Question

Time Limited!!

Read the excerpt from act 2 of A Doll's House.
Helmer: Krogstad's dismissal.
Nora: Call her back, Torvald! There is still time. Oh Torvald, call her back! Do it for my sake—for your own sake—for the children's sake! Do you hear me, Torvald? Call her back! You don't know what that letter can bring upon us.
Helmer: It's too late.
Nora: Yes, it's too late.
Helmer: My dear Nora, I can forgive the anxiety you are in, although really it is an insult to me. It is, indeed. Isn't it an insult to think that I should be afraid of a starving quill-driver's vengeance? But I forgive you nevertheless, because it is such eloquent witness to your great love for me. [Takes her in his arms.] And that is as it should be, my own darling Nora. Come what will, you may be sure I shall have both courage and strength if they be needed. You will see I am man enough to take everything upon myself.
Nora: [in a horror-stricken voice]. What do you mean by that?
Helmer: Everything, I say—
Nora: [recovering herself] You will never have to do that.
What dramatic irony occurs in this passage? Select two options.

Helmer thinks that Nora's worry about him is related to his reputation and is a sign of her love for him, while the audience knows that it is the risk she took to get a loan that shows her love.

Nora thinks that Helmer will be furious with her for taking out a loan to help him, but the audience knows that Helmer loves Nora enough to forgive her for committing a crime to save him.

Nora thinks that Krogstad has written in the letter that she is having an affair, and is afraid that Helmer will find out, while the audience knows that Krogstad has written about the loan.

Helmer thinks that Krogstad is angry at Nora, and he wants to protect his wife, while the audience knows that it is Nora who is angry at Krogstad and has inside information about his lies.

Helmer thinks that Krogstad's vengeance will be against him, but the audience knows that Krogstad will take vengeance against Nora and her reputation as an honest woman.

Answer 1

A.) Helmer thinks that Nora's worry about him is related to his reputation and is a sign of her love for him, while the audience knows that it is the risk she took to get a loan that shows her love.

E.) Helmer thinks that Krogstad's vengeance will be against him, but the audience knows that Krogstad will take vengeance against Nora and her reputation as an honest woman.

Answer 2

The correct answers are:

Helmer thinks that Nora's worry about him is related to his reputation and is a sign of her love for him, while the audience knows that it is the risk she took to get a loan that shows her love.

Nora thinks that Krogstad has written in the letter that she is having an affair, and is afraid that Helmer will find out, while the audience knows that Krogstad has written about the loan.

Step-by-step explanation:

These are the correct answers because they both represent instances of dramatic irony, where the audience knows something that the characters on stage do not. In the first answer, Helmer believes that Nora's worry is about his reputation, when in fact it is about the loan she took out to save his life. The audience knows this, but Helmer does not, leading to a dramatic irony. In the second answer, Nora believes that Krogstad has written about her affair, when in fact he has written about the loan. The audience knows this, but Nora does not, leading to a dramatic irony.