A Doll's House Summary
Henrik Ibsen

Everything you need to understand or teach A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen.

A Doll's House Summary & Study Guide
2 eBooks
51 Student Essays
1 Encyclopedia Article
1 Book Notes
...and more

30 A Doll's House Lessons
20 Activities
180 Multiple Choice Questions
60 Short Essay Questions
20 Essay Questions
Pre-Made Tests and Quizzes
...and more

A Doll's House Summary

A Doll's House was published on December 4, 1879, and first performed in Copenhagen on December 21, 1879. The work was considered a publishing event and the play's initial printing of 8,000 copies quickly sold out. The play was so controversial that Ibsen was forced to write a second ending that he called "a barbaric outrage" to be used only when necessary. The controversy centered around Nora's decision to abandon her children, and in the second ending she...

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A Doll's House Study Guide

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Characters

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Encyclopedia Articles (1)

A Doll's House

3,512 words, approx. 12 pages

A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen Henrik Ibsen was born on March 20, 1828, in the small town of Skien, Norway. In an effort to escape small-town life and his family's poverty, he later moved to the ci... Read more

Project Gutenberg eBooks (2)

A Doll's House

30,863 words, approx. 103 pages

ACT I (Scene.—A room furnished comfortably and tastefully, but not extravagantly.  At the back, a door to the right leads to the entrance-hall, another to the left leads to Helmer&rsqu... Read more

The Doll's House : a play

33,529 words, approx. 112 pages

Title:  A Doll’s House Author:  Henrik Ibsen Release Date:  Mar, 2001 [EBook #2542] [Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on August 5, 20... Read more

Henrik Ibsen Biographies (2)

Henrik Ibsen

1,489 words, approx. 5 pages

The Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) developed realistic techniques that changed the entire course of Western drama. There is very little in modern drama that does not owe a debt to him.H... Read more

Henrik Ibsen

4,454 words, approx. 15 pages

"In the English-speaking world today Henrik Ibsen has become one of the three major classics of the theatre," wrote Martin Esslin in an essay included in Ibsen and the Theatre: The Dramatist in Produc... Read more

Essays & Analysis (51)

"A Doll's House"

970 words, approx. 4 pages

The suppressed position of women was blatantly highlighted in Henrik Isbens play titled "A Doll's House" The dehumanization weathered by Nora, the dependence she felt, along with lack... Read more

Ibsen's Plays Portray the Individual in Opposition to a Hostile Society ?

2,019 words, approx. 7 pages

George Brandes once insisted that the only way literature could be made into a vital and living piece of art would be by "subjecting problems to debate" Indeed, it was the `problem' at the heart of H... Read more

The Handmaid's Tale and A Doll's House

1,102 words, approx. 4 pages

Society influences human lives every day, whether awareness is a factor or not. Every aspect of life coexists with the surrounding environment. The atmosphere shapes emotions and feelings in every p... Read more

Nora: An Extraordinary "Doll" in "A Doll's House"

1,313 words, approx. 5 pages

Nora, the wife of Torvald Helmer and mother of three children, plays a fundamental role within Henrik Ibsen's "A Doll's House," published in 1879. Nora's character demonstrates typical characteristic... Read more

A Dolls House Vs Raise the Red Lantern

1,548 words, approx. 6 pages

`Women are rarely portrayed on stage and/or film as being the equal of men.' How have women been portrayed in relation to male characters in A Doll's House and Raise the Red Lantern" The battle of wo... Read more

Nora's Conflict with Society in Henrik Ibesn's A Doll's House

1,832 words, approx. 7 pages

No Pain, No Gain: The Hurt and Help Nora Gets From Her Conflict With Society Since the beginning of mankind, conflicts have been an integral part of human interaction. History provides us with many ... Read more

Ibsen's A Doll House

689 words, approx. 3 pages

Ibsen's A Doll House     The character of Torvald Helmer in A Doll House continuously dominates the character of his seemingly submissive wife, Nora, throughout the play. He is quite ob... Read more

Society's Doll

1,182 words, approx. 4 pages

In "A Doll House", Ibsen portrays the bleak picture of a role held by women of all economic classes that is sacrificial. The female characters in the play back-up Nora's assertion that even though m... Read more

Self Realization in Henry Ibsen's "A Doll's House"

544 words, approx. 2 pages

Henrik Ibsen's , "A Doll's House", is a play about one's true self versus the perception of others. Nora Helmer is a woman who is seen as nothing more than a child. From her friends to Torvald, her h... Read more

Manipulation in A Doll's House

1,048 words, approx. 4 pages

One of the main themes of Henrik Ibsen's play A Doll's House is manipulation. The main characters manipulate each other for their personal benefits. The word manipulation can be interpreted in many w... Read more

Visual Symbols in a Doll's House

1,407 words, approx. 5 pages

"A Doll's House", written in 1879, is one of the most famous works by playwright Henrik Ibsen, the founder of modern realistic prose drama. It tells the story of a nineteenth century bourgeoisie ... Read more

Women's Roles Viewed from "A Doll's House"

