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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 refer to when she says someone has 'vine leaves in their hair'?

2. What does Lovborg take with him to Brack's?

3. Before he leaves, what does Lovborg promise to do?

4. What time of day is it when Lovborg arrives at the Tesman household?

5. What are Mrs. Elvsted's plans when she leaves the Tesman household in Act 3 of HEDDA GABLER?

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 on addiction, and the influence in can have in someone's life. Make sure to use the character Lovborg from the play HEDDA GABLER as an example. You may use other examples from your own life as well.

Part 1: Addiction can be a powerful force. Discuss both the power it has over people as well as the power that people can have over it. Make sure to use the character Lovborg from the play HEDDA GABLER as an example and to relate your arguments to the play.

Part 2: Can people control addiction? Discuss the best ways to approach an addiction or a weakness in order to control it. What resources are available to people in order to help them overcome an addiction? What choices do they need to make to ensure their best success? What should they avoid?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay about the complexities and challenges of developing the plot in HEDDA GABLER and other similar plays.

Part 1: The entire play happens in one room in the Tesman household over two days. Are there advantages and disadvantages in choosing such a limited stage setting? What difficulties does it present and what might it simplify? What affect does an entire play in one room have on the audience?

Part 2: In the play HEDDA GABLER, Ibsen uses various techniques to make the play flow despite the limited setting and lack of a narrator or asides. How did Ibsen develop his characters? How did he give his audience the information they needed to understand who everyone was? What techniques did he use to help his characters seem natural? How did the action of the play get conveyed to the audience?

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