This document provides an overview of the Theatre of the Absurd. It defines the term as theater that represents the absurdity of human existence in a meaningless universe through bizarre or fantastic means. Some key characteristics discussed include questioning existence, distrusting language, using illogical plots and speeches, emphasizing abstract values of life, and lacking clear time, place, or character. The movement was influenced by existentialism and began in experimental Parisian theater before spreading internationally.

1. Prepared by : Latta Baraiya
Sem : 2 (M.A.)
Enrollment no. : 3069206420200003
Topic : Characteristics of Absurd Theatre
Paper : History of 20th Century Literature
Email id : lattabaraiya1204@gmail.com
Submitted to : S. B. Gardi Department of
English Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji
Bhavnagar University

2. What is Theatre of the Absurd ?
● The Theatre of Absurd term coined by critic Martin
Esslin in his essay “Theatre of Absurd”.
● The term used for the work of a number of playwrights,
mostly written in 1950s and 1960s.
● Their work simply expressed the thought of human
existence that has no meaning or purpose.
● Also labelled as “anti-play”
● Martin Esslin defined it as such, because all of the plays
emphasized the absurdity of the human condition.

3. Definition of the Theatre of the
Absurd
● Marriam-Webster Dictionary defines the term as,
“Theatre that seeks to represent the absurdity of human
existence in a meaningless universe by bizarre or fantastic
means”
● Esslin was referring the original meaning of the word
“absurd”,
“Out of harmony with reason of Propriety; logical”
(Esslin 23).

4. ● “Waiting for Godot” can be considered as a benchmark in
the dramatic career of the Samuel Beckett as the themes
demand the audience to be sensible and face the situation
consciously.
“The theatre of the Absurd shows the world as an
incomprehensible place. The spectators see the happenings on
the stage entirely from the outside, without ever
understanding the full meaning of these strange pattern of
events, as newly atrived visitors might watch life in a country
of which they have not yet mastered the language”. (P.5).

5. ● In drama plot is an indispensable part. While in
traditional drama plots are arranged in a logical order,
in absurdist plays they are represented in a rather
fractured and scattered way.
● Since in the modern society emptiness of heart and
people seeking their own status from the atmosphere,
therefore anti-plot constitutes an important feature of
the “Theatre of Absurd”.
● Contrary to the conventional plays in 'Theatre of
Absurd’ no regular rules are followed while staging a
story.

6. History of The Absurd Theatre
● This movement influenced by existentialism, began in
the form of experimental theater in Paris and resultantly,
after the spread of the Absurd form in other country,
absurdist plays were written in French.
● Absurd elements first came into existence after the rise of
Greek drama in the plays of Aristophanes in the form of
wild humor and buffoonery old comedy.
● Morality plays of the Middle Ages can also be called a
precursor of the Theatre of the Absurd dealing with
common man's struggle with existential problems.

7. ● In 19th century, Ibsen and Strindberg also include some
elements of Absurd theatre on their plays, but real
precursor of the present Thatre of Absurd is Alfred Jerry's
monstrous puppet play UBU ROI (1896).
● A glimpse of Theatre of Absurd can be seen in the dream
novel of James Joyce, Franz Kafka who created archetype
by delving deep into their own consciousness and
attempting to explore the universe.
● World War || finally brought the Theatre of Absurd to life
because the chaotic atmosphere during that time was
compelling them to think about their absurd existence.

8. Characteristics of Absurd Theatre
● Question of Existence : Absurd plays raise some basic
questions of existence like - why we are alive, why we
have to die and why there is injustice and suffering.
● Distrust in Language : For the absurdist playwrights,
language is only a meaningless communication and
stereotyped exchange of ideas because words fail to
express essence of human existence.

9. ● Illogical Speeches and Meaningless Plots : by
illogical speeches and meaningless plots, they wish to
establish a feeling of freedom to make their own
world's.
● Re-establishment of Man's Communion with
Universe : They attempt to restore the importance of
myth and rituals in the life of man and make them
aware of the ultimate realities of their life.

10. ● Emphasize on Abstract Values of Life: Absurdists
force us to look at our abstract values of life like love
and family.
- We may hope to accept the absurdity of life and try to
find values in a devoid of them.
● Vagueness about Time, Place and Character :
Absurdity have no time, place and Character in their
plays as they feel that is not past or future only the
represition of the present.

11. ● Lack of communication amid characters : Each
character lives an egoistic life attempt to get another
character to understand and this result in more
alienation.

12. References
❏ Esslin, M. (1961). The Theatre of The Absurd. Garden
City, NY: Anchor Books.
❏ Mehdi, Abdulhadi Dhiaa. “THEATRE OF ABSURD: A
CRITICAL STUDY WITH REFERENCE TO SAMUEL
BECKETT’S WAITING FOR GODOT, AND BADAL
SIRCAR’S EVAM INDRAJIT.” Research Journal of
English Language and Literature (RJELAL), vol. 7, no.
4, 2019, pp. 105–108.

13. ❏ Sarkar, Somnath. “Theatre of The Absurd: Definition,
Examples, Characteristics, History.” All About English
Literature, 28 May 2021, www.eng-
literature.com/2021/05/theatre-of-the-absurd-definition-
examples-characteristics.html.
❏ Sharadgej, Dr. SamerZiyad Sl. “The Theatre of the
Absurd.” English language center, Umm-Al Qura
University, Makkah, Kingdom Saudi Arabia. Journal of
Studies in Social Sciences ISSN 2201-4624, 17, 2 Nov.
2018, pp. 173–182.

14. Thank you 😊