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

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

3. Why is Mrs Elvsted uneasy talking about her home life?

4. What is the relationship between Tesman and Julle in the play, HEDDA GABLER?

5. What does the letter sent in Act 1 of HEDDA GABLE propose to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the one trait of Mrs. Elvsted's that Hedda remembers and characterizes her by?

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

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

4. What does Hedda tell Lovborg that other people may think if Lovborg continued to refuse to drink at all?

5. Why does Lovborg not accompany Mrs. Elvsted home as promised the day before?

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

7. 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?

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

9. What brought Lovborg back to town?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a full analysis comparing and contrasting the two characters of Mrs. Elvsted and Hedda.

Part 1: Compare and contrast the motives, personalities, the effects of their actions, the fears, and other attributes of the two characters. How are they alike and how are they different? Does one embody what the other needs? How?

Part 2: What point do you think Ibsen was trying to get through to the audience by putting these two women in contrast with each other? Is there a greater message about femininity or the female role he is trying to bring up by putting these two women in contrast with each other? What would that be?

Essay Topic 2

In the play HEDDA GABLER there are two sets of characters that contrast each other. We see Hedda contrasted to Mrs. Elvsted and Tesman to Lovborg. In each case the outside character embodies something that our main character is jealous of.

Part 1: Hedda longs for influence over Lovborg and is intensely jealous of Mrs. Elvsted's success in reforming him. In what very crucial ways is Hedda unlike Mrs Elvsted, and how does this limit her?

Why does Hedda long for influence over Lovborg but not over Tesman? Is Hedda more akin to Tesman or to Lovborg? Do you think Mrs. Elvsted will feel the same way?

Part 2: Tesman is jealous of Lovborg's intellect and ability to write. How are Tesman's and Lovborg's academic works different? Are Tesman and Lovborg competing for the same things with their books, or do they value different consequences of their work?

Part 3: Do Tesman and Hedda handle their jealousy differently? How? What affect does their jealousy have on those around them?

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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