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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 does Ragnar request of Solness just before Brovik's death?

2. What will Tesman and Mrs. Elvsted use to reconstruct the manuscript?

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

4. What does Solness hope will help repair the relationship between him and Aline?

5. What does Solness plan to hang from the tower of his new home?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Hedda admit she wants control of?

3. How did Solness and Aline's children die?

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

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

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

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

8. What are Hedda's feelings about Tesman's aunts?

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

10. Why has Hilde sought Solness out?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the climax of HEDDA GABLER, she shoots herself in the temple with her father's pistol. What reversals in Act 4 lead her to this final act? What characters directly contribute to her decision? Is Hedda's suicide a final, courageous declaration of freedom, or has she been left no other choice because of her restrictive, stifling life? Is her suicide an admission of defeat? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Examine Mrs. Alving's "ghosts." When do they appear? As whom do they appear? What echoes of her past does she see in the present? Is she able to escape any of her past experiences? What is her character's arc throughout the play? Be sure to provide textual examples.

Essay Topic 3

Choose two of the four works in the collection. How does morality shape the events of the play? Are there immoral characters that learn morality, and vice versa? Is Ibsen making a statement about morality, and if so, what does he wish to convey? Is the moral choice usually the socially acceptable choice in the works? Why or why not?

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This section contains 665 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample