Samuel Becket's 'Waiting for Godot' and the Theater of the Absurd

'Nothing is certain' - What makes Samuel Beckett's absurdist play to one of the most authentic representatives of the Theater of the Absurd?

Fiction & Literature, Literary Theory & Criticism, British
Cover of the book Samuel Becket's 'Waiting for Godot' and the Theater of the Absurd by Stefanie Speri, GRIN Verlag
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Stefanie Speri ISBN: 9783656960133
Publisher: GRIN Verlag Publication: May 12, 2015
Imprint: GRIN Verlag Language: English
Author: Stefanie Speri
ISBN: 9783656960133
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
Publication: May 12, 2015
Imprint: GRIN Verlag
Language: English

Seminar paper from the year 2011 in the subject English - History of Literature, Eras, grade: 1,3, Humboldt-University of Berlin (Institut für Anglistik und Amerikanistik), language: English, abstract: 'Waiting for Godot' is not only one of the most famous works of Samuel Beckett; it is also one of the most popular creations of the genre of the Theater of the Absurd. Originally written in French, Beckett's play was first performed in the Théâtre de Babylon in Paris in 1953 (cf. Beckett 128) and confronted its audience with the circumstance of the 'nonappearance of the person awaited so faithfully by the two main protagonists'. (Astro 114) The spectator shares this experience of waiting for someone who might not come with the characters which made it possible for Beckett to give his audience an understanding of the intentions of the absurdist drama. Waiting for Godot is not only completely detached from the conventions of the classic drama, namely the unity of time, place and action, this unity is instead substituted by illogical actions, absurd scenarios and dialogues that appear to be linked randomly. By some viewers perceived as boring and even mindless (cf. Beckett, The Critical Heritage 98), for others it is a work of genius with a profound statement. But what makes the two-act play to seem pointless and boring at first glance? This paper intends to illustrate that Waiting for Godot - being an absurdist drama - is isolated from the classic drama and its conventions and deals with the structural elements Beckett used to convey the absurdity and illogicality that the play is based on. After explaining the term absurd and outlining the formation of the Theater of the Absurd the paper focusses on structural elements of the absurdist drama in general. A short summary of Waiting for Godot is followed by the analysis of the play, concentrating on the connection of form and content especially by discussing characters and their actions, the time and place and the dialogues and language.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Seminar paper from the year 2011 in the subject English - History of Literature, Eras, grade: 1,3, Humboldt-University of Berlin (Institut für Anglistik und Amerikanistik), language: English, abstract: 'Waiting for Godot' is not only one of the most famous works of Samuel Beckett; it is also one of the most popular creations of the genre of the Theater of the Absurd. Originally written in French, Beckett's play was first performed in the Théâtre de Babylon in Paris in 1953 (cf. Beckett 128) and confronted its audience with the circumstance of the 'nonappearance of the person awaited so faithfully by the two main protagonists'. (Astro 114) The spectator shares this experience of waiting for someone who might not come with the characters which made it possible for Beckett to give his audience an understanding of the intentions of the absurdist drama. Waiting for Godot is not only completely detached from the conventions of the classic drama, namely the unity of time, place and action, this unity is instead substituted by illogical actions, absurd scenarios and dialogues that appear to be linked randomly. By some viewers perceived as boring and even mindless (cf. Beckett, The Critical Heritage 98), for others it is a work of genius with a profound statement. But what makes the two-act play to seem pointless and boring at first glance? This paper intends to illustrate that Waiting for Godot - being an absurdist drama - is isolated from the classic drama and its conventions and deals with the structural elements Beckett used to convey the absurdity and illogicality that the play is based on. After explaining the term absurd and outlining the formation of the Theater of the Absurd the paper focusses on structural elements of the absurdist drama in general. A short summary of Waiting for Godot is followed by the analysis of the play, concentrating on the connection of form and content especially by discussing characters and their actions, the time and place and the dialogues and language.

More books from GRIN Verlag

Cover of the book Das Heilpädagogische Reiten und Voltigieren und das Medium Pferd in der Arbeit mit verhaltensauffälligen Kindern by Stefanie Speri
Cover of the book Die Typologie des Unbekannten by Stefanie Speri
Cover of the book Bestimmung des Fortbildungsbedarfes in der Pflege by Stefanie Speri
Cover of the book Kontexte und Erkenntnisgrundlagen der Pflege: Betriebliche Gesundheitsförderung by Stefanie Speri
Cover of the book A Disturbed Existence in the Backdrop of Serene Green? A Literary Analysis of North-East India by Stefanie Speri
Cover of the book Engel im World Wide Web by Stefanie Speri
Cover of the book Modification of a Toy Helicopter into a Highly Cost Effective Unmanned Aerial Vehicle by Stefanie Speri
Cover of the book Soil carbon sequestration potential of different forest types of aric Kutch, Gujarat with special emphasis on climate change by Stefanie Speri
Cover of the book Der russische Ödipus - die erotische Marienverehrung des Grigori Jefimowitsch Rasputin by Stefanie Speri
Cover of the book Kulturspezifische Lexik in zweisprachigen Wörterbüchern des Russischen by Stefanie Speri
Cover of the book Inwieweit nutzen oder schaden Patente? by Stefanie Speri
Cover of the book Sporternährung by Stefanie Speri
Cover of the book Verbürgerlichung: Der Übergang von der Ständegesellschaft zum Bürgertum by Stefanie Speri
Cover of the book Schärfen und Einstellen eines Putzhobels (Unterweisung Tischler / -in) by Stefanie Speri
Cover of the book Field Development Programme for Holly Field by Stefanie Speri
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy