November 22

AGENDA:

1. Vocabulary Review
2. Complete poster presentations
3. Mimesis - Art Imitating Life 
4. ACT 2

HW: Photo project - Henri Cartier-Bresson

November 21

AGENDA:

1. Post it Seminar - walk around the class and add your comments to any of the posters and the questions they pose. Take your time. 
2. Each group will be assigned a poster from the Post It Seminar
3. Each group will present their thoughts on the poster as well as other thoughts and comments they may have on the question
4. Photography assignment Handout

HW: Study for your vocab review tomorrow

November 20

AGENDA:

1. Turn in your reflections
2. Differences in Comedy and Tragedy - PPT
3. Begin ACT 2




HW: Understated insults / quotes - comedy rides a fine line....
Read the 32 insults and the 21 humorous quips and select five and tell me why you think they are funny or what makes them funny? How can humor enhance our understanding of an idea's meaning? Where is the line between purposeful humor and humor that diminishes our understanding of an ideas' meaning through distraction or insult?

November 19

AGENDA:

1. Watch Seinfeld - The Chinese Restaurant
    Take notes on plot. What really happens or doesn't happen? Pay attention to the dialogue. What do the characters discuss? What do they argue about? What happens that highlights the absurdity of daily life? Are there any serious reflections about life and humanity?

2. Names of characters change....characters unable to commit to any course of action....dialogue and absurdity....characters switch rapidly from serious questions and reflections on life to trivial bickering.

3. Make comparisons to Waiting for Godot.


HW: Answer the following questions (or a part of them) in a reflective journal write tonight - to be turned in tomorrow in class.

What are some of the things we wait for , perhaps indefinitely? What is our motivation for waiting? Does the waiting ever pay off or have meaning? What does the play say about choice? Do we have choices or only the illusion of choices? Do our actions have meaning? Do you agree with Beckett's ideas on this or not? Does waiting define life or interfere with it? What are we missing by waiting for something else? Is it possible to both wait and live at the same time? In what ways is communication meaningless or ineffective? What do you think the play might be commenting on here? Is true communication possible, or is something always lost when we try to express ourselves? What aspects of life are absurd? What do we accept as normal or rational that an outsider might see as absurd? Can life be absurd yet still have meaning and purpose?

November 18

AGENDA:

1. What might Lucky's speech mean? Is there a message? A theme? Write down one thing you understand from his speech.
2. Discuss in groups and then with class


HW: Finish Act 1 - see full text on blog; Vocab review Friday!

VLADIMIR:

That passed the time.

ESTRAGON:

It would have passed in any case.

VLADIMIR:

Yes, but not so rapidly.

Pause.

ESTRAGON:

What do we do now?

VLADIMIR:

I don't know.

ESTRAGON:

Let's go.

VLADIMIR:

We can't.

ESTRAGON:

Why not?

VLADIMIR:

We're waiting for Godot.

ESTRAGON:

(despairingly). Ah!

Pause.

VLADIMIR:

How they've changed!

ESTRAGON:

Who?

VLADIMIR:

Those two.

ESTRAGON:

That's the idea, let's make a little conversation.

VLADIMIR:

Haven't they?

ESTRAGON:

What?

VLADIMIR:

Changed.

ESTRAGON:

Very likely. They all change. Only we can't.

VLADIMIR:

Likely! It's certain. Didn't you see them?

ESTRAGON:

I suppose I did. But I don't know them.

VLADIMIR:

Yes you do know them.

ESTRAGON:

No I don't know them.

VLADIMIR:

We know them, I tell you. You forget everything. (Pause. To himself.) Unless they're not the same . . .

ESTRAGON:

Why didn't they recognize us then?

VLADIMIR:

That means nothing. I too pretended not to recognize them. And then nobody ever recognizes us.

ESTRAGON:

Forget it. What we need– Ow! (Vladimir does not react.) Ow!

VLADIMIR:

(to himself). Unless they're not the same . . .

ESTRAGON:

Didi! It's the other foot!

He goes hobbling towards the mound.

VLADIMIR:

Unless they're not the same . . .

BOY:

(off). Mister!

Estragon halts. Both look towards the voice.

ESTRAGON:

Off we go again.

VLADIMIR:

Approach, my child.

Enter Boy, timidly. He halts.

BOY:

Mister Albert . . . ?

VLADIMIR:

Yes.

ESTRAGON:

What do you want?

VLADIMIR:

Approach!

The Boy does not move.

