Henrik Ibsen’s Biography

Henrik Ibsen’s Biography Emma Alcantar Kameron Casey Laura Covey Morgan Guilbeau Alec Heikkala Michael Seo

Activity: 2 Truths & A Lie ~Activity~ Two Truths and a Lie

Which one is the lie? • Ibsen had two other brothers, Joseph and George. • Ibsen’s father was a well-off merchant and his mother was the daughter of the richest merchant in Skien. • At the age of 8, Ibsen’s father went bankrupt and became an alcoholic.

Which one is the lie? • At the age of 15, Ibsen left school and became the apprentice of a Pharmacist. • In 1850, at the age of 22, Ibsen entered the University of Christiania. • In 1851, Ibsen got a job at the National Theater of Bergen.

Which one is the lie? • Ibsen is referred to as the father of modern Theatre. • Ibsen is referred to as the second Shakespeare of the 18th century. • Ibsen is referred to as the father of realism.

Which one is the lie? • One of Ibsen’s greatest influences was Shakespeare. • Several of Ibsen’s plays involve influences from his childhood. • Ibsen collaborated with Shakespeare in the course of writing some of his plays.

Which one is the lie? • Ibsen married Suzannah Thorese in 1858 in Christiania. • Ibsen only had one son, Sigurd, who would become an author and successful politician. • Throughout his life, Ibsen never had any financial hardships due to his successful plays.

Which one is the lie? • In 1865, Ibsen wrote the play, Brand, which caused an uprising in Scandinavia. • The first play Ibsen wrote was Catilina. • Ibsen was offered a job in the early 1950’s to be writer and manager for the Norwegian Theater in Bergen.

Which one is the lie? • Ibsen wrote his first major playwright Peer Gynt while living in Italy. • Ibsen wrote both Hedda Gabler and A Doll’s House, consecutively, while living in Germany. • Henrik wrote another major playwright, Ghosts, which stirred up controversy.

Which one is the lie? • Ibsen was self-exiled from his home country, Norway, but returned in 1891 as a literary hero. • Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler and A Doll’s House feature some of theater’s most notorious characters. • Ibsen’s Nora in A Doll’s House is called the female Hamlet, Shakespeare's famous tragic figure.

Which one is the lie? • Ibsen’s first playwright, Catilina, was a tragedy. • Ibsen’s playwright, Ghosts, includes the controversial topics of venereal disease and incest. • The Master Builder was the last play Ibsen wrote before he died.

Which one is the lie? • Henirk Ibsen died in Christiania, Norway in 1906. • Ibsen wrote his last play, When We Dead Awaken, in 1899. • Ibsen died from a series of strokes.

Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAxGNj83WQ0

Overview • Born in Skien, Norway on March 20, 1828. • Exiled to Italy where he wrote Brand (tragedy) • Moved to Germany in 1868 where he wrote A Doll’s House in 1879. • Returned to Norway a literary hero in 1891. • Died in Oslo, Norway on May 23, 1906

Early Life • As a child he showed very little sign of the theatrical genius he would become. • Parents were Knud and Marichen Ibsen. • Father was a successful merchant and mother was a painter and played the piano. • He was the oldest of 5 children. • Expressed interest in becoming an artist.

Influential People • following his apothecary apprenticeship, Ibsen published his first drama, then produced a second, both while highly influenced by this man • inspired Ibsen to get involved in the literary arts, which was his true passion The Danish poet Oehlenschlager

Influential People • In 1836 Knud Ibsen became insolvent, and his family moved to a small cottage on the outskirts of town • Due to his father’s actions, the family withdrew to great poverty • Decided to pursue his passions in order to escape the dreariness of his father’s actions His father, Knud Ibsen

Influential Events • In 1843 he was forced to leave school. • In 1850 he moved to Christiania (modern day Oslo) intending to enroll in college, and published his first drama, a tragedy entitled Catiline. • In 1858 he became the creative director of the Christiania theater. • In 1865 his first commercially successful play Brand was published. • In 1879 A Doll’s House is published.

