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

2. Which of the following best compares the nature of Tesman's book to the nature of Lovborg's book?

3. When Tesman and Brack first invite Lovborg to Brack's party, what does Lovborg do?

4. Does Berte leave her belongings lying around?

5. What is the one thing that Hedda says she has an aptitude for?

Short Essay Questions

1. What reason does Hedda give Lovborg for her asking him all the details of his dissolute life when they knew each other previously?

2. What is the main question of importance that Lovborg has for Hedda when they are talking in private?

3. Describe Hedda Gabler's character.

4. What does Brack press Hedda to do regarding Lovborg in the first part of Act 3 of HEDDA GABLER? Why?

5. Despite it's great reception, what does Lovborg say about the book of his that was recently published? What about the next one?

6. What do Tesman and Mrs. Elvsted decide they must do for Lovborg, and what does Mrs. Elvsted have that makes this possible?

7. How does Lovborg feel about Hedda being married to Tesman?

8. What does Hedda mean at the end of Act 2 when she tells Mrs. Elvsted that at ten o'clock Lovborg will return "with vine leaves in his hair"?

9. What does Mrs. Elvsted liken the manuscript to?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

In the play HEDDA GABLER, the character of Julle is seen only briefly, but she is mentioned often and has several important roles to play. Write an essay about the need for her character in the play.

Part 1: What many purposes does her character have? Ibsen needs to use her to achieve several things. What are they? Who does her character help to contrast? Who does her character add depth to? Who does she help define?

Part 2: Discuss the importance in general of minor characters that don't play a major role in the plot, and what they often are there to do. Does realism need them more than other genres? What complications for the writer might they help solve?

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)

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