happen?                            (2 mks)

j)      Explain the meaning of the following expressions as used in the excerpt.       (3 mks)

i)      Make your mind easy –

ii)    I won’t  let him escape –

iii)  It was no good –

iv)   Dreadful  -

Answers

(a)        Before

- Dr Rank tells Nora that he has always felt love for her

- Nora tells him that she only thinks of him as a close family companion and not a lover.

After

-       The maid opens the door for Krogstad to come in

-       Krogstad has just received his dismissal letter from the bank

-       He comes to enquire why Nora did not prevent his dismissal.

(b)       (1) RANK

·       Keen / observant (1mk) he  quickly notices Nora’s behaviour change once she receives the card from the maid and enquires what is wrong with her.(1mk)

·       Loyal/concerned (1mk) he promises to keep Helmer company for as long as Nora wishes.

 (2) NORA

Secretive (1 mk)  - she lies about the card to Dr. rank

                 - She lies about Krogstad to the maid

 ( c) it is Krogstad (1mk)

-       He has received his dismissal from the bank (1mk)

-       He wants to enquire from Nora why she couldn’t prevent his dismissal.

-        

( d)      Deception: Nora doest want Dr. Rank to know about Krogstad’s visit, she also lies to the maid that they’re planning a surprise for Helmer when Krogstad visits.

(e)        That both Helmer and her father were domineering/ patronizing eg she was never free to express herself both at her father’s place and at Helmer’s place.

(f)        The readers knows that Nora has received a card from the maid but Dr. Rank doesn’t know about the card.

(g)       Because she wants some time alone with Krogstad/ whatever she wants to discuss with Krogstad is secretive. / she doesn’t want Dr. Rank to know of Krogstad’s presence.

(h)       Nora said that that dreadful thing was going to happen.

(i)          That her husband will discover of her crime of forgery from Krogstad.

(j)         (i) Relax

     (ii) It will keep him busy

    (iii) It was useless

    (iv) Terrible/ very bad