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

2. While discussing the hanging, Vladimir asks Estragon what they should do. Estragon replies

3. Pozzo tells Estragon and Vladimir that he is taking Lucky to the fair to

4. According to the play's notes, the action begins

5. Upon first encountering Pozzo, Estragon wants to know if he is

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the idea of hanging and Estragon and Vladimir's inability to come up with a workable plan contribute to the atmosphere of the play?

2. Briefly describe the relationship between Lucky and Pozzo.

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

4. 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?

5. Vladimir asks the boy if Mr. Godot has a beard and what color it is. How does the boy respond?

6. What does Pozzo tell Estragon and Vladimir about tears and laughter?

7. How do Pozzo and Lucky first enter the stage and why do you think Beckett creates their characters this way?

8. 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?

9. Just before he finally leaves in Act I, what does Pozzo observe about leaving? What does he feel he needs to do to be able to leave?

10. Estragon and Vladimir have a second conversation about radishes and carrots. How does the conversation differ from the one in Act I and why might Beckett includes this second conversation?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

There are times that all of us feel as if life is pointless. How did "Waiting for Godot" help you understand that feeling? Did it encourage you because you can see that you are going somewhere in your life, after all, considering what your are doing with your life like going to school and reading plays. Or did it show you that like the characters in the play, you are not doing anything to move your life ahead?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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