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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How is Hedda described in the stage directions?

2. What possession of Hedda's does she want to keep, despite the fact that it doesn't match their home?

3. With what type of person is Solness prone to having relationships?

4. What refreshment does Hedda offer to her guests?

5. What is Lovborg's new book about?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the implications to Hedda of Brack knowing Lovborg died by one of her pistols?

2. What imminent threat does Tesman face now that Lovborg has a successful book?

3. How does Hedda convince Lovborg to go to the party?

4. Why does Hedda tell Tesman she burned the manuscript?

5. Why does Hedda refrain from visiting Aunt Rina?

6. How does Lovborg take his leave of Mrs. Elvsted?

7. Why is Solness afraid of youth?

8. What does Mr. Brack hint will soon keep Hedda busy, fulfilling her life and abating her incurable boredom?

9. What does Ragnar ask of Solness, since his father is close to death?

10. Why is Ejlert unable to return Mrs. Elvsted's love sufficiently?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Solness as a true tragic hero. What is his essential flaw? How is he vulnerable? How is he manipulated by other characters in the play? Can he be blamed for his fate, or is he simply the victim of destiny? Does he bear any similarity to Lovborg in Hedda Gabler? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Hedda Gabler considers herself a coward. Why does she have that impression? What is she afraid of? What does she truly desire? Why does her obsession with Ejlert Lovborg consume her? She encourages Ejlert Lovborg to go to the party, despite protestations from Mrs. Elvsted and Lovborg himself declining. Why is she trying to control his destiny?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the climax and the secondary climax of HEDDA GABLER. In which acts do these events occur? How does the secondary climax lead to the ultimate resolution in the play? What other events lead up to the play's final, climactic moment?

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