The Theatre of the Absurd

Course Description

"The Theatre of the Absurd" is a term applied to many plays of the 1950s. It expresses the idea of man's absurd position in a universe that has no purpose in itself. The course will thus discuss issues like the problem of identity, human relationships, isolation, alienation etc. but is also intended as a general introduction to the analysis of drama. Analysis and class discussion will focus on structure, setting, character, language, and the communicative behaviour of the characters. The plays we will deal with are: Samuel Beckett's Endgame as well as Harold Pinter's A Slight Ache, The Room and The Birthday Party.

Required Reading: Copies of these plays are available in the University Library.

Prerequisites: Einführungskurs "Introduction to the Study of Literature"

Requirements for Credit: Regular attendance, oral presentation, and term paper

Registration: To register, please send an e-mail to angelika.keil@phil.tu-chemnitz.de