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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Lovborg confess to Hedda about his manuscript?

2. After Mrs Elvsted arrives, what does Lovborg talk about?

3. At the end of Act 2, what does Hedda confess to Mrs Elvsted that she wants out of the whole situation?

4. What does Hedda threaten, again, to do to Mrs. Elvsted?

5. Which of the following best describes the state Lovborg is in when he returns to the Tesman household after Brack's party?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the play HEDDA GABLER, Lovborg is inspired by Mrs. Elvsted and reforms his life for her. Despite this, he says she is "stupid" in interpersonal matters that he discusses freely with Hedda. Indeed, Mrs. Elvsted, like Tesman, seems blind to much of the social happenings going on around her. Write an essay about these four characters and discuss how they inspire and motivate each other.

Part 1: Why is Hedda inspired by Lovborg? Why does Hedda long for influence over Lovborg but doesn't care for the influence she has over Tesman? How are Hedda and Lovborg alike? How are they different?

Part 2: How are Mrs. Elvsted and Tesman alike? In what way is this a strength and in what way are their similarities a weakness?

Part 3: Why is Lovborg inspired by Mrs. Elvsted, but Hedda is not inspired by Tesman? Is the difference in Lovborg and Hedda or in Mrs. Elvsted and Tesman?

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay that discusses the challenges of changing the setting of a play.

Part 1: What options does someone have if they choose to retell a play in a different setting? What things can be changed and the play still stay recognizable? What is important to keep in tact?

Part 2: Bring up some examples of literature or theatrical works that have been retold in a modernized or alternative way. How successful have they been? What have they changed and what have they kept? Were they more or less effective than the traditional version? Why?

Part 3: In your mind, are there benefits or detriments to this practice? Is it bringing classical stories to the masses and giving them fresh life or is it vandalizing something beautiful?

Essay Topic 3

The play HEDDA GABLER is rife with symbolism and foreshadowing.

Part 1: Define symbolism and foreshadowing in pieces of literature such as HEDDA GABLER. What is the difference between the two literary techniques? How might an author use them? Why would an author use them?

Part 2: Discuss Ibsen's use of both these techniques in the play, citing as many examples of each as you can. Explain each one, and what you think Ibsen was trying to convey. Why did he choose that particular object as a symbol? Make your essay as thorough and complete as you can.

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