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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. What refreshment does Hedda offer to her guests?

2. What month of the year is it upon Hedda and Jorgen's return?

3. What possession does Aunt Julle return to Tesman?

4. What object did Aunt Julle purchase to impress Hedda?

5. What destroyed Solness and Aline's original home?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Hedda refrain from visiting Aunt Rina?

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

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

4. What are the factors that, combined, mean such despair for Hedda that she must end her life?

5. How does Hedda initially react to the news of Lovborg's suicide?

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

7. Why does Hedda burn the manuscript?

8. Ultimately, why does Solness finally grant Ragnar's request?

9. Describe Solness' relationship with Kaja?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Hedda repeatedly mentions seeing Lovborg with vine leaves in his hair. What do the vine leaves represent for Hedda? Are there any other references to vine leaves in literary history that come to mind? Literally, in today's world, what could vine leaves represent? How does this identification tie in with Lovborg's struggles to right himself?

Essay Topic 2

Consider two of the four plays in the collection. How are the main characters similar? How are they different? What are the goals of the character and how do they attempt to achieve them? Are there common themes in both works? Which of the plays was written first? Are there marked differences in the thematic and plot elements used? Be sure to include properly cited quotations to enhance the argument.

Essay Topic 3

In all the plays in the collection, there is a common theme: the inability to escape one's past. How does this theme play out in each of the four works? Which characters are the most affected by their denials of their pasts? What are the ultimate consequences in each of the works?

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This section contains 667 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample