SHORT ANSWERS - HEDDA GABLER BY IBSEN
QUESTION NO. 1
Answer the following questions.
Answer the following questions.
(i) What is Epic Theatre?
Ans. Epic theatre is a form of political drama intended to appeal to reason rather than the emotions. It replaces the dramatic unities with an episodic structure; an important feature is the alienation effect, in which actors and audience are discouraged from identifying with the characters of scenes depicted. The best examples of this drama are Brechet's plays "The Three Penny Opera" and "Mother Courage".
(ii) What is Theatre of the Absurd?
Ans. Theatre of the Absurd is a form of drama that emphasizes the absurdity of human existence by employing disjointed, repetitious, and meaningless dialogue, purposeless and confusing situations, and plots that lack realistic or logical development. "Waiting for Godot" by Samuel Beckett is an example of the Theatre of the Absurd.
(iii) What is socialism?
Ans. Socialism is a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc, in the community as a whole. "Animal Farm" by George Orwell is an exponent of socialism.
(iv) Why is 'Hedda Gabler' rather than 'Hedda Tesman' the title of the drama?
Ans. Hedda's married name is Hedda Tesman; Gabler is her maiden name. On the subject of the title, Ibsen wrote: "My intention is giving it this name was to indicate that Hedda as a personality is to be regarded rather as her father's daughter than her husband's wife".
(v) Why does Ibsen choose a woman as his protagonist in 'Hedda Gabler'?
Ans. Life was tough for a woman in Victorian Norway and Henrik Ibsen was a feminist so he chose a woman as his protagonist in "Hedda Gabler". Hedda is 'the female Hamlet" in "Hedda Gabler".
(vi) Describe the physical appearance of Hedda.
Ans. Hedda is a woman whose "face and figure show refinement and distinction. Her complexion is pale and opaque. Her steel-grey eyes express a cold, unruffled repose. Her hair is of an agreeable brown, but not particularly abundant".
(vii) Is Hedda a symbol of new woman?
Ans. At the time Ibsen wrote "Hedda Gabler", the term 'new woman' has emerged to describe 'women who were pushing against the limits which society imposed on women". Hedda is an idle, emancipated woman. She is a model case of a 'new woman' who ultimately finds no satisfaction in liberation.
(viii) What clashes between aristocracy and the bourgeoisie does the play 'Hedda Gabler' reveal?
Ans. The aristocratic Hedda, Brack, and Lovborg have dark colour whereas the bourgeois Thea, Miss Tesman, and Geroge are all fair. The aristocrats are smart, quick, rebellious, jaded and aware while the bourgeois are middle-class, slower, more naive, and end up getting played by the other camp.
(ix) What does Hedda complain?
Ans. Hedda complains throughout the play that she is bored by a tedious, monotonous life in which nothing new ever happens. Even after her marriage, she complains to Brack about the unending tedium of her honeymoon with Tesman.
(x) Why is Hedda so cruel to other females in 'Hedda Gabler'?
Ans. Hedda is cruel to Aunt Julia and Mrs. Elvsted because she is not a nice lady. She is a jealous, dishonest and neurotic woman. She wants to be a man and resents her sex. That's why she hates Thea so much -- because Thea is the epitome of femininity.
(xi) How do we know that Hedda is a dishonest character?
Ans. Hedda tells Tesman that he ought to to write Eilert Lowvborg a long letter but then immediately reveals to Mrs. Elvsted that she only did this to get rid of him. When talking to Judge Brack, Hedda says that she really does not care for the house Tesman has bought for her, yet she lets Tesman go on believing that the house is precious to her. From these examples we know that Hedda is a dishonest character.
(xii) Hedda may be portrayed as a victim of circumstances.
Ans. Hedda is a female of Victorian era who finds no outlet for her personal demands. She is trapped in a loveless marriage, completely stifled, living below her standards, married to a buffoon, and about to have a baby she in no way wants. Thus she is a victim of circumstances.
(xiii) According to Hedda, what is 'beautiful death'?
Ans. For Hedda, suicide is the "beautiful death" because in suicide one has to power to determine when and how to die. She gives Lovborg one of her pistols to have a "beautiful death" but when he dies from an unintended shot, she realizes that the "beautiful death" is still a fantasy.
(xiv) For the achievement of what ideal does Hedda die?
Ans. Hedda is unhappy, bored, trapped in a loveless marriage, completely stifled, living below her standards, married to a buffoon, and about to have a baby she in no way wants. She commits suicide because she thinks that death will confer on her ultimate immunity from exposure and scandal, and absolute freedom from the control of husbands and would-be lovers.
(xv) What is the thematic significance to Aunt Rina's sickness and death?
Ans. Rina is Julie Tesman's sister and George's aunt. Rina is terminally ill at the beginning of the play and dies towards the end. Her sickness lingers over the action. Auntie Julie cannot every stay long at the Tesman's home because she must take care of Rina. Rina's impending death occasions Tesman's absence at the beginning of Act IV, making an opportunity for Brack to have his final, secret, manipulative meeting with Hedda.