ESTRAGON:

(forcibly). Approach when you're told, can't you?

The Boy advances timidly, halts.

VLADIMIR:

What is it?

BOY:

Mr. Godot . . .

VLADIMIR:

Obviously . . . (Pause.) Approach.

ESTRAGON:

(violently). Will you approach! (The Boy advances timidly.) What kept you so late?

VLADIMIR:

You have a message from Mr. Godot?

BOY:

Yes Sir.

VLADIMIR:

Well, what is it?

ESTRAGON:

What kept you so late?

The Boy looks at them in turn, not knowing to which he should reply.

VLADIMIR:

(to Estragon). Let him alone.

ESTRAGON:

(violently). You let me alone. (Advancing, to the Boy.) Do you know what time it is?

BOY:

(recoiling). It's not my fault, Sir.

ESTRAGON:

And whose is it? Mine?

BOY:

I was afraid, Sir.

ESTRAGON:

Afraid of what? Of us? (Pause.) Answer me!

VLADIMIR:

I know what it is, he was afraid of the others.

ESTRAGON:

How long have you been here?

BOY:

A good while, Sir.

VLADIMIR:

You were afraid of the whip?

BOY:

Yes Sir.

VLADIMIR:

The roars?

BOY:

Yes Sir.

VLADIMIR:

The two big men.

BOY:

Yes Sir.

VLADIMIR:

Do you know them?

BOY:

No Sir.

VLADIMIR:

Are you a native of these parts? (Silence.) Do you belong to these parts?

BOY:

Yes Sir.

ESTRAGON:

That's all a pack of lies. (Shaking the Boy by the arm.) Tell us the truth!

BOY:

(trembling). But it is the truth, Sir!

VLADIMIR:

Will you let him alone! What's the matter with you? #

(Estragon releases the Boy, moves away, covering his face with his hands. Vladimir and the Boy observe him. Estragon drops his hands. His face is convulsed.) What's the matter with you?

ESTRAGON:

I'm unhappy.

VLADIMIR:

Not really! Since when?

ESTRAGON:

I'd forgotten.

VLADIMIR:

Extraordinary the tricks that memory plays! (Estragon tries to speak, renounces, limps to his place, sits down and begins to take off his boots. To Boy.) Well?

BOY:

Mr. Godot—

VLADIMIR:

I've seen you before, haven't I?

BOY:

I don't know, Sir.

VLADIMIR:

You don't know me?

BOY:

No Sir.

VLADIMIR:

It wasn't you came yesterday?

BOY:

No Sir.

VLADIMIR:

This is your first time?

BOY:

Yes Sir.

Silence.

VLADIMIR:

Words words. (Pause.) Speak.

BOY:

(in a rush). Mr. Godot told me to tell you he won't come this evening but surely tomorrow.

Silence.

VLADIMIR:

Is that all?

BOY:

Yes Sir.

Silence.

VLADIMIR:

You work for Mr. Godot?

BOY:

Yes Sir.

VLADIMIR:

What do you do?

BOY:

I mind the goats, Sir.

VLADIMIR:

Is he good to you?

BOY:

Yes Sir.

VLADIMIR:

He doesn't beat you?

BOY:

No Sir, not me.

VLADIMIR:

Whom does he beat?

BOY:

He beats my brother, Sir.

VLADIMIR:

Ah, you have a brother?

BOY:

Yes Sir.

VLADIMIR:

What does he do?

BOY:

He minds the sheep, Sir.

VLADIMIR:

And why doesn't he beat you?

BOY:

I don't know, Sir.

VLADIMIR:

He must be fond of you.

BOY:

I don't know, Sir.

Silence.

VLADIMIR:

Does he give you enough to eat? (The Boy hesitates.) Does he feed you well?

BOY:

Fairly well, Sir.

VLADIMIR:

You're not unhappy? (The Boy hesitates.) Do you hear me?

BOY:

Yes Sir.

VLADIMIR:

Well?

BOY:

I don't know, Sir.

VLADIMIR:

You don't know if you're unhappy or not?

BOY:

No Sir.

VLADIMIR:

You're as bad as myself. (Silence.) Where do you sleep?

BOY:

In the loft, Sir.

VLADIMIR:

With your brother?

BOY:

Yes Sir.

VLADIMIR:

In the hay?

BOY:

Yes Sir.

Silence.

VLADIMIR:

All right, you may go.

BOY:

What am I to tell Mr. Godot, Sir?

