Hedda Gabler Act 4

Where does the action of Act 4 take place?

• The courtyard

• The Tesmans' drawing room

• Lovborg's graveside

• Aunt Julie's house

Who comes to visit Hedda at the opening of this act?

• Brack

• The Grim Reaper

• Aunt Rina

• Aunt Julie

MISS TESMAN. Ah, Rina ought not to have left us just now. This is not the time for Hedda’s house to be a house of mourning.

HEDDA. [Changing the subject.] She died quite peacefully, did she not, Miss Tesman?

What is revealed in this exchange?

• Hedda is sympathetic to Aunt Julie's grief

• Hedda has a genuine interest in Aunt Rina's death.

• Hedda continues to evade acknowledging her pregnancy.

• Hedda is in mourning.

What does Hedda confess to Tesman in this act?

• She is in love with Lovborg

• She does not want to be a mother

• She burned Lovborg's manuscript

• She is being blackmailed by Brack.

What is implied by the paralanguage here?

TESMAN. But how could you do anything so unheard-of? What put it into your head? What possessed you? Answer me that— eh?

HEDDA. [Suppressing an almost imperceptible smile.] I did it for your sake, George.

TESMAN. For my sake!

• Hedda doesn't mean what she is saying.

• Hedda wants to cry.

• Hedda genuinely loves Tesman.

• Hedda is thinking of Brack.

Who brings news of Lovborg being close to death in hospital?

• Brack

• Bertha

• Bert

• Ernie

HEDDA. [In a clear voice.] At last a deed worth doing!

TESMAN. [Terrified.] Good heavens, Hedda! what are you saying?

HEDDA. I say there is beauty in this.

BRACK. H’m, Mrs. Tesman—

MRS. ELVSTED. Oh, Hedda, how can you talk of beauty in such an act!

HEDDA. Eilert Lovborg has himself made up his account with life. He has had the courage to do—the one right thing.

MRS. ELVSTED. No, you must never think that was how it happened! It must have been in delirium that he did it.

TESMAN. In despair!

What is revealed in this extract?

• Hedda is in mourning.

• Hedda more boldly states her perspectve.

• Hedda's response to Lovborg's suicide disturbs Thea and Tesman

• Tesman thinks Lovborg killed himself over his lost manuscript.

What does Mrs Elvsted retrieve from her pockets to show Tesman?

• Her lipstick

• Loose notes on Lovborg's work

• A tissue to blow his nose

• A gold coin.

What is Tesman's initial reaction to the sound of the fatal gunshot offstage?

• "Hedda, quit that racket, for my sake!"

• "Hedda, dear, do come and sit with Brack."

• "Oh, now Hedda, Mrs. Elvsted and I have much work to do."

• "Oh, now she is playing with those pistols again."

Why is it significant that Judge Brack delivers the final line of the play?

• It shows he is the main protagonist.

• It further establishes that he is the dominant force in the play.

• He loved Hedda the most.

• He delivered the first line of the play too.