1‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‍. Trace the various signs throughout the play that the men and women see things differently. Early on, Sheriff Peters says, “Nothing here but kitchen things,” meaning that the men should look elsewhere for clues. What are the male-oriented clues?

The female-oriented clues?

What types of clues are the men looking for?

What is the meaning of the title and how does it help to explain the differences between the two genders?

What are the attitudes the men have toward their jobs? The women?

How do the attitudes change the outcome?

2. Compare Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters. Which one changes more over the course of the play, and how?

Trace the signs and the causes of the growing empathy the two women feel for Minnie. Were Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters justified in covering up the murder of John Wright? You might want to define the definitions of justice each of the characters has at the beginning of the drama and how that changes as the clues ab

out Minnie’s life come into play.

3. How are we led to believe through the dramatic elements and the development of the play that Minnie is in some ways justified in killing her husband?

What do we know about Minnie and John’s characters even though we never meet them?

4. QUESTIONS TO USE WITH EITHER OF THE TWO PLAYS 1. What does the play of your choice say about how a person’s concept of home is connected to happiness in life? How are home and family connected to each respective character’s actions or reactions to life—OR—one character’s actions or reactions to life? How do his or her treatment at home and his or her beliefs about the importance of home, family, and comfort affect a character’s actions and decisions? 2. Explain how communication, lack of communication, or miscommunication affects the characters’ lives—or one specific character’s life–and the course of the play. 3. True wisdom is something that comes with age and experience. Give your definition of wisdom. Apply that definition of wisdom to one character in the play of your choice. Does he or she possess or not possess wisdom, according to your definition? A DOLL HOUSE

1. Describe Nora’s attitude toward Torvald or describe Torvald’s attitude toward Nora. Trace how the char‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‍acter’s attitude changes and why. What finally leads to her decision to leave?

Or explain by looking at Act I and Act III how Nora’s attitudes remain the same or are consistent throughout the play. 2. Discuss the sources of Torvald’s power and of Nora’s. Who has more power? Why?

3. Compare the relationship between Mrs. Linde and Nils Krogstad with that between Nora and Torvald. How does the first relationship help shape what the play is saying about marriage?

4. Compare the relationship of Dr. Rank and Nora with that of Torvald and Nora. What is the role of Dr. Rank in the play? What type of a friend is he to Torvald, to Nora?

Are Torvald and/or Nora reciprocating in their friendship to Dr. Rank? 5. Nora, Mrs. Linde, Anna (the Helmers’ nurse) and Krogstad have all been in difficult situations for lack of money. How can their situations be compared?

What is the play saying about social class and about money?

6. Nora could be considered both wise and unwise in different scenes of the play.

Explain the nature of both her wisdom and her folly. How does she fare in the end? In other words, is she ultimately wise or ultimately foolish? 7. Explain the function of the various sets of foils in the play.

How do those with opposing views prevent Nora from “taking off her masquerade dress” earlier?

How do these foils force Nora’s hand? Is the forcing of Nora’s hand by Krogstad and Mrs. Linde helpful to Nora in the long run?

8. Compare the views on marriage and relationships in marriage presented in Trifles and A Doll House. What is similar about the way the themes of marriage and relationships are treated?

What are the meaningful differences between the ways these themes are discussed?

What are the significant points made on these topics? This topic is more difficult, so do not tackle this unless you are ready to discuss each play equally and often following the same or a similar topic sentence in your body paragraphs. You also cannot discuss it all, so you will need to divide this topic into the most relevant comparisons or contrast.

9. Explain how Torvald’s attitude toward Nora is similar to the men’s attitudes toward the women in Susan “Glaspell’s Trifles. See my comments

on the previous question on‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‍ what you need to think about before tackling this topic.