VLADIMIR:

Tell him . . . (he hesitates) . . . tell him you saw us. (Pause.) You did see us, didn't you?

BOY:

Yes Sir.

He steps back, hesitates, turns and exit running. The light suddenly fails. In a moment it is night. The moon rises at back, mounts in the sky, stands still, shedding a pale light on the scene.

VLADIMIR:

At last! (Estragon gets up and goes towards Vladimir, a boot in each hand. He puts them down at edge of stage, straightens and contemplates the moon.) #

What are you doing?

ESTRAGON:

Pale for weariness.

VLADIMIR:

Eh?

ESTRAGON:

Of climbing heaven and gazing on the likes of us.

VLADIMIR:

Your boots, what are you doing with your boots?

ESTRAGON:

(turning to look at the boots). I'm leaving them there. (Pause.) Another will come, just as . . . as . . . as me, but with smaller feet, and they'll make him happy.

VLADIMIR:

But you can't go barefoot!

ESTRAGON:

Christ did.

VLADIMIR:

Christ! What has Christ got to do with it. You're not going to compare yourself to Christ!

ESTRAGON:

All my life I've compared myself to him.

VLADIMIR:

But where he lived it was warm, it was dry!

ESTRAGON:

Yes. And they crucified quick.

Silence.

VLADIMIR:

We've nothing more to do here.

ESTRAGON:

Nor anywhere else.

VLADIMIR:

Ah Gogo, don't go on like that. Tomorrow everything will be better.

ESTRAGON:

How do you make that out?

VLADIMIR:

Did you not hear what the child said?

ESTRAGON:

No.

VLADIMIR:

He said that Godot was sure to come tomorrow. (Pause.) What do you say to that?

ESTRAGON:

Then all we have to do is to wait on here.

VLADIMIR:

Are you mad? We must take cover. (He takes Estragon by the arm.) Come on.

He draws Estragon after him. Estragon yields, then resists. They halt.

ESTRAGON:

(looking at the tree). Pity we haven't got a bit of rope.

VLADIMIR:

Come on. It's cold.

He draws Estragon after him. As before.

ESTRAGON:

Remind me to bring a bit of rope tomorrow.

VLADIMIR:

Yes. Come on.

He draws him after him. As before.

ESTRAGON:

How long have we been together all the time now?

VLADIMIR:

I don't know. Fifty years maybe.

ESTRAGON:

Do you remember the day I threw myself into the Rhone?

VLADIMIR:

We were grape harvesting.

ESTRAGON:

You fished me out.

VLADIMIR:

That's all dead and buried.

ESTRAGON:

My clothes dried in the sun.

VLADIMIR:

There's no good harking back on that. Come on.

He draws him after him. As before.

ESTRAGON:

Wait!

VLADIMIR:

I'm cold!

ESTRAGON:

Wait! (He moves away from Vladimir.) I sometimes wonder if we wouldn't have been better off alone, each one for himself. (He crosses the stage and sits down on the mound.) We weren't made for the same road.

VLADIMIR:

(without anger). It's not certain.

ESTRAGON:

No, nothing is certain.

Vladimir slowly crosses the stage and sits down beside Estragon. #

VLADIMIR:

We can still part, if you think it would be better.

ESTRAGON:

It's not worthwhile now.

Silence.

VLADIMIR:

No, it's not worthwhile now.

Silence.

ESTRAGON:

Well, shall we go?

VLADIMIR:

Yes, let's go.

They do not move.

Curtain.

November 15

AGENDA:

1. Read and act out more of ACT 1
2. Literary Terms - litotes, Comedy of the Absurd/Theater of the Absurd, fourth wall, existentialism, stichomythia, repartee, didactic, malapropism, mimesis

3. Group work on characters -1. identify the antagonist and the protagonist; 2. what are three conflicts in the play; what is the relationship between these characters or forces in each conflict; what does the protagonist want and what stands in the way; is the conflict internal or external or both; what role does each character play in the conflict?
Turn in as a group in paragraph form by end of class



HW: Read Lucky's speech all the way until the characters part "Adieu!" - see below
Ask yourself as you read it and reread it (because you will),what does all this mean? Is there a message here? A theme? Something I can take away for class discussion?

POZZO:

Stand back! (Vladimir and Estragon move away from Lucky. Pozzo jerks the rope. Lucky looks at Pozzo.) Think, pig! (Pause. Lucky begins to dance.) Stop! (Lucky stops.) Forward! (Lucky advances.) Stop! (Lucky stops.) Think!

Silence.

