1. May 13 – Theater of the Absurd
Who’s on first?
Characteristics of Theater of the Absurd
Close Reading and Questions: T of the A
Check Out Books
R&G: An Intro
HW:
Read pages 11-21

2. Who’s on first?
How many of you are familiar with this classic bit by Abbot and Costello?
What do you notice about the use of language?

3. Characteristics: Theater of the Absurd
Inadequacy of language/communication
Investigation of the relativity of truth
Humanity’s vain struggle against fate
Use of small talk, understatement and non-sequiturs
Instability of characters/lack of definite characterization
Lack of definite plot structure
The futility/absurdity of attempting to control one’s fate

4. Questions: T of the A
What were absurdist playwrights trying to convey through their work?
How did World War II bring this type of theater “to life”?
What are general goals of this type of theater?
Why is language one of the most important aspects of Absurdist Theater?
What is “Theater of the Absurd”? (Come up with a working definition with your group)

5. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (1967)
Tom Stoppard (1937-)
Brings Hamlet’s R&G to the spotlight
Themes: Mortality, Absurdism, Inadequacy of Language
Heavily influenced by Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot
Absurdist/ meta-theatrical
Written as an exploration of death