Introductory Paragraph No. 2 - Paper 2

[wong alex]

1) The desire for power drives many of the tensions of drama. Discuss
the ways in which dramatists have presented tensions which arise from
the desire for power in at least two scenes.

Thesis Statement:
Henrik Ibsen’s extensive use of diction, symbolisms and motifs reveals
the male chauvinists’ desire in having the authority over women while
Thorn Wilder extensively portrays the stage manager which reflects his
ambition in controlling the city. Furthermore, the uses of these
literary devices not only help to create tension, but also provide a
strong emotional impact for the audience.

Topic Sentence:

(a) Throughout “A doll’s house”, Ibsen uses motifs extensively to
depict that Torvald is dehumanizing Nora to certain degree in order to
reveal his ambition of power; this also help to reflect that the play
take place in a society where stereotyping occurs.

(b) Ibsen’s extensive choice of diction and symbolisms are also
crucial in developing the male chauvinist throughout the play, this
eventually creates tension and cause the audiences to imagine how
women will react on them or will they starts to rebel against the men

(c) On the contrary, in “Our Town”, Wilder portrays the actions of the
stage managers, such as: cutting in when other characters are giving
their speech, as to portrays his desire of authority over the whole
city.

Evidence:

(a) Nora, Nora, just like a Women

(b) Songbirds, squirrels and skylarks

(c) Letter written by Krogstad: (i) 1st letter reveals Nora’s crime;
(ii) Retracts Torvald blackmail threat and returns Nora’s promissory
note.

(d) While Mr. Webb is attempting to give out a speech, the stage
managers cut it off when it is half way through

Technical Language
Motifs
Tension
Character development
Chauvinists
Stereotypical
Ambition
Authority
Reveals

[Jason Kwan]

1) Through an analysis of some of the characters in two or three plays
you have studied, compare the ways in which the struggle between
internal and external forces is presented.

Thesis Statement:
Henrik Ibsen’s use of diction and character’s sketch demonstrates how
characters find their life’s true values through a great dynamic
struggle between internal and external forces while Thornton Wilder
presents character’s struggle through flashbacks and manipulation of
time. Ultimately, these techniques finally lead the characters to be
aware and understand their hypocritical life.

Topic Sentence:
a) In A Doll’s House, the use of diction in Krogstad’s and Trovald’s
dialogues as an external force strongly suggests that Nora is
subjugated in the entire play while Nora internal conflict is
highlighted through her determination of gaining personal power.
b) Trovald’s selfishness and Krogstad’s blackmail signifies Nora’s
desire to be understood and respected and allows the audience reflect
on the cruelty of others beautiful deceit.
c) The use of flashbacks and manipulation of time in Our Town portrays
the character’s to be regretful of the ephemeral nature of life and
leads to their tragic misunderstanding of life’s true values.

Evidence:
a) Little skylark twittering, little squirrel.
1. Helmer: “But the thing is, you can’t!”
2. Krogstad: “You forget that then your reputation would be in my
hands”
3. Krogstad: “Yes, now you’ve been warned, so don’t do anything
stupid.”
b) Krogstad’s blackmail shows Nora’s frailty.
c) Trovald’s selfishness encourages Nora to transform to a strong
independent figure.
1. Helmer: “But no man would sacrifice his honour for the one he
loves.”
d) The manipulation of time by the Stage Manager reveals life is fleet
yet cyclical through the transformation of characters.
e) The Emily’s flashback depicts her contradiction of the value of
life comparing her past and after life.



Technical Language:
Life’s true value
Flashback
Manipulation of time
Hypocritical life
Diction
Gain of personal power
Ephemeral nature of life
Character’s transformation

[Michael]

English A1 May 2001

The theatre brings into the open important issues of the time. How
have dramatists presented important issues in plays you have studied?

Introduction

Writers ofter use their plays as a form of social commentary to
extrapolate on issues existing in different societies. In Henrik
Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, Ibsen deliberately comments on the sacrificial
role of women with the traditional concept of man being the household
leader at the 19th century. Thornton Wilder on the other hand comments
on the lack of compassion and care between people in a typical
American society at the early 20th century. This effect is achieved by
Ibsen through the use of character and plot development, and Wilder’s
use of character development, and interestedly also his lack of props
and plot devices.

Topic Sentences

Ibsen and Wilder mutually used character development in their plays to
reveal the important issues present in the respective settings of
their plays.

Evidence:
Nora as a character who suffers from her internal conflict after
frequent suppression from the society
Emily as a visionary after her death, who ultimately discovers the
point of cherishing life when all others living may not aware it

Ibsen’s deployment of the point of attack at the end of the play also
uncovers the ultimate outcome of the continuous social suppression
towards Nora, increasing the audiences awareness towards this
important social issue of that time.

