126 pages
English language
Published May 18, 1967
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is an absurdist, existential tragicomedy by Tom Stoppard, first staged at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1966. The play expands upon the exploits of two minor characters from Shakespeare's Hamlet, the courtiers Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. The main setting is Denmark. The action of Stoppard's play takes place mainly "in the wings" of Shakespeare's Hamlet, with brief appearances of major characters from Hamlet who enact fragments of the original's scenes. Between these episodes the two protagonists voice their confusion at the progress of events occurring onstage without them in Hamlet, of which they have no direct knowledge. Comparisons have also been drawn with Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot, for the presence of two central characters who almost appear to be two halves of a single character. Many plot features are similar as well: the characters pass time by playing Questions, impersonating other characters, and interrupting each …
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is an absurdist, existential tragicomedy by Tom Stoppard, first staged at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1966. The play expands upon the exploits of two minor characters from Shakespeare's Hamlet, the courtiers Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. The main setting is Denmark. The action of Stoppard's play takes place mainly "in the wings" of Shakespeare's Hamlet, with brief appearances of major characters from Hamlet who enact fragments of the original's scenes. Between these episodes the two protagonists voice their confusion at the progress of events occurring onstage without them in Hamlet, of which they have no direct knowledge. Comparisons have also been drawn with Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot, for the presence of two central characters who almost appear to be two halves of a single character. Many plot features are similar as well: the characters pass time by playing Questions, impersonating other characters, and interrupting each other or remaining silent for long periods of time. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead garnered acclaim.
I got to read this out loud with my AP Lit class (then watch the movie) and it was absolutely brilliant.
As a thespian, I feel privileged to have read the Player's part.
I got to read this out loud with my AP Lit class (then watch the movie) and it was absolutely brilliant.
As a thespian, I feel privileged to have read the Player's part.
I thought it was great. An interesting piece of absurdist "literature." I'd recommend to anyone who hasn't read it but has read Hamlet. It is a very interesting take and not too long of a read.
I thought it was great. An interesting piece of absurdist "literature." I'd recommend to anyone who hasn't read it but has read Hamlet. It is a very interesting take and not too long of a read.
