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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Hedda claim were her motives in their prior experiences together?

2. Which of the following best characterizes Lovborg the night of Brack's party?

3. What is Hedda doing when Tesman returns from Brack's party?

4. What is Lovborg's response to Hedda's revelation about Mr Elvsted?

5. How does Hedda imagine Lovborg when he returns?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

"Hedda Gabler" is the maiden name of the character we meet in the play as "Hedda Tesman". However, we often hear her referred to by other characters as "Hedda Gabler" and the play itself is named HEDDA GABLER.

Part 1: What do you think was Ibsen's purpose in this? Is he making her connection to her father, or her unmarried life, stronger than her connection to her husband? We see many contrasts between Hedda's maiden life and her married life, are there any parallel changes in her, or, like her name, is she stuck how she was before getting married?

Part 2: Throughout the play we hear people refer to "Hedda Gabler" with deference and admiration. Hedda was clearly successful at what was expected of her before marriage. What happened? Why is she having such a hard time now? Does Hedda have a way to continue her own legacy, or in the play is she merely the shadow of herself?

Part 3: What role has society played in causing this discrepancy in Hedda's life? Does she have many choices that would lead her to happiness or self fulfillment?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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