Evidence:
Nora as a structural device



-----
Ahh I replied and it didn't appear?... Anyway I timed myself and I ran
out of time...

[ingrid chung]

May ‘00
1) Discuss the use and effects of conflict and confrontation in plays
you have studied.

Thesis statement:
As the extensive uses of internal and external conflicts amongst the
characters and their confrontation have been both appeared in "A
Doll's House" and "Our Town", Ibsen presents the idea of feminism by
applying dramatic irony and dualogue while Wilder intends to enlighten
the audiences' perspective towards life through time manipulation.

Topic sentences:
(i) By utilizing dramatic irony, Ibsen introduces Nora's internal
conflict which aids in highlighting female's independence.
(ii) Wilder illustrates Emily's and George's conflict and
confrontation in marriage to explain the charm stage of childhood.
(iii) Through the use of dualogue between Nora and Torvald where
conflicts appear, Ibsen addresses the idea of feminism.
(iv) Wilder utilizes Emily's flashback and internal conflict to
demonstrate the preciousness of life.

Evidences:
"For eight whole years - no, longer than that - ever since we first
met, we've never exchanged a serious word on any serious
subject." (Nora, Act III)

"Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it? every,
every minute?" (Emily, Act I)

When Emily and George are reluctant to grow up and get married. (Act
II)

When Nora is threatened by Krogstad. (Act II)

Technical languages:
(i) extensive use
(ii) address the idea of
(iii) aids in

[Tsai.]

Question:
The desire for power drives many of the tension of drama. Discuss the
way in which dramatic tension have presented tension which arise from
the desire for power.

Introduction:
In A Doll’s House, Ibsen employs feminist ideology, which is very
innovative and daring in the time when the play made its debut. The
almost cliche theme of ‘desire for power’ is examined from a new
perspective as Ibsen intergrade this conventionally chauvinist theme
into the female protagonist of the play, Nora. In the play, Nora’s
desire for power is masked under her deceptive appearance as a
archetypal submissive female, as opposed to the male characters in the
play, who are explicitly defined to be aching for power, but actually
feeling insecure about oneself deep within. As the desire for power of
each individual character is exhibited through different forms of
tension in the play, audience are steered into evaluating the values
of their own.

Topic Sentences:
1. Nora is a character that is rich in facets, she as an individual
longs for the power to make decisions every now and then in her life,
but the social conventions forces her into succumbing as a submissive
woman, an obedient wife and a caring mother, she is almost just a
collectible in a complete set that forms a so called, “family”.

2. Ibsen illustrates the eagerness in retrieving Krogstad’s job as a
desire for power in disguise.

3. The complexity of Nora is formed by the multiple ideologies that
Ibsen projects onto her; that is, her will to breakthrough the
expectations for her in a chauvinist society.

Technical Language:
motif
static stage setting
spiritual development
metamorphosis
internal conflict
choice of diction
stereotype
social paradigm
feminism
chauvinism

[lorraine!]

English A1 May 05 Drama

Some dramatists make significant use of physical elements such as
stage scenery than do others. Discuss the extent of the use of such
features and the impact on meaning in two or three plays that you have
studied.


topic sentence of introduction:
Playwrights usually employ different physical elements in drama such
as stage setting and the use of props as structural device to convey
the themes of their plays.

Thesis statement:
Ibsen employs the structure of well-made play in a Doll’s House to
highlight the internal conflict of Nora, while Wilder uses an unusual
and abstract way of presenting Our Town through the role of the stage
manager, absence of props.

Topic sentences
1) Wilder uses an unusual way to portray Our Town with the absence of
props and the role of the stage manger as a structural device to
manipulate time, reveals flashback scenes, which ultimately provides
more plot details to the audience.
e.g. stage manager fail to report the time

2) Wilder explores the human transience of life by portraying daily
life scenes in the stage, which allows the audience to reflect their
back to their life.
e.g. “a milkman delivers milk” and “Joe Crowell delivers newspaper
everyday”

3) In contrast, Ibsen employs structure of well-made play to portray
the internal conflicts of Nora and ultimately to drive the plot in A
Doll's House.
e.g. fake signature of Nora

Technical Language:
hypocritical life
focal point
the use of stereotyping role
microcosm of society
tension

[L Chan]