799 words, approx. 3 pages

The play A Doll House deals with gender roles during the time that it was written. Ibsen uses Nora gender to illustrate society views regarding the roles of both men and women in business, in the hom... Read more

Development of Torvald's False Identity in "A Doll's House"

365 words, approx. 2 pages

In Henrik Ibsen's play "A Doll's House," Ibsen develops the idea of false identity through the actions of the main characters. Torvald's character is especially well developed; Ibsen hints that Torva... Read more

The Real Ken and Barbie

1,096 words, approx. 4 pages

In the play, "A Doll House", written by Henrik Ibsen, the plot and themes all suggest that the title implies a metaphor rather than an imaginary toy. The benefits of the reader is an example of... Read more

Sympathetic or Antisympathetic

678 words, approx. 3 pages

In Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House, Nora starts out as sympathetic person, making decisions based upon the welfare of only others, and never herself. She is a caring, naïve and loving person, mak... Read more

I Didn't See That Coming

1,024 words, approx. 4 pages

I Didn't See That Coming When reading a play, the purpose is to use words and written stage directions to allow both the performer and the reader to visualize the movements of the characters an... Read more

The Tarantella and Other Symbols in "A Doll's House"

777 words, approx. 3 pages

In the play A Doll's House there are many important symbols and ideas that interrogated the 19th century status quo including the Tarantella, the I.O.U. and the calling cards of Dr. Rank. These images... Read more

Interpretive Essay on Ibsen's "A Doll House"

918 words, approx. 4 pages

What comes to mind when the word morals is said? Whose morals should be followed, individual or group? In A Doll House, Ibsen portrays the protagonist, Nora, to follow the morals of her husband, Tor... Read more

Unreliability of Appearances in "A Doll's House"

1,360 words, approx. 5 pages

Over the course of Henrik Iben's A Doll's House, appearances prove to be misleading, which, in turn lead to the revelation of the reality of the play's characters and situations. The first impressio... Read more

Henrick Ibsen's "A Doll's House"

1,031 words, approx. 4 pages

Henrik Ibsen believed that a drama should "proceed from the individual," for he viewed the character, not the plot according to Aristotle, was the most important element in a drama. The carefully con... Read more

A Doll's House

1,414 words, approx. 5 pages

Women have changed and evolved in many different ways as time continues to go by. They keep growing and growing into new people and they have made themselves to be more of individuals rather than j... Read more

A Doll's House

933 words, approx. 4 pages

Characterization is the act of describing distinctive characteristics or essential features of something or someone. Nora, Torvald, and Krogstad all have there unique characteristics that makes the... Read more

Nora and Torvald: Love or Social Conformity?

1,118 words, approx. 4 pages

Whether it is a Shakespeare play, or a novel written by Mark Twain, the characters form relationships. These relationships can range anywhere from a hate based relationship, to a few characters fal... Read more

Compare and Contrast of Characters from "A Doll's House" and "Hedda Gabler"

1,338 words, approx. 5 pages

Ibsen's plays are in depth analysis of what he perceives to be wrong with society. His ability to transcend the accepted social beliefs of the late nineteenth century is very apparent through the ... Read more

"A Doll's House": A Commentary on Feminism

895 words, approx. 3 pages

"BAM!" a dramatic door slam ends "A Doll's House", a play by Henrik Ibsen. In this play, Ibsen makes many hints about the roles of society and how the female gender was treated at the time. From this... Read more

The Effect of Exposition in "A Doll's House"

907 words, approx. 4 pages

The exposition of Henrik Ibsen's "A Doll's House" masterfully sets up the rest of the play. Ibsen introduces us to the world of the play through his careful attention to the details of the set and the... Read more

Summary of A Dolls House

769 words, approx. 3 pages

Throughout the play A Doll's House, Henrik Ibsen portrays Nora, the main character, as a young, confused woman, who is in the transition from dependency to independent. There are three main factors th... Read more

A Doll's House: Dialogue between Nora and Kristina Linde

816 words, approx. 3 pages

The story begins in the living room of the Helmer's, it is described as "furnished inexpensively, but with taste." Other items and their places in the room are described to give one a rather detailed ... Read more

Dolls House, The Secondary Role of Women

524 words, approx. 2 pages

The secondary role of women is an important theme in "A Doll's House" by Henrik Ibsen. It gives basis and meaning to the origin of the plays title. In the late 18th century when the play was written... Read more

The Role of Primary Care Givers in a Dolls House and the Metamorphosis

1,421 words, approx. 5 pages

Through the development of the main characters in A Doll's House and The Metamorphosis, both Ibsen and Kafka have portrayed the primary care takers of the play and novel changing and growing. In the ... Read more

Defying Social Constraints in A Doll's House

792 words, approx. 3 pages

I really liked this play along with the other ones we have read in class. However, this plays seems to stand out to me because it takes a feminist point of view. It is always good to go inside t... Read more

A Doll's House

747 words, approx. 3 pages

"A Doll's House" is a play about a woman, molded by society, made to conform to the ideals of others. All of her life Nora has been treated as a doll, she has been indirectly taught to act, speak, and... Read more

