1. Symbolism In “A Doll House”
Students will analyze images within the context of A Doll's House in order to find the symbolism within the play.

2. Ethos, Pathos, Logos
Ethos – credibility or ethical appeal of the speaker
You want to find examples of why Emma Watson is reliable to listen to (she was appointed as a representative for the HeForShe campaign)
Pathos – stirs up emotions of pity, sympathy, sorrow
What personal experiences has Emma Watson endured
Logos – persuades the targeted audience by employing reason or logic
What statistics or facts does Emma use to persuade the audience in joining her mission

3. Vocabulary First, repeat the word after me: Symbolism
Second, copy down the following definition onto your handout:
Symbolism - the use of an object, person, situation, or word to represent something else (an idea) in literature.
The color black is usually symbolic of:
Love b. Death c. Birth d. Intelligence
Which of the following is not a symbol of luck:
a. A rainbow b. A rabbit’s foot c. The number 7 d. A four leaf clover

4. The Tarantella
The Tarantella is named after the tarantula spider and the town Taranto in southern Italy.

5. The Tarantella Background
Supposedly, if a tarantula bit a townsperson, the only way to survive was by dancing the tarantella.
If you didn’t dance you would suffer from pain, muscle spasms, vomiting, and death.
 It is characterized by swift movements, foot tapping, and on the women's part, exaggerated ruffling of petticoats. It involves a lot of very fast spinning and jumping until one cannot dance anymore and is so exhausted they fall to the ground.

6. The Tarantella Symbolism
Nora was dancing to rid herself of an outside poison. This was her last chance to act as Torvald’s doll before he read the letter from Krogstad.
Rather than fixing her problems she lets her life spin out of control just like the dance.
Record an example of this from the book on your note sheet. Page

7. The Christmas Tree
Christmas and New Years represent rebirth and renewal.
The tree can be symbolic of Nora’s psychological state.
Let’s take a look at the stage directions on page 975.
Record how the tree is described on your note sheet.
How is this comparable to Nora’s actions described in the very next paragraph?

8. The Christmas Tree
Tree: The Christmas Tree is “stripped of its ornaments and with burnt-down candle-ends on its disheveled branches" 
Nora: "[Nora] is alone in the room, walking about uneasily" 
The tree is a mess and so is Nora. The bad news from Krogstad leaves her mind a mess just like the tree looks.

9. The Christmas Tree – Other Symbols
The tree can also represent Nora’s web of lies which is unraveling before her eyes.
The pretty decorations Nora used to hide her lies are falling away like the decorations on the tree.
All that will be left of her web will be the ugly truth.

10. The Christmas Tree – Other Symbols
Nora and the tree have a lot in common:
Nora decorates the tree like Torvald decorates her for the costume party.
Both the tree and Nora are merely decoration.
The children are not to see the tree until it is decorated just like Torvald wasn’t to see Nora in her costume until the party.

11. Macaroons
A small meringue-like cookie made mostly of almonds.

12. Macaroons The macaroons symbolize Nora’s web of deceit.
Nora claims to never disobey Torvald but this is proven to be false from the very beginning of the play.
Nora hides the macaroons just like she hides her forgery and debt.
The macaroons show that Nora isn’t the perfect doll Torvald tries to mold her into.

13. Macaroons What else could the macaroons represent?
Let’s take a look at page 996.
We’ve discussed that while practicing the Tarantella Nora is trying to rid herself of a poison. Why do you think she would want to eat macaroons, in front of Torvald, after her chaotic dance practice?
Record your response on your note sheet.

14. Macaroons – Possible Answers
The macaroons could also represent Nora’s want to be independent and free, that she wants to rebel and be someone of her own making as opposed to being Torvald’s little “lark” and “squirrel.”
The macaroons function in the text was to show that although that some families and lives seem picture perfect, most of the time it is not true, as proven by Nora’s need to hide the loan and macaroons from Torvald.

15. Nora’s Costume
Why do people wear masks or costumes? What is the purpose of a masquerade?

16. Nora’s Costume
A mask is something people put on to transform them and become something other than themselves.
This is what Nora does everyday.
Nora acts differently with different characters:
Torvald: Nora becomes submissive and hides her true feelings. She becomes childlike and clueless.

17. Nora’s Costume
On your note sheet find examples of how Nora acts around Dr. Rank and Mrs. Linde.
Dr. Rank:
Mrs. Linde:

18. On Your Own
On your sheet, identify the following symbols referenced in the text. What could they represent?
The mailbox with a key page
The freezing black water page 992