LUCKY:

On the other hand with regard to—

POZZO:

Stop! (Lucky stops.) Back! (Lucky moves back.) Stop! (Lucky stops.) Turn! (Lucky turns towards auditorium.) Think!

During Lucky's tirade the others react as follows.

1) Vladimir and Estragon all attention, Pozzo dejected and disgusted.

2) Vladimir and Estragon begin to protest, Pozzo's sufferings increase.

3) Vladimir and Estragon attentive again, Pozzo more and more agitated and groaning.

4) Vladimir and Estragon protest violently. Pozzo jumps up, pulls on the rope. General outcry. Lucky pulls on the rope, staggers, shouts his text. All three throw themselves on Lucky who struggles and shouts his text.

LUCKY:

Given the existence as uttered forth in the public works of Puncher and Wattmann of a personal God quaquaquaqua with white beard quaquaquaqua outside time without extension who from the heights of divine apathia divine athambia divine aphasia loves us dearly with some exceptions for reasons unknown but time will tell and suffers like the divine Miranda with those who for reasons unknown but time will tell are plunged in torment plunged in fire whose fire flames if that continues and who can doubt it will fire the firmament that is to say blast hell to heaven so blue still and calm so calm with a calm which even though intermittent is better than nothing but not so fast and considering what is more that as a result of the labors left unfinished crowned by the Acacacacademy of Anthropopopometry of Essy-in-Possy of Testew and Cunard it is established beyond all doubt all other doubt than that which clings to the labors of men that as a result of the labors unfinished of Testew and Cunnard it is established as hereinafter but not so fast for reasons unknown that as a result of the public works of Puncher and Wattmann it is established beyond all doubt that in view of the labors of Fartov and Belcher left unfinished for reasons unknown of Testew and Cunard left unfinished it is established what many deny that man in Possy of Testew and Cunard that man in Essy that man in short that man in brief in spite of the strides of alimentation and defecation wastes and pines wastes and pines and concurrently simultaneously what is more for reasons unknown in spite of the strides of physical culture the practice of sports such as tennis football running cycling swimming flying floating riding gliding conating camogie skating tennis of all kinds dying flying sports of all sorts autumn summer winter winter tennis of all kinds hockey of all sorts penicillin and succedanea in a word I resume flying gliding golf over nine and eighteen holes tennis of all sorts in a word for reasons unknown in Feckham Peckham Fulham Clapham namely concurrently simultaneously what is more for reasons unknown but time will tell fades away I resume Fulham Clapham in a word the dead loss per head since the death of Bishop Berkeley being to the tune of one inch four ounce per head approximately by and large more or less to the nearest decimal good measure round figures stark naked in the stockinged feet in Connemara in a word for reasons unknown no matter what matter the facts are there and considering what is more much more grave that in the light of the labors lost of Steinweg and Peterman it appears what is more much more grave that in the light the light the light of the labors lost of Steinweg and Peterman that in the plains in the mountains by the seas by the rivers running water running fire the air is the same and then the earth namely the air and then the earth in the great cold the great dark the air and the earth abode of stones in the great cold alas alas in the year of their Lord six hundred and something the air the earth the sea the earth abode of stones in the great deeps the great cold on sea on land and in the air I resume for reasons unknown in spite of the tennis the facts are there but time will tell I resume alas alas on on in short in fine on on abode of stones who can doubt it I resume but not so fast I resume the skull fading fading fading and concurrently simultaneously what is more for reasons unknown in spite of the tennis on on the beard the flames the tears the stones so blue so calm alas alas on on the skull the skull the skull the skull in Connemara in spite of the tennis the labors abandoned left unfinished graver still abode of stones in a word I resume alas alas abandoned unfinished the skull the skull in Connemara in spite of the tennis the skull alas the stones Cunard (mêlée, final vociferations) . . . tennis . . . the stones . . . so calm . . . Cunard . . . unfinished . . .

POZZO:

His hat!

Vladimir seizes Lucky's hat. Silence of Lucky. He falls. Silence. Panting of the victors.

ESTRAGON:

Avenged!

Vladimir examines the hat, peers inside it.

POZZO:

Give me that! (He snatches the hat from Vladimir, throws it on the ground, tramples on it.) There's an end to his thinking!

VLADIMIR:

But will he be able to walk?

POZZO:

Walk or crawl! (He kicks Lucky.) Up pig!

ESTRAGON:

Perhaps he's dead.

VLADIMIR:

You'll kill him.

