View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Why might Tesman not get the professorship he was promised?

2. What are people suggesting when they note Hedda has "filled out" during her travels?

3. What was the basis of the close friendship shared by Lovborg and Mrs Elvsted?

4. What does Mrs Elvsted ask of Tesman in Act 1 of Hedda Gabler?

5. What role did Ejlert Lovborg play in the Elvsted household prior to the happenings in the play Hedda Gabler?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Julle and Tesman discuss Hedda, what do they usually focus on?

2. At the end of Act 3, what does Hedda say to Lovborg about vine leaves? Why?

3. An incident happened at Diana's that ended with the police being summoned. What was that incident?

4. What is the financial situation of the newly married couple?

5. What reason does Hedda give Tesman for burning the manuscript?

6. In Act 2 of HEDDA GABLER, what do we learn about the hat incident of Act I that was not divulged to us at the time?

7. When Lovborg leaves at the end of Act 3 what does Hedda do? What does she say while she does it?

8. What does Hedda do to Brack when he approaches at the very beginning of Act 2 of HEDDA GABLER?

9. In Act 1 of Hedda Gabler, what does Hedda say about her piano? What does Tesman suggest in reply, and how is his suggestion received?

10. At the end of Act 1, what is the one thing Hedda says she still has one thing to amuse herself with?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay about suicide.

Part 1: Discuss different views of someone taking their own life. Has it ever been acceptable or condoned? Do different cultures see it differently? In what circumstances has it been seen as acceptable or even advisable?

Part 2: What are your own views on someone taking their own life? Is there any circumstance that it is understandable or ok?

Part 3: In the play HEDDA GABLER, is Hedda's final act a liberating act of courage or a cowardly avoidance? How does Hedda see it?

Essay Topic 2

For the title character in HEDDA GABLER, having power and influence over someone is of immense importance.

Part 1: Describe Hedda's need for power or influence. Why did she feel it? Was she particular about who she influenced? Was she well meaning in her attempts to influence? Was she responsible with her power?

Part 2: Write an essay about the people in your life that you have influence over and those that have power over you. Discuss the roles of responsibility and power in each relationship. What happens when power is not handled responsibly? What are some of the outcomes of the power or influence in your life and in the life of those around you?

Essay Topic 3

The play HEDDA GABLER was first published in 1890. Write an essay about the world as it was then.

Part 1: What was the society and culture like that first received the play HEDDA GABLER? What, in his society, was like ours and what was different? What aspects have changed but still show influence after all these years?

Part 2: What aspects of his culture influenced Henrik Ibsen to write the play HEDDA GABLER? What message was he trying to send with his plays? Was there a part of society that he felt was unjust and reacted to in his work?

Part 3: How well was his work and his message received? Did most of his society accept and agree with his message or was it controversial? Why?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,043 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample