Choose a Paper 2 question Break question down (Slide 2) Choose 2 plays/choose characters (Slide 3) Create a diagram to show similarities/differences (Slide 4) Develop a comparative table (Slide 5) -Find a dozen quotations to use Write a complete conclusion (Slide 6) Create a PowerPoint to show us

Question One can read a play or watch it. Which experience is best, and why? Or are both rewarding in different ways? Discuss with reference to at least two plays you have studied -Nov. 2011 SL

Choice of plays/characters When studying literature, there are two main ways of experiencing a play. One can either watch the play being preformed, or read the script itself, complete with stage directions. Of these two experiences, it is usually said that watching the play is the more rewarding experience, as the playwright presumably wrote the play with the intention of having it preformed on a stage in front of a live audience. However, watching the play might not always be the best choice if the goal of the thespian is to fully comprehend and understand what the playwright was trying to convey to the audience. Indeed, it depends very much on the play in question. Plays such as “Waiting for Godot” are probably best experienced as written works, in order to fully grasp the goals of Samuel L. Beckett. Because of the vague stage directions in “Waiting For Godot”, there is a large amount of leeway for the director of the play to interpret the script as he wishes. Conversely, plays such as “’Master Harold’… and the Boys” are better experienced as a spectacle on stage.

“Master Harold” …and the Boys Similarities/differences Waiting For Godot -Both have a small cast -Both are fairly short and uncomplicated -Clear stage directions & set -Very powerful actions when seen live -The message of the play is unavoidable, regardless of the choices the director makes -Extremely vague stage directions, set directions -Not particularly engaging in terms of plot, characters -The message is clearer when reading the play (stage directions)

“Master Harold”…and the Boys Waiting For Godot Drama/Literary Techniques/Examples The St. Georges Park Tea Room on a wet and windy Port Elizabeth afternoon… The vagueness of Godot vs. the explicit nature of “Master Harold” A country road. A tree. Evening. Sam stops and looks expectantly at the boy. Hally spits in his face. Godot- Not very powerful actions Master Harold- Extremely powerful, moving actions Estragon, sitting on a low mound, is trying to take off his boot. V- We can’t E- Why not? V- We’re waiting for Godot Godot- Cyclical, nonsensical dialogue Master Harold- Meaningful dialogue What’s the matter, Willie? Don’t you catch the joke? You were always a bit slow on the up-take.

Conclusion In conclusion, when attempting to determine whether reading a play or watching it is a better, more rewarding experience, it generally depends on the play, and what the reader/audience member is hoping to get out of the experience, as each one is good for different things. If the reader’s goal is to understand the message that the playwright was conveying through the play, unadulterated by interpretation, it is clearly a better choice to read the play, especially in the case of plays such as Waiting For Godot, where much of the play, including the set and many of the stage directions are left up to the discretion of the director.