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A Doll’s House : Key info

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A Doll’s House is a notable literary work by Henrik Ibsen. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of A Doll’s House.

Key info

Key Facts

  • Full Title: A Doll’s House
  • Original Title: Et Dukkehjem (Norwegian)
  • Author: Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906)
  • Title of the Author: Father of Modern Drama; Realist and Naturalist Playwright
  • Source: Inspired by real-life events, particularly the story of Laura Kieler (a friend of Ibsen), whose desperate act of forging her husband’s signature and the resulting consequences deeply influenced the play.
  • Written Time: 1879 (while Ibsen was living in Italy)
  • First Published: 1879 (in Copenhagen, Denmark)
  • Publisher: Gyldendal (Norwegian publishing house)
  • Genre: Realist Drama / Problem Play / Modern Tragedy / Feminist Literature
  • Form: Three-act prose play (drama)
  • Structure: Well-made play with exposition, rising conflict, climax, and open-ended resolution; focuses on dialogue-driven realism and psychological conflict.
  • Tone: Serious, realistic, dramatic, critical, and revolutionary; challenges social norms with emotional intensity.
  • Point of View: Stage play (no narrator); audience understands characters through dialogue and stage directions.
  • Significance: A landmark of modern drama; it shocked 19th-century audiences with its criticism of marriage, gender roles, and societal expectations. It remains one of the most performed plays worldwide and is a cornerstone of feminist literature.
  • Language: Originally written in Norwegian (later translated into many languages).
  • Famous Line: “I believe that before all else I am a reasonable human being, just as you are—or, at all events, that I must try and become one.” (Nora Helmer)
  • Setting:
  • Time Setting: Late 19th century (contemporary to Ibsen’s time).
  • Place Setting: The Helmer household (living room of Nora and Torvald Helmer’s house, in Norway).

 

Key Notes

  • Original Title – Et Dukkehjem: The original Norwegian title of the play is Et Dukkehjem, which means “A Doll’s House.” Ibsen wrote it in 1879, and it was first published in Copenhagen in the same year.
  • A Doll’s House – Significance of the Title: “A Doll’s House” means a doll’s home. Here, the life of Nora Helmer is shown symbolically. In Torvald’s eyes, she is like a doll; decorated, controlled, and without freedom. Thus, their household is nothing more than an outward show of happiness, while inside it is empty.