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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. In the first act, Estragon exclaims that Vladimir smells of

2. When Estragon starts to tell Vladimir about the dream he was having, Vladimir

3. After some time observing Lucky and the relationship he has with Pozzo, at the end of Act I, it is clear that Lucky is

4. After Pozzo finishes eating, what does Pozzo ask Lucky?

5. While they are waiting for Godot, Estragon and Vladimir talk about

Short Essay Questions

1. Briefly describe the relationship between Lucky and Pozzo.

2. In Act 1, when Vladimir leaves the stage to go to the bathroom, what do Pozzo and Estragon stare at off stage? What does Estragon tell Vladimir about it when he returns?

3. How does Vladimir claim he would have stopped Estragon from being beaten by the ten men?

4. How does Pozzo feel about meeting new people?

5. When Pozzo wants to sit down in Act I, what does he ask Estragon to do?

6. In Act II, Pozzo finally decides that he and Lucky must leave. Vladimir asks Pozzo if Lucky can sing for them before he and Lucky leave. What does Pozzo tell Vladimir?

7. Estragon and Vladimir still want to know why Lucky doesn't put done all the parcels. What does Pozzo finally tell them?

8. How does Estragon reply to Vladimir's statement that he can't go barefoot?

9. When Estragon complains about Lucky's response to his attempted kindness, Pozzo reminds him about what?

10. The set is very bare with the exception of one significant thing. What is it, and why do you think Beckett used this particular thing?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There is almost nothing on the stage with the actors. There are very few props. How do you think this contributes to the overall feeling of the play? Why do you think Beckett used a bare tree on the stage? Why do you think that in the second act it has a few leaves? What point was Beckett trying to make, and how do you think it contributed to his overall message?

Essay Topic 2

How well do you think Beckett's play, "Waiting for Godot," would work as a radio play? Is it critical for the play to be seen, or is it powerful enough to carry Beckett's message with sound alone. Keep in mind Beckett's use of silence (stage directions showing delayed responses) and how that would work on the radio as well as the few things that Beckett does make use of like the tree, the moon, changes in lighting, the hats, Estragon's boots, etc.

Essay Topic 3

Estragon is beaten during the two nights the play covers. He seems to accept the beatings as a part of life. What do you think Beckett was trying to say? Keep in mind that when Vladimir tells Estragon he would have stopped the beating, he doesn't mean that he would have stopped the people who beat Estragon, but that he would stop Estragon from doing whatever he had done to antagonize those who beat him.

(see the answer keys)

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