Ans. Epic theatre is a form of political drama intended to appeal to reason rather than the emotions. It replaces the dramatic unities with an episodic structure; an important feature is the alienation effect, in which actors and audience are discouraged from identifying with the characters of scenes depicted. The best examples of this drama are Brechet's plays "The Three Penny Opera" and "Mother Courage".
(ii) What is Theatre of the Absurd?
Ans. Theatre of the Absurd is a form of drama that emphasizes the absurdity of human existence by employing disjointed, repetitious, and meaningless dialogue, purposeless and confusing situations, and plots that lack realistic or logical development. "Waiting for Godot" by Samuel Beckett is an example of the Theatre of the Absurd.
(iii) What is socialism?
Ans. Socialism is a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc, in the community as a whole. "Animal Farm" by George Orwell is an exponent of socialism.
(iv) Why is 'Hedda Gabler' rather than 'Hedda Tesman' the title of the drama?
Ans. Hedda's married name is Hedda Tesman; Gabler is her maiden name. On the subject of the title, Ibsen wrote: "My intention is giving it this name was to indicate that Hedda as a personality is to be regarded rather as her father's daughter than her husband's wife".
(v) Why does Ibsen choose a woman as his protagonist in 'Hedda Gabler'?
Ans. Life was tough for a woman in Victorian Norway and Henrik Ibsen was a feminist so he chose a woman as his protagonist in "Hedda Gabler". Hedda is 'the female Hamlet" in "Hedda Gabler".
(vi) Describe the physical appearance of Hedda.
Ans. Hedda is a woman whose "face and figure show refinement and distinction. Her complexion is pale and opaque. Her steel-grey eyes express a cold, unruffled repose. Her hair is of an agreeable brown, but not particularly abundant".
(vii) Is Hedda a symbol of new woman?
Ans. At the time Ibsen wrote "Hedda Gabler", the term 'new woman' has emerged to describe 'women who were pushing against the limits which society imposed on women". Hedda is an idle, emancipated woman. She is a model case of a 'new woman' who ultimately finds no satisfaction in liberation.
(viii) What clashes between aristocracy and the bourgeoisie does the play 'Hedda Gabler' reveal?
Ans. The aristocratic Hedda, Brack, and Lovborg have dark colour whereas the bourgeois Thea, Miss Tesman, and Geroge are all fair. The aristocrats are smart, quick, rebellious, jaded and aware while the bourgeois are middle-class, slower, more naive, and end up getting played by the other camp.
(ix) What does Hedda complain?
Ans. Hedda complains throughout the play that she is bored by a tedious, monotonous life in which nothing new ever happens. Even after her marriage, she complains to Brack about the unending tedium of her honeymoon with Tesman.
(x) Why is Hedda so cruel to other females in 'Hedda Gabler'?
Ans. Hedda is cruel to Aunt Julia and Mrs. Elvsted because she is not a nice lady. She is a jealous, dishonest and neurotic woman. She wants to be a man and resents her sex. That's why she hates Thea so much -- because Thea is the epitome of femininity.
(xi) How do we know that Hedda is a dishonest character?
Ans. Hedda tells Tesman that he ought to to write Eilert Lowvborg a long letter but then immediately reveals to Mrs. Elvsted that she only did this to get rid of him. When talking to Judge Brack, Hedda says that she really does not care for the house Tesman has bought for her, yet she lets Tesman go on believing that the house is precious to her. From these examples we know that Hedda is a dishonest character.
(xii) Hedda may be portrayed as a victim of circumstances.
Ans. Hedda is a female of Victorian era who finds no outlet for her personal demands. She is trapped in a loveless marriage, completely stifled, living below her standards, married to a buffoon, and about to have a baby she in no way wants. Thus she is a victim of circumstances.
(xiii) According to Hedda, what is 'beautiful death'?
Ans. For Hedda, suicide is the "beautiful death" because in suicide one has to power to determine when and how to die. She gives Lovborg one of her pistols to have a "beautiful death" but when he dies from an unintended shot, she realizes that the "beautiful death" is still a fantasy.
(xiv) For the achievement of what ideal does Hedda die?
Ans. Hedda is unhappy, bored, trapped in a loveless marriage, completely stifled, living below her standards, married to a buffoon, and about to have a baby she in no way wants. She commits suicide because she thinks that death will confer on her ultimate immunity from exposure and scandal, and absolute freedom from the control of husbands and would-be lovers.
(xv) What is the thematic significance to Aunt Rina's sickness and death?
Ans. Rina is Julie Tesman's sister and George's aunt. Rina is terminally ill at the beginning of the play and dies towards the end. Her sickness lingers over the action. Auntie Julie cannot every stay long at the Tesman's home because she must take care of Rina. Rina's impending death occasions Tesman's absence at the beginning of Act IV, making an opportunity for Brack to have his final, secret, manipulative meeting with Hedda.
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