Curriculum / ELA / 12th Grade / Unit 2: A Doll's House / Lesson 4
ELA
Unit 2
12th Grade
Lesson 4 of 10
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Create and defend an argument on Ibsen’s stance on women based on Act 1 of the play.
Book: Inside the Victorian Home: A Portrait of Domestic Life in Victorian England by Judith Flanders — Chapter 6
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Tasks that represents the peak thinking of the lesson - mastery will indicate whether or not objective was achieved
“Victorians thought that women who were independent were somehow incomplete, whereas we think the opposite – that without independence it is difficult to be a whole person.” – Judith Flanders, The Victorian Home, p. 215. Flanders argues that without independence it is impossible to be a whole person. Write an essay in which you compare her statement to Ibsen’s message in his play A Doll’s House. Explain how he uses the title of his play, his characters, and/or other devices in Act 1 to support your answer.
Questions about the text that will help guide the students understanding
Suggestions for teachers to help them teach this lesson
Students should read at least pp. 214–219 of the chapter called “The Parlor” in The Victorian Home in order to deepen their understanding of Victorian era beliefs about women and respond to the essay question. Reading the entire chapter, if time allows, might also help deepen students’ thinking about the setting of A Doll’s House and the significance of the title. The action of the play takes place entirely inside a home, the sphere within which “respectable” women were expected to operate in Victorian times.
Lesson 3
Lesson 5
Analyze and interpret the relationship between Helmer and Nora in the opening scene of the play.
Analyze how Ibsen further characterizes Nora.
Track the development of the motif of disease.
Analyze how Ibsen uses dramatic irony to develop the conflict of the play.
Writing – 2 days
Analyze and explain how Ibsen develops the central conflict in the opening scene of Act 2.
Analyze and explain the symbolic significance of the tarantella dance.
Analyze the power dynamics between female and male characters in this scene. Explain how their roles reflect the roles available to women in Victorian society.
Analyze the climax of the play and explain how it creates theme and develops Nora’s character.
Create and defend an argument about Nora’s decision at the end of the play.
Analyze Ibsen’s impact as a playwright.
Assessment – 2 days
Debate and defend your answer to the unit test question.
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