HISTORY & ORIGIN
After which major conflict did the Theatre of the Absurd emerge?
WWII
What happens to communication in absurd drama?
It breaks down
Does absurd drama usually follow a beginning, middle, and end?
No
What type of characters are typical in absurd drama?
Flat or stereotypical characters
Do events in absurd drama always make sense?
no
When did absurd drama become popular?
Late 1950s
What type of dialogue is common in absurd plays?
Illogical or meaningless dialogue
What type of art is absurd drama often compared to?
Abstract painting
What is the typical emotional state of characters in absurd drama?
Confused or lost
Who wrote Waiting for Godot?
Samuel Beckett
Which continent did most absurdist playwrights come from?
Europe
What shape does the structure of absurd plays often have?
Circular structure
What replaces logical argument in absurd drama?
Irrational or illogical speech
What kind of interaction do characters often fail to achieve?
Real communication or understanding
What are the names of the two main characters in Waiting for Godot?
Vladimir and Estragon
Which philosophical movement influenced absurd drama’s focus on meaninglessness?
Existencialism
What kind of world are characters usually trapped in?
An incomprehensible or meaningless world.
What key element of storytelling is often absent in absurd drama?
A clear plot
In Waiting for Godot, what are Vladimir and Estragon constantly doing?
Waiting
Whats the most absurd thing in live.
opinion (At least try)
What political division collapsed in 1989, the same year Beckett died?
The Iron Curtain
What is often missing at the end of absurd plays?
A clear resolution or solution
Absurd plays often resemble which mental experiences?
Dreams or nightmares
?
Bonus
Describe Language Samuel used in his most famous work. (3 points)
ambiguous, unclear and misleading
express the totality and complexity of his experience
illogical statements, play on words (puns), neologisms, situational and verbal irony, symbolism
double negatives,