Can't create rectangles, 3D boxes, circles, stars, or calligraphic strokes

I'm a relatively new Inkscape user. I've been unable to create rectangles, 3D boxes, circles, ellipses, arcs, stars, polygons, calligraphic or brushstrokes by selecting the appropriate icons from the tool box on the left hand side of the window, despite trying various work-arounds, including the keystroke combinations for the above functions: F4, Shift + F4, F5, *, and Ctrl + F6.

When I select a particular tool and move the mouse pointer over to the page area, all I get, usually, is a dashed line, but no symbol of the type selected. It's as if the symbol line is invisible on the page, and clicking on various colors on the palette does not result in an image appearing.

Is there some reset function or other corrective I should be using to remedy this?

I'll be grateful for any advice or suggestions you can offer. Thanks a lot.