Bell Ringer Activity:
Find a quote from the play in which Torvald uses a nickname (or pet
name) to describe Nora. Discuss why Torvald uses this pet names for Nora. What types of characteristics do Torvald's pet names evoke? What is
Torvald's attitude toward Nora?
"Come, come, my little skylark must not droop her wings. What is this! Is my little squirrel out of temper?...Nora, what do you think I have got here?" (3). Torvald uses the two pet names, Skylark and Squirrel, for Nora because he wants Nora to be happy and feel comforted instead distressed. This leads Nora to tell Torvald what she wants because she feels as though Torvald is now more understanding because of the way he comforted her. Torvald's attitude towards Nora is exasperated, he thinks that Nora is not thinking straight because of the fact that she wants something that is kind of hard for Torvlad to give.
ReplyDeleteHenrik Ibsen writes, "Is that my little lark twittering out there?" (1). Torvald uses this pet name to describe how Nora is moving around the house. This quote makes me think of how a hummingbird would be flying to describe the way Nora is walking (twittering is described as "tremulous excitement" in the Oxford English Dictionary). Torvald is being very cute towards Nora when he uses this pet name.
ReplyDeleteIn Henrik Ibsen's "A Doll's House" Torvald says: "Is it my little squirrel bustling about?" (2). This is how Torvald described Nora. He thinks he is funny and it will make Nora like him more. These names invoke that Nora is small and Torvald might believe she is a little innocent person. He loves Nora and he does this to show his love for her.
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ReplyDeleteHenrik Ibsen writes, “When did my squirrel come home?” (2).
In this quote Helmer is referring to Nora as a “squirrel” because they eat a lot and apparently so does Nora. He’s making a fat joke about someone near and dear to him.
In Henrick Ibsen's play, Thorvald says: " Is my little squirrel out of temper?" (3). I think Thorvald uses pet names for Nora because he thinks that she is beneath him. This nickname shows that he is arrogant and egotistical. I think Thorvald's attitude is controlling over Nora. I think Thorvald thinks he controls the household and everything in their lives.
ReplyDeleteIn Henrick Ibsen's play, Torvald says: "My little song bird must never do that again." (25). I think he loves to call her that is because he is saying her voice is as beautiful as a song bird. This nickname shows that he is contemplating person. Torvald loves to call her a nickname to make her sound cute like how a husband in a modern marriage would call his wife honey.
ReplyDeleteIn the play A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen, Torvald says: "my little skylark must not droop her wings"(2). In this quote he's kind calling her his little pet, I think its very odd, skylark is not very cute name of endearment, he babies Nora.
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