May 2009 Paper 2 - Standard Level - Drama Questions
Dramatic conflicts arise when dominant individuals or groups regard
themselves as the norm against which others are to be measured. With
reference to at least two plays you have studied, discuss the
significance of such conflicts and how they are explored.
Essay Framework
Thesis Statement
In ‘A Doll’s House’ and ‘Death of a Salesman,’ Ibsen and
Miller
utilize protagonists such as Torvald and Willy, who are blinded by
social expectations as a structural device to create dramatic
conflicts with contrasting characters within their plays. Both
dramatists aim to develop dramatic tension, advance plot and provide
concrete evidences that reflects and foreshadows the tragic ending of
the play and the protagonists’ own demise, who judges others as
abnormal in their own perspective.
Insights
In ‘A Doll’s House,’ Torvald who places authority and success
at top
priority, often creates discontent within Nora throughout their
marriage and relationship, which is more obvious as the play
progresses, leading to her departure to pursue her true self at the
end of the play.
Evidences
“For eight years, we have never exchanged a serious word on a
serious
subject.” (Nora, during the confrontation)
Regards any help from woman as sign of weakness, could not
comply
with such “disgrace” in his own restricted realm, strengthens Nora’s
determination to stop “performing tricks for [Torvald].”
Insights
In ‘Death of a Salesman,’ Willy who blindly adhere to his own
beliefs
and values, contrast with his son, Biff, which often creates dramatic
conflicts between the two characters, signifying Willy as a father
who
seeks to be ‘well-liked’ yet lacks the capacity to reflect upon his
own failures.
Evidences
Biff lives under Willy’s expectations, Willy places
expectations on
Biff which he fails to achieve, provides evidence to audiences about
Willy’s character.
Willy blindly adheres to economics success and fantasises
himself
being well-liked, on one hand wants his sons to be “successful” in
his perspective, but on the other hand he fails to comply with his
values, a hypocrite.
Insights
Torvald expects Nora to be submissive and under his
domination, which
in turn destroy their relationship and contribute to the development
of dramatic tension, as well as the reverse in authority within the
household.
Evidences
Nora dominates Torvald at the end of the play, contrasting
with the
beginning, reveals Torvald’s lack of capacity to encompass others’
feelings and demonstrate care and love. Even at the moment where Nora
declares her departure, Torvald regards himself as the norm, and
regard Nora as “stupid and childish.”
Torvald’s inability to change led to Nora’s transformation to
search
for freedom, conflict created by one who acts under social
constraints, and another who identifies her own ambition.

[gin gin]

Question:
Comparing the opening scenes of at least two plays, discuss what
audience expectations are aroused and how !

Thesis statement:
The audience in Our Town expects to learn about what happens to
various characters in Our Town, after the stage manager describes the
character’s fate at the beginning, whereas in “A Doll’s House”, the
audience expects to be hinted that there is a conflict as the play
continue.

Paragraph 1 :
Wilder expects the audience to know that Mrs. Gibbs will be die which
had been mentioned by the stage manage.
- Mrs. Gibb’s death- > not portray in detail
- Mrs. Gibb becomes a ghost-> portray in detail on the last act



Paragraph 2:

Ibsen expects the audience to be hinted that there will be a conflict
happening with Torvald and Nora.
- Torvald call Nora as a “Song birds, skylarks and squirrel”
- Torvald ask her what present she wants, Nora is mad at Torvald that
he spend too much money

[amy keung]

“Drama explains individuals not relationships”. Paying close attention
to how individuals and relationships are presented in two or three
plays you have studied, say how far you find this statement to be
true.

Thesis:
Both playwrights use indirect characterization of the respective
protagonists in the plays through the portrayal of character
relationships, in order to present these individuals as symbols for
issues present in human societies.

Topic sentence 1:
Ibsen depicts Nora as the embodiment of feminism, and juxtaposes her
strength with Helmer’s chauvinism.
dehumanization: names such as “skylark,” “squirrel,” “silly little
Nora”
situational irony: Nora rebels against Helmer, yet he remains ignorant

Topic sentence 2:
Wilder uses Emily to deliver the virtue of gratitude to one’s
surroundings, and contrasts her with George who as an unobservant
character, is the antithesis of what Emily represents.
symbolism: Emily’s appreciation of the moonlight and Mrs. Gibbs’
heliotrope are symbols for the beauties in everyday life
duologue: Emily and George’s discussion regarding his “conceitedness”

Topic sentence 3:
Ibsen uses Nora’s confrontation with Helmer in the final act of A
Doll’s House not only to explain the development of her character, but
also to communicate to the audience the theme of feminism.
metaphor: Nora claims that she has been a “doll,” and wishes to break
free from this role
sound: the door slamming at the end of the play amplifies the impact
of the triumph of a female

Topic sentence 4:
Likewise, Emily’s epiphany in the final act of Our Town is not only
intended to conclude the transformation of the character, but is also
Wilder’s attempt to highlight the transience of human life to the
audience.
diction: the blindness of humans are discussed as a universal
phenomenon among humans, and is not limited to the context of the play
verbal irony: the Stage Manager bidding the audience “good night”
prompts the audience to ponder the significance of Emily’s journey
presented in the play

Language:
juxtaposition
dramatic/situational/verbal irony
microcosm
furthers the delivery of the archetypal theme of...