Realism in A Doll's House

1,761 words, approx. 6 pages

For Ibsen, the theatre was a place of truth, of brutal analysis; an institution where the minds and souls of man were exposed with an honesty that at times seemed intolerably cruel. "Ej blot til Lyst... Read more

A Doll's House

713 words, approx. 3 pages

The 19th century husband is eminent due to his persona. In the play," A Doll's House," by Henrik Ibsen, Helmer becomes symbolic for the 19th century husband as proven by characterization of pride, do... Read more

Animus in A Doll's House and The Awakening

873 words, approx. 3 pages

In society women often do not fit into the stereotype that they are given. Women are supposed to be caring, motherly, and submissive, husband pleasers who have no mind of their own. This however, is a... Read more

A Doll's House and the Awakening

959 words, approx. 4 pages

In the play, A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen, and the novel, The Awakening by Kate Chopin both authors exhibit the anima and animus engergies of males and females. The anima is a man's feminine energy,... Read more

An Examination of Wealth as a Determinant of Freedom in a Doll's House and the Cherry Orchard

1,181 words, approx. 4 pages

An examination of wealth as a determinant of freedom in A Doll's House and The Cherry Orchard From the early establishment of societies and economies, wealth has been seen as a symbol for freedom due... Read more

A Doll's House: The Symbolism of the Title

484 words, approx. 2 pages

The play "A Doll's House" has a very symbolic title. The title relates right in with the theme and plot of the story. The author uses this title as a symbol that relates into the story. Nora the main ... Read more

Nora Helmer Vs. Okonkwo

1,503 words, approx. 6 pages

The ideals of a high society Victorian Era woman are presumably different than that of a mid-1940's Nigerian clan leader. Nora Helmer is a young flustered Norwegian housewife who has quite a complic... Read more

A Doll House: the Plot in Review

1,697 words, approx. 6 pages

The play A Doll House (1879), by Henrik Ibsen, has a realistic feel that compels the reader to identify with the main characters and the situation that they find themselves facing. The wife, Nora, is... Read more

Ibsen's" A Doll House" and Gender Roles

978 words, approx. 4 pages

Throughout history there has always been a major gap between the roles of man and woman in society. Women of the times were faced with double standards, and harsh economic challenges. The role of a wo... Read more

A Doll's House Precis

1,649 words, approx. 6 pages

Name of Playwright Henrik Isben Title of Play A Doll House Date of Composition 1879 Characters Torvald Helmer: Masculine, Righteous, and Sexist. Nora Helmer: Deceiving, a Spender, a l... Read more

A Doll's House: Christine Linde as Dramatic Foil

861 words, approx. 3 pages

In Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House, Christine Linde surprises Nora Helmer with a visit to her house. The two women were childhood friends and have not seen each other in many years. As both character... Read more

Women Compared in "A Doll's House"

899 words, approx. 3 pages

The similarities of the motives behind the actions of both Kristine and Nora in A Doll's House could be used to compare the similarities of these two characters even though these characters are i... Read more

Victorian Women: A Human Sacrifice

2,036 words, approx. 7 pages

"In herself the woman is nothing. The woman can only justify her presence on the earth by dedicating herself to others; through deliberate self-effacement, duty and sacrifice she will discover the ide... Read more

The Role of the Tarantella in Henrik Ibsen's a Doll House.

619 words, approx. 3 pages

One of the motives in Henrik Ibsen's A Doll House is that of the tarantella, an Italian folk dance that Nora performs on Christmas night. This dance express one of the play's central themes: the idea ... Read more

A Doll House: Torvald's and Nora's Short Lived Relationship

1,006 words, approx. 4 pages

Lifelong relationships allow for individuality, bring out the best in both people, and invite personal growth. In A Doll House, Ibsen presents us with Torvald and Nora Helmer, a husband and wife who h... Read more

The Sacrificial Role of Women in "A Doll's House"

1,426 words, approx. 5 pages

The society of late 19th century Norway was completely shaped and controlled by Men. They ran the businesses, controlled the money, made the laws and even established the moral standards. In contrast,... Read more

Trapped

898 words, approx. 3 pages

Trapped In both Raise the Red Lantern, by Zhang Yi Mou, and A Doll's House, by Henrik Ibsen, it is clear that women have expectations which they are to live by. In A Doll's House, Torvald shows that... Read more

The Past Influencing the Present in "A Doll's House" and "The Assault"

1,222 words, approx. 5 pages

"The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect was already in the cause" as stated by the great French philosopher Henri Bergson (Bartleby.com). With this quotation,... Read more

Social Change in "A Doll's House" and "The Cherry Orchard"

1,553 words, approx. 6 pages

Despite Henrik Ibsen's insistence that he was `more of a poet and less of a social philosopher' and Anton Chekhov's intention to make `The Cherry Orchard' into a `light comedy', both `A Doll's House' ... Read more

Free Book Notes (1)

A Doll's House

11,561 words, approx. 39 pages

A Doll's House Book Notes is a free study guide on A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen. Browse the summary below:   Author Biography / Context of the Work   One-Page Plot Summary   Cha... Read more

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