You'll work in teams (to be allocated) on one of the following topics:


Mrs Alving's conversation with Pastor Manders (Act 2)

Beginning: 'I should never have kept it a secret [...]' (p. 124)

End: '[...] could conceal the truth from me like that!' (p. 128)

Make some notes in response to these questions:

  • How does Mrs Alving conceive of 'ghosts'?
  • How would you describe the language of each character in this exchange?
  • How does Ibsen criticize social norms?
  • What does this exchange reveal about Mrs Alving's character (ethos)?

 

Mrs Alving, Oswald, and Regine (Act 2)

Beginning: 'I must live a different life [...]' (p. 142)

End: '[...] What is it?' (p. 146)

Make some notes in response to these questions:

  • How does Oswald describe his inability to live in Norway, and what does this reveal about his view of individuals and society?
  • What does the discussion of Regine's future show about gender, class, and agency in the play?
  • How does Manders' arrival heighten the dramatic tension in the scene?
  • What symbols or motifs appear in this passage, and how do they contribute to the play's wider themes?


Last modified: Tuesday, 25 February 2025, 3:57 PM