[kwok lun Chow]

Question:

The desire for power drives many of the tensions of drama. Discuss
the ways in which dramatists have presented tensions which arise from
the desire for power in at least two scenes.

Having power is essential to individuals in terms of having controling
over themselves or others, Ibsen and Wilder focused on this acpect
thought out their plays "A doll's house" and "Our town". With the
help of development in protagonist's personal characters and thier
desire for power, together with stage movement and the shifting
thought the well made play, the dramatic tension is produced thought
events from daily life as the the plays are bought to their climax
thought the dramatic tensions.

topic sentence1
Dramatic tension is developed thought the portrayal of friction
between Nora and Helmer in act 3 of "A doll's house" ; by the use of
dictions and tone though the dialogue between the arguement of the two
protagonist, Ibsen reveals Nora's epiphany about gaining back her
power as a individual and not being controlled like a doll of
hemler's.

topic sentence2
The use of Stagemanager manifest the power wilder desired as he
himself plays a role as different characters though the "body" of the
stagemanager.

topic sentence 3
Dramatic tension is also introduced and developed by play makers as
they discrib every day life such as Ibsen sketches about the threat
that Nora recieve, these are stage movements that reaval and creat the
tensions thought out the plays.

evidence:
-Nora: I must stand on my own feet if I'm to get to know myself and
the world outside.
-Nora: I want to go at once.
-Introduction was carried out by Stagemanager
- Stagemanager as the shopkeeper
- krogstad: you forgot that then your reputation would be in my hands.

[playboy]

May 05, Paper 2, TZ0, 1b)
Some dramatists make one significant use of physical elements such as

stage scenery than do others. Discuss the extent of the use of such

features and their impact on meaning in two or three plays that you
have studied.

THESIS: Ibsen & Wilder values physical elements such as stage
scenery differently; Wilder makes more significant use of such
features, such as the constant change of scenes, the manipulation of
time, and the use of props, to portray the ordinary lives of Our Town,
while Ibsen chooses to use a more subtle, repetitive way to create
tension among characters.


PARAGRAPH ONE: Wilder makes more significant use of the manipulation
of time to inform audiences & develops both plot & characters as an
ominscient third-person narrator. Through the manipulation of time,
audiences can also experience the "normal lives" of the characters &
understand the theme of transience of human life.
Evidences: Stage Manager going back and forth and stopping time to
introduce characters

PARAGRAPH TWO: Contrastly, Ibsen only employs a memorial flashback
within Nora's conversation to develop the plot & act as an igniter
that changes Nora's personality.
Evidences: Nora’s ‘forgery’ event eight years ago from the play

PARAGRAPH THREE: Wilder constantly changes scenes & use devices
such as flashbacks to portray the ordinary & simple lives of people in
"Our Town."
Evidences: The Stage Manager can often used as a structural device to
switch a scene to another.

PARAGRAPH FOUR: On the contrary, Ibsen employs a variety of stage
scenery, such as the christmass tree & the mailbox, to portray the
importance of status & tension and to develop characters.
Evidences: Existence of christmass tree & mailbox -- status is
important in Helmer's house & tension is continuously affecting Nora
for the three days before everything breaks down...

PARAGRAPH FIVE: Wilder deliberately employs a very limited amount of
props throughout "Our Town" to create a relation with the audiences'
own "towns." This can lead the audiences' to focus on the change of
scenes and Stage Manager's manipulation of time. The lack of props
also allows Wilder to portray the theme of insignificant events &
objects being ignored.
Evidences: Throughout the play, minimal props are used (e.g. empty
town)

PARAGRAPH SIX: On the other hand, Ibsenutilizes props to create
tension between characters, develops characters & plot, & to attract
audiences' attention.
Evidences: The use of the 'letter' as a motif that creates increasing
tension between Nora, Krogstad and Torvald.


Technical Language
(i) Time manipulation
(ii) Use of props
(iii) motifs
(iv) scene changes
(v) Character development
(vi) Tension
(vii) Flashbacks
(viii) scene shifts
(ix) stage scenery
(x) physical elements