POZZO:

Up scum! (He jerks the rope.) Help me!

VLADIMIR:

How?

POZZO:

Raise him up!

Vladimir and Estragon hoist Lucky to his feet, support him an instant, then let him go. He falls.

ESTRAGON:

He's doing it on purpose!

POZZO:

You must hold him. (Pause.) Come on, come on, raise him up.

ESTRAGON:

To hell with him!

VLADIMIR:

Come on, once more.

ESTRAGON:

What does he take us for?

They raise Lucky, hold him up.

POZZO:

Don't let him go! (Vladimir and Estragon totter.) Don't move! (Pozzo fetches bag and basket and brings them towards Lucky.) Hold him tight! (He puts the bag in Lucky's hand. Lucky drops it immediately.) Don't let him go! (He puts back the bag in Lucky's hand. Gradually, at the feel of the bag, Lucky recovers his senses and his fingers finally close round the handle.) Hold him tight! (As before with basket.) #

Now! You can let him go. (Vladimir and Estragon move away from Lucky who totters, reels, sags, but succeeds in remaining on his feet, bag and basket in his hands. Pozzo steps back, cracks his whip.) Forward! (Lucky totters forward.) Back! (Lucky totters back.) Turn! (Lucky turns.) Done it! He can walk. (Turning to Vladimir and Estragon.) Thank you, gentlemen, and let me . . . (he fumbles in his pockets) . . . let me wish you . . . (fumbles) . . . wish you . . . (fumbles) . . . what have I done with my watch? (Fumbles.) A genuine half-hunter, gentlemen, with deadbeat escapement! (Sobbing.) Twas my granpa gave it to me! (He searches on the ground, Vladimir and Estragon likewise. Pozzo turns over with his foot the remains of Lucky's hat.) Well now isn't that just—

VLADIMIR:

Perhaps it's in your fob.

POZZO:

Wait! (He doubles up in an attempt to apply his ear to his stomach, listens. Silence.) I hear nothing. (He beckons them to approach, Vladimir and Estragon go over to him, bend over his stomach.) Surely one should hear the tick-tick.

VLADIMIR:

Silence!

All listen, bent double. #

ESTRAGON:

I hear something.

POZZO:

Where?

VLADIMIR:

It's the heart.

POZZO:

(disappointed). Damnation!

VLADIMIR:

Silence!

ESTRAGON:

Perhaps it has stopped.

They straighten up.

POZZO:

Which of you smells so bad?

ESTRAGON:

He has stinking breath and I have stinking feet.

POZZO:

I must go.

ESTRAGON:

And your half-hunter?

POZZO:

I must have left it at the manor.

Silence.

ESTRAGON:

Then adieu.

POZZO:

Adieu.

VLADIMIR:

Adieu.

POZZO:

Adieu.

Silence. No one moves.

VLADIMIR:

Adieu.

POZZO:

Adieu.

ESTRAGON:

Adieu.

Silence.

POZZO:

And thank you.

VLADIMIR:

Thank you.

POZZO:

Not at all.

ESTRAGON:

Yes yes.

POZZO:

No no.

VLADIMIR:

Yes yes.

ESTRAGON:

No no.

Silence.

POZZO:

I don't seem to be able . . . (long hesitation) . . . to depart.

ESTRAGON:

Such is life.

Pozzo turns, moves away from Lucky towards the wings, paying out the rope as he goes.

VLADIMIR:

You're going the wrong way.

POZZO:

I need a running start. (Having come to the end of the rope, i.e., off stage, he stops, turns and cries.) Stand back! (Vladimir and Estragon stand back, look towards Pozzo. Crack of whip.) On! On!

ESTRAGON:

On!

VLADIMIR:

On!

Lucky moves off.

POZZO:

Faster! (He appears, crosses the stage preceded by Lucky. Vladimir and Estragon wave their hats. Exit Lucky.) On! On! (On the point of disappearing in his turn he stops and turns. The rope tautens. Noise of Lucky falling off.) Stool! (Vladimir fetches stool and gives it to Pozzo who throws it to Lucky.) Adieu!

VLADIMIR and ESTRAGON:

(waving). Adieu! Adieu!

POZZO:

Up! Pig! (Noise of Lucky getting up.) On! (Exit Pozzo.) Faster! On! Adieu! Pig! Yip! Adieu!

Long silence.

November 14

AGENDA:

1. Discuss NPR interview
2. Read more of Act 1
3. Setting and its role / What if it were changed?

4. Non-sequitors





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