MCQs on the Theatre of the Absurd
1. Who is considered one of the pioneers of the Theatre of the Absurd?
a. Samuel Beckett
b. Anton Chekhov
c. Henrik Ibsen
d. Bertolt Brecht
2. Theatre of the Absurd is characterized by:
a. Clear and logical plots
b. Absurd and illogical situations
c. Romantic themes
d. Traditional character development
3. The term “Theatre of the Absurd” was coined by:
a. Albert Camus
b. Jean-Paul Sartre
c. Martin Esslin
d. Eugène Ionesco
4. Which play by Samuel Beckett is often considered a masterpiece of the Theatre of the Absurd?
a. The Importance of Being Earnest
b. Waiting for Godot
c. The Glass Menagerie
d. Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
5. Absurdist plays often depict characters trapped in:
a. Logical and predictable situations
b. Unrealistic fantasies
c. Meaningless and repetitive actions
d. Happy and fulfilling relationships
6. Eugène Ionesco is known for his play:
a. Endgame
b. The Chairs
c. The Bald SopranoMCQs on the Theatre of the Absurd
d. Krapp’s Last Tape
7. The Theatre of the Absurd emerged in response to:
a. World War I
b. The Industrial RevolutionMCQs on the Theatre of the Absurd
c. World War II
d. The Renaissance
8. Absurdist plays often feature:
a. Traditional dialogue
b. Symbolic and nonsensical language
c. Predictable plot twists
d. Realistic settings
9. The play “The Bald Soprano” is written by:
a. Samuel Beckett
b. Harold Pinter
c. Eugène Ionesco
d. Tom Stoppard
10. In the Theatre of the Absurd, the concept of “emptiness” refers to:
a. Lack of emotional depth
b. A minimalist set design
c. Existential void and meaninglessness
d. The absence of conflict
11. Harold Pinter’s plays often involve:
a. Clear and straightforward communication
b. Absurd and cryptic dialogue
c. Historical themes
d. Romantic relationships
12. The play “Endgame” is written by:
a. Samuel Beckett
b. Eugene Ionesco
c. Harold Pinter
d. Tom Stoppard
13. Absurdist plays are influenced by the philosophy of:
a. Existentialism
b. Romanticism
c. Nihilism
d. Realism
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14. The Theatre of the Absurd challenges traditional notions of:
a. Logical storytelling
b. Realistic characterization
c. Emotional engagement
d. Aesthetic beauty
15. Which of the following is a key element in absurdist plays?
a. Linear and logical progression
b. Optimistic resolutions
c. Unresolved and ambiguous endings
d. Traditional three-act structure
16. The play “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” is written by:
a. Harold Pinter
b. Samuel Beckett
c. Tom Stoppard
d. Eugene Ionesco
17. Absurdist plays often explore the theme of:
a. Happy endings
b. Despair and meaninglessness
c. Clear moral lessons
d. Romantic love
18. The Theatre of the Absurd is known for its rejection of:
a. Nonsensical language
b. Absurdity and illogical situations
c. Traditional dramatic conventions
d. Minimalist set designs
19. The concept of “non sequitur” is commonly associated with:
a. Logical reasoning
b. Absurdist plays
c. Classical tragedies
d. Realistic dialogue
20. Who wrote the play “The Zoo Story,” which is sometimes considered a precursor to the Theatre of the Absurd?
a. Samuel Beckett
b. Harold Pinter
c. Edward Albee
d. Eugene Ionesco
21. In the Theatre of the Absurd, time and space are often:
a. Clearly defined
b. Manipulated and distorted
c. Realistic and linear
d. Ignored as dramatic elements
22. The play “The Chairs” is written by:
a. Samuel Beckett
b. Harold Pinter
c. Eugene IonescoMCQs on the Theatre of the Absurd
d. Tom Stoppard
23. Absurdist plays often feature characters who:
a. Pursue logical goals
b. Engage in meaningful conversations
c. Exist in a state of confusion and frustration
d. Experience straightforward character arcsMCQs on the Theatre of the Absurd
24. The Theatre of the Absurd is associated with the idea of the “absurd hero,” who:
a. Achieves heroic feats
b. Embraces a sense of purpose and meaning
c. Confronts the absurdity of existence without hopeMCQs on the Theatre of the Absurd
