A Doll’s House Webquest
Introduction: This webquest serves as an introduction to Henrik Ibsen, a Norwegian playwright, and his
famous play, A Doll’s House.
Objectives:

To develop a background knowledge on Norway
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To learn about Ibsen’s life and characteristics of his work

To understand the social atmosphere of the play’s time period
DIRECTIONS: Visit each website and answer all questions for that website.
Part 1: Place
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/no.htm
http://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/norway.shtml
1. What continent is Norway part?
2. What is the capital of Norway?
3. What 3 countries are to the East?
4. Why is nearly the entire country green in color?
5. Describe the climate of Norway.
6. Christmas is a large occasion in Norway. Provide a few examples of Norwegian Christmas traditions.
Part 2: Ibsen, The Dramatist
http://www.notablebiographies.com/Ho-Jo/Ibsen-Henrik.html
http://www.biographybase.com/biography/Ibsen_Henrik.html
1. When and where was Ibsen born?
2. Why is he known as the Father of Modern Drama?
3. What is realism and what does it show?
4. What are two literary elements that Ibsen excels in?
5. Describe the first 40 years of Ibsen’s life, and provide evidence that support this description.
6. List three characteristics of Ibsen’s plays.
7. Why are Ibsen’s plays considered scandalous?
8. What did you learn about A Doll’s House from this preview?
9. What is the common theme running through the play?
Part 3: Women & The Victorian Period
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/trail/victorian_britain/women_home/ideals_womanhood_01.shtml
1. When was the Victorian Period?
2. What were women’s roles during The Victorian Period?
3. What were men’s roles during this time period?
4. Which royal icon influenced these roles? How did she behave?
5. What are some examples of a good and virtuous woman?
6. How was the “home” described during this time period?
7. Describe women’s clothing from the 19thCentury and how what they wore affected their lives.
8. Describe how women managed the household.
9. Did the ideal woman work outside of the home?
10. What was the ideal middle class “wife and mother”?
11. What was woman’s social responsibility?
12. How were working women perceived?
13. Describe women’s mission, specifically how they helped others.
14. Describe women’s political mission.