WL 1 Essay Proposal
Topic: Dance between Lysistrata and A Doll’s House both resemble a solution to the
problem.
Outline
I. Introduction
A. Lead: Dance is an art form that refers to body motion, usually used as a form
of expression.
B. A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen, Nora and Torvald seem to be the perfect
married couple. However, Nora for she was afraid that it would ruin their mirage,
revealing the truth would lead to divorce
C. Lysistrata by Aristophanes, Lysistrata convinces the women of Greece to hold
sexual privileges from their husbands and lovers in order to force them to negotiate
peace; this strategy brings up the battle between the genders.
D. Thesis: Although Lysistrata and A Doll’s House take place in different periods,
they both use dance to represent a solution to the problem in the play
II. Topic Sentence: In A Doll's House Ibsen uses the Tarantella to symbolize how Nora
struggle to keep her secret
A. CD 1 “my darling, you’re dancing as if your life depended on it” (p84)
1. CM Nora was dancing in order to keep Torvald from going to the
mailbox; if Torvald were to go there, her secret would be reveal, which would ruin her
life.
2. CM
B. CD 2 “…you must teach me right up to the last minute, promise me
Torvald…”
1. CM
2. CM
III. Topic Sentence: Main idea? Role of song in Lysistrata?
A. CD 1 “well gentle men, so it’s all happily settled. Spartans, here are your
wives back…us have a dance for thanksgiving”. (pg 84)
1. CM once the men and women settle their problems they all have a
dance, which shows they are at peace again
2. CM
B. CD 2
1. CM
2. CM
IV. Topic Sentence: Aristophanes utilizes the dance to show all is calm; she uses the
dance as a spiritual thing for them. Ibsen uses the tarantella as the climax of the story
Dance is also an act of celebration for Aristophanes.
A. CD 1
1. CM
2. CM
B. CD 2
1. CM
2. CM
V. Topic Sentence: In A Doll’s House Nora, use the dance to stall Torvald from finding
out the truth, while in Lysistrata, the men and women dance with each other to symbolize
that the problem is solved. For a clearer connection, could you argue that the Tarantella
is, in a way, a means to the solution in Dolls as well? Even though it wasn’t the solution
she was looking for, she finds a solution after all. Could you connect that with the
Tarantella somehow?
A. CD 1
1. CM
2. CM
B. CD 2
1. CM
2. CM
VI. Conclusion: The roles of the dance in both plays are important they both symbolize a
solution or partially a solution to the problem. They both FACILITATE a solution,
perhaps?