Theater of Absurd in Literature II Definition, Characteristics, Examples II Literary Terms Dr. Vipul V. Kapoor

1. Theatre of Absurd
Definition, Examples,
Characteristics
Dr. Vipul V. Kapoor

2. Movement of Theatre of Absurd
• This movement is associated with the post-
modern drama. Theatre of Absurd as a
movement was much popular from 1950s-
60s to 1980s-90s. This movement springs
from other previous movements of
Existentialism and Surrealism, Dadaism
(nonsense poetry). It ended with the death of
Samuel Beckett in 1989.

3. ORIGIN OF ‘THEATRE OF ABSURD’
• A Hungarian critic Martin Esslin
coined the term ‘Theatre of
Absurd’ in 1962, who published
a book with the same title.

4. DEFINITION OF THEATRE OF ABSURD

5. What is an Absurd Drama?
• “Absurd” means “meaninglessness”, “futile”, “out of
harmony”, “senseless”, “foolishness”
• This drama projects the meaninglessness of human
life, relations, actions, dialogues of the post-
modern world.
• Absurd drama conveys the idea that life is
meaningless and it will end someday abruptly.
• Emptiness, nothingness and unresolved mysteries
are at the center in such plays.

6. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Effects of World War II

7. 70 to 85 million people killed

8. Frustration, Meaninglessness

9. ‘The Myth of Sisyphus’
by Albert Camus

10. What are the features of
Theatre of Absurd?

11. Anti-Character
• In traditional drama, the characters are shaped and
developed with their actions, thoughts which are rational,
logical.
• In Theatre of Absurd, irrational, illogical characters are
presented who create confusion in the minds of the people.
• In Waiting for Godot, two tramps are the protagonists in the
play. From the beginning to the end of the drama, they
speak continually. Sometimes they talk each other, and
sometimes they talk to themselves. Their words are difficult
to understand for audience. They do nothing in the drama.
They wait for something, someone and the play comes to
the end.

12. Anti-Dialogue
• Language is an important constituent of
any literary work. In Absurd drama, the
language is obscure and disorderly. One
can not guess what the character will
speak in his next statement because
their language is irregular and
unpredictable.

13. Anti-Plot
• In traditional drama, we find a series of actions logically
connected with one another. There is a proper beginning,
middle and end.
• But in Absurd drama, there is no such coherence and unity
of action. In fact, not many actions are presented here.
• In ‘Waiting for Godot’, audience cannot guess the result of
the play. They even do not know what the two boys will do
or say in the next step. From the beginning to the end of this
play, we do not know what they are waiting for and what
they are talking about. We just know they are having an
endless waiting and an endless talking

14. Themes
• Meaninglessness of human
existence.
• Cruelty of Post-Modern man.
• Lack of compassion among the
human beings.
• Isolation among people.

16. Major Works & Writers
1. Samuel Beckett
Waiting for Godot, Endgame
2.
Eugene lonesco
Rhinoceros, How to Get Rid of It
3. Jean Genet The Balcony
4. Arthur Adamov Le Ping-Pong
5. Harold Pinter The Dumb Waiter, The Birthday Party, The Homecoming

17. Conclusion
• The Theater of the Absurd is a mirror to
reflect the western world after World War II.
• Absurd plays are anti-character, anti-
dialogue, anti-plot, in fact, anti-drama.
• Meaningless and futile human existence and
cruelty of the people, lack of understanding
human relations constitute the major
themes.