EnglishClub

Pre-listening vocabulary

• tragicomedy: a type of play that tells a serious story with humourous elements
• subvert: to change the way something is usually done
• critic: someone who gives their opinion about something
• allegory: a text that has a hidden meaning under the literal story it tells
• mundane: boring, ordinary

Listening activity

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:17 — 1.2MB)

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Gapfill exercise

Waiting for Godot is a 1952 by Irish writer Samuel Beckett. Beckett originally wrote the play in French, and translated it into English a few years later. It is considered a tragicomedy. The play is about two men, Vladimir and Estragon, who speak to each other while they wait for a man named Godot to meet them. Godot never arrives. Waiting for Godot became famous for subverting common play . Besides the between Vladimir and Estragon, not much happens in the play. Many people have opinions about the hidden of the story. Some critics believe that Waiting for Godot is a religious allegory, and that Godot represents God. Others believe that the play represents the mundane parts of life, and that Godot represents .

Comprehension questions

See answers below

1. The writer of Waiting for Godot was
   a. French
   b. Irish
   c. English
   
2. The play is considered a
   a. romance
   b. tragicomedy
   c. tragedy
   
3. Waiting for Godot became famous because
   a. it criticized religion
   b. it subverted common play structures
   c. it told an epic story

Discussion/essay questions

1. Do you prefer stories with exciting plots or thought-provoking ideas?

Transcript

Waiting for Godot is a 1952 play by Irish writer Samuel Beckett. Beckett originally wrote the play in French, and translated it into English a few years later. It is considered a tragicomedy. The play is about two men, Vladimir and Estragon, who speak to each other while they wait for a man named Godot to meet them. Godot never arrives. Waiting for Godot became famous for subverting common play structures. Besides the conversations between Vladimir and Estragon, not much happens in the play. Many people have opinions about the hidden meaning of the story. Some critics believe that Waiting for Godot is a religious allegory, and that Godot represents God. Others believe that the play represents the mundane parts of life, and that Godot represents death. 

Answers to comprehension questions

1b 2b 3b

Pre-listening vocabulary

• investigate: to try to find out the truth about something
• avenge: to punish someone for hurting someone else
• suspicious: believing that someone is doing something they shouldn’t
• obsessed: constantly thinking about something
• insanity: having an unstable state of mind
• adaptation: a movie, show, or play that is based on an existing work

Listening activity

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:13 — 1.1MB)

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Gapfill exercise

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark is a play by the famous English playwright William Shakespeare. The story is about a young named Hamlet whose father has recently . Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius, has declared himself the new king of Denmark. One day, the of Hamlet’s father appears and tells Hamlet that Claudius has murdered him. He asks his son to investigate Claudius and avenge his death. While investigating, Hamlet to lose his mind so that Claudius doesn’t get suspicious. However, as the play goes on, Hamlet slowly becomes obsessed with revenge. Eventually, his fake insanity starts to seem . The play is one of Shakespeare’s most famous works, and it has inspired many modern adaptations.

Comprehension questions

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Discussion/essay questions

1. Some people think that Hamlet really loses his mind throughout the play. Others believe that Hamlet simply puts on such a good performance that he fools the audience as well. Which idea do you like better? Why do you think people can have such different interpretations of the same play?

Transcript

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark is a play by the famous English playwright William Shakespeare. The story is about a young prince named Hamlet whose father has recently died. Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius, has declared himself the new king of Denmark. One day, the ghost of Hamlet’s father appears and tells Hamlet that Claudius has murdered him. He asks his son to investigate Claudius and avenge his death. While investigating, Hamlet pretends to lose his mind so that Claudius doesn’t get suspicious. However, as the play goes on, Hamlet slowly becomes obsessed with revenge. Eventually, his fake insanity starts to seem real. The play is one of Shakespeare’s most famous works, and it has inspired many modern adaptations.

Pre-listening vocabulary

• playwright: a person who writes plays
• tragedy: a type of play that has a sad ending
• feud: a fight that lasts a long time
• masquerade ball: a type of party where people wear masks
• forbidden: not allowed
• forgive: to stop being upset with someone

Listening activity

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:16 — 1.2MB)

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Gapfill exercise

Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written by English playwright William Shakespeare. The main of the story are two teenagers named Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet. Their families have an ancient feud. The two first meet at a masquerade ball, and they fall in love almost instantly. However, they later that they are members of rival families, and their relationship would be forbidden. They decide to get in secret. But Juliet’s parents want her to marry someone else, a man named Paris who is a friend of the family. Towards the end of the story, Juliet fakes her so that she doesn’t have to marry Paris. Romeo, believing that Juliet is dead, poisons himself so that he doesn’t have to live without her. When Juliet wakes up, she finds Romeo dead and kills herself as well. The story ends when the two families realize their feud has gone too far and decide to forgive each other.

Comprehension questions

[wp_quiz id=”20156″]

Discussion/essay questions

1. Romeo and Juliet is a world-famous play that has been translated into many languages and performed many times. Have you ever seen the play? Did you enjoy it?
2. Even before Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet, the theme of forbidden love was very common in books and plays. It’s still very popular today. Why do you think people like this theme so much?

Transcript

Romeo and Juliet is a romantic tragedy written by English playwright William Shakespeare. The main characters of the story are two teenagers named Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet. Their families have an ancient feud. The two first meet at a masquerade ball, and they fall in love almost instantly. However, they later discover that they are members of rival families, and their relationship would be forbidden. They decide to get married in secret. But Juliet’s parents want her to marry someone else, a man named Paris who is a friend of the family. Towards the end of the story, Juliet fakes her death so that she doesn’t have to marry Paris. Romeo, believing that Juliet is dead, poisons himself so that he doesn’t have to live without her. When Juliet wakes up, she finds Romeo dead and kills herself as well. The story ends when the two families realize their feud has gone too far and decide to forgive each other.