Education • From an early age, Henrik shared an interest in being an artist like his mother • After financial difficulties, Henrik spent most of his young life reading, painting, and performing magic tricks • By age 15, Henrik quit school in order to pursue work and an apprenticeship to follow his interests of art

Apprenticeship • Served as an apprentice in an apothecary for six years after dropping out of school • Wrote poetry and painted on free time • Wrote his first play Catilina at the end of his apprenticeship modelled after the writings of one of his great influences, William Shakespeare

Cultural Events • Ibsen did not agree with many social norms and the oppressive society that he lived in. • Women had few rights and were mainly controlled by their husbands. • People were expected to obey the norm and stay in line. • Ibsen wanted to break away from that. • He tried to uncover the negative sides of society and exploit it and he demanded truth and fairness.

Influence on Ibsen and writing • The characters in his works and the challenges they face reflect his views. • Many times characters are caught in a moral struggle or a struggle against society. • He depicts female characters as struggling to gain acceptance and a place in society. • Many of his characters are searching to find “themselves” or to find freedom from some form of oppression.

Economic events • The economy of Norway was stabilizing after the independence of the country in 1814 • The young life of Henrik consisted of an economic boom to occur within Norway, where economic growth was seen for decades • The end of Henrik’s life was plagued by economic stagnation due to the industrialization of Europe and Norway

Influence on Ibsen and writing • The stagnant economy caused by the independence of Norway was partially a cause to the poverty Henrik and his family faced at a young age • Many of Henrik’s writing (such as in A Doll’s House) deals with poverty and struggle with money, the same struggle he had during his young life

Political Events • Foundation for modern industry laid in 1840s. • Economic developments led to class conflict. • February Revolution of 1848 called for democratic reform. • The majority featured radicals and farmers, frustrated with the actions of the monarchy. • Eventually, parliamentarianism was introduced.

Influence on Ibsen and his Writing • The conversation between Nora and Mrs. Linde describe some of the class conflict evident during this time. • “How very kind of you, Nora to be so concerned over me - doubly kind, considering you really know so little of life’s burdens yourself” (2192). • Nora has lived a comfortable life, while Mrs. Linde has fallen subject to many injustices that Nora will not be able to understand.

Career as a writer • Held a mostly meager career as a writer. • Failed his matriculation exam, and still not qualified by the time he had served apprenticeship under Oehlenschlager. • First few works (Catiline, The Warrior’s Barrow) received harsh criticism, but Brand (1865) is regarded as the beginning of his critical acclaim.

Career as a writer • Most famous works…. • Hedda Gabler (1891) • Ghosts (1881) • An Enemy of the People (1882) • The League of Youth (1869) • The Wild Duck (1884) • Peer Gynt (1876) • Brand (1865)

Career as a writer • Was one of the few original male feminists. • Has been called the “father of modern drama” • Career falls into several distinct periods • First two decades (from 1850) = verse drama • 1873 - 1877 = prose • Post - 1877 = realistic dramas (wrote 8)

Close Read Passage: Page 2186-2187 Read it! Enjoy it! Actually do it!

Close Read Look out for: • word meaning • structure • sound and rhythm • syntax • textual context • irony • tone and narrative voice • imagery • rhetorical devices • themes • gender • history

Close Read Now… Create a thesis! • (Tie all of the things we just talked about together.) • Be prepared to share with the class.

Works Cited "A Short History Of Henrik Ibsen." YouTube. YouTube, 08 Apr. 2013. Web. 19 Oct. 2013. "Henrik Ibsen Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2013. Kim, Cindy. "A Doll's House- The Cultural Context." Prezi.com. N.p., 3 Nov. 2012. Web. 19 Oct. 2013. Hemmer, Bjorn, Prof. "The Dramatist: HENRIK IBSEN." Great Norwegians. Metropolitan News Company, n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2013. "Henrik Ibsen." NNDB: Tracking the entire world. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2013. "Henrik Ibsen Biography - Childhood, Life Achievements & Timeline." Famous People - Famous People in History, Famous People List & Biography. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.

Henrik Ibsen’s Biography