d. Overcomes all obstacles
25. Which of the following is a common theme in absurdist plays?
a. The pursuit of happiness
b. The inevitability of death
c. Clear cause-and-effect relationships
d. Romantic idealism
26. The play “No Exit” is written by:
a. Harold Pinter
b. Samuel Beckett
c. Jean-Paul Sartre
d. Eugene Ionesco
27. The Theatre of the Absurd often employs the use of:
a. Traditional monologues
b. Escapist fantasies
c. Black comedy and dark humor
d. Heroic narratives
28. In the Theatre of the Absurd, communication is often depicted as:
a. Clear and direct
b. Symbolic and elusive
c. Rational and logical
d. Emotional and intense
29. Which playwright is associated with the concept of “language as a barrier” in the Theatre of the Absurd?
a. Samuel Beckett
b. Harold Pinter
c. Eugene Ionesco
d. Tom Stoppard
30. The play “The Birthday Party” is written by:
a. Harold Pinter
b. Samuel Beckett
c. Tom Stoppard
d. Edward Albee
31. Absurdist plays often present a sense of:
a. Optimism
b. Determinism
c. Alienation
d. Romantic fulfillment
32. The Theatre of the Absurd is influenced by the works of:
a. Classical Greek playwrights
b. Romantic poets
c. Existentialist philosophers
d. Renaissance dramatists
33. The concept of “Godot” in Beckett’s play “Waiting for Godot” represents:
a. Hope and salvation
b. A concrete character
c. Meaning and purpose
d. The elusive and unknownMCQs on the Theatre of the Absurd
34. The play “The Lesson” is written by:
a. Harold Pinter
b. Samuel Beckett
c. Eugene Ionesco
d. Tom StoppardMCQs on the Theatre of the Absurd
35. Absurdist plays often challenge the traditional idea of:
a. Linear time
b. Clear moral lessons
c. Rational communicationMCQs on the Theatre of the Absurd
d. Happy endings
36. The play “The Homecoming” is written by:
a. Samuel Beckett
b. Harold Pinter
c. Eugene Ionesco
d. Tom Stoppard
37. Absurdist plays are known for their exploration of:
a. Historical events
b. Individual identity and existence
c. Traditional values
d. Utopian societies
38. The concept of “anti-theatre” is associated with:
a. Realism
b. Expressionism
c. Theatre of the Absurd
d. Classical tragedy
39. Absurdist plays often feature characters who engage in:
a. Clear and purposeful actions
b. Symbolic and ritualistic activities
c. Romantic relationships
d. Logical reasoning
40. The play “The Chairs” is characterized by its use of:
a. Clear and straightforward dialogue
b. Silent and invisible characters
c. Romantic subplots
d. Realistic settings
41. In the Theatre of the Absurd, the term “existential angst” refers to:
a. A sense of purpose and meaning
b. The fear of the unknown and meaningless existence
c. Optimistic views of life
d. Romantic fulfillment
42. Absurdist plays often present a world that is:
a. Logical and predictable
b. Nonsensical and chaotic
c. Utopian and ideal
d. Rooted in historical accuracy
43. The play “The Chairs” explores themes of:
a. Hope and redemption
b. Despair and isolation
c. Romantic love
d. Heroic journeysMCQs on the Theatre of the Absurd
44. The concept of “mise en scène” in the Theatre of the Absurd refers to:
a. Clear and logical storytelling
b. The arrangement of elements on stage
c. Romantic relationships
d. Predictable character developmentMCQs on the Theatre of the Absurd
45. The play “Krapp’s Last Tape” is written by:
a. Harold Pinter
b. Samuel Beckett
c. Eugene IonescoMCQs on the Theatre of the Absurd
d. Tom Stoppard
46. Absurdist plays often challenge the audience’s:
a. Emotional engagement
b. Intellectual comprehension
c. Suspension of disbelief
d. Expectations of traditional theatre
47. The play “The Caretaker” is written by:
a. Samuel Beckett
b. Harold Pinter
c. Eugene Ionesco
d. Tom Stoppard
48. Absurdist plays often feature characters who struggle with:
a. Clear goals and motivations
b. Logical and rational thinking
c. Emotional expression
d. Unattainable desires
49. The play “Happy Days” by Samuel Beckett features a character named:
a. Vladimir
b. Winnie
c. Clov
d. Hamm
50. The concept of “recurrent themes” in the Theatre of the Absurd refers to:
a. Repeated motifs and symbols across different plays
b. Linear and predictable narratives
c. Consistent character development
d. Clear cause-and-effect relationships
Answer
1. a. Samuel Beckett
2. b. Absurd and illogical situations
3. c. Martin Esslin
4. b. Waiting for Godot
5. c. Meaningless and repetitive actions
6. c. The Bald Soprano
7. c. World War II
8. c. Traditional dramatic conventions
9. c. The Bald Soprano
10. c. Existential void and meaninglessness
11. b. Absurd and cryptic dialogue
12. a. Samuel Beckett
13. a. ExistentialismMCQs on the Theatre of the Absurd
14. c. Emotional engagementMCQs on the Theatre of the Absurd
15. c. Unresolved and ambiguous endings
16. c. Tom Stoppard
17. b. Despair and meaninglessness
18. c. Traditional dramatic conventionsMCQs on the Theatre of the Absurd
19. b. Absurdist plays
20. c. Edward Albee
21. b. Manipulated and distorted
22. c. Eugene Ionesco
23. c. Exist in a state of confusion and frustration
24. c. Confronts the absurdity of existence without hope
25. c. Clear cause-and-effect relationships
26. c. Jean-Paul Sartre
27. c. Black comedy and dark humor
28. b. Symbolic and elusive
29. c. Eugene Ionesco
30. a. Harold Pinter
31. c. Alienation
32. c. Existentialist philosophers
33. d. The elusive and unknown
34. c. Eugene Ionesco
35. a. Linear timeMCQs on the Theatre of the Absurd
36. b. Harold PinterMCQs on the Theatre of the Absurd
37. b. Individual identity and existence
38. c. Theatre of the AbsurdMCQs on the Theatre of the Absurd
39. b. Symbolic and ritualistic activities
40. b. Silent and invisible characters
41. b. The fear of the unknown and meaningless existenceMCQs on the Theatre of the Absurd
42. b. Nonsensical and chaotic
43. b. Despair and isolation
44. b. The arrangement of elements on stage
45. b. Samuel Beckett
46. b. Intellectual comprehension
47. b. Harold Pinter
48. a. Clear goals and motivations
49. b. Winnie
50. a. Repeated motifs and symbols across different plays
