Question

How does the play’s structure create suspense? Check all that apply.

by building tension through a series of crises where Nora must keep her secret
by not resolving the conflict too soon, as Nora is able to keep her secret for a few days
by resolving the central conflict early in the play to avoid any confusion over what may happen
by letting the audience know early on how the play will end, when it’s clear that the family will be happy
by introducing characters and conflicts early when the audience learns that Nora has committed a crime

Answer 1

Correct options:
- by building tension through a series of crises where Nora must keep her secret
- by not resolving the conflict too soon, as Nora is able to keep her secret for a few days
- by introducing characters and conflicts early when the audience learns that Nora has committed a crime

Reasons in brief:
- The play escalates crises (Krogstad’s threats, the arrival of letters, Torvald’s reactions), which keeps tension high.
- Ibsen delays the final resolution until the end, prolonging uncertainty and suspense.
- Key characters and the central secret (the loan/forgery) are introduced early, so the audience anticipates the consequences.