Samuel Becket (1906-1989)

About Samuel Becket About his life About his work His play: Krapp's Last Tape Criticism on his play Poster Modern Art Glossary

Aim: What state is Krapp in? What does his name Krapp connote? How is Krapp himself the reason for all the "darkness" surrounding him?

Do Now: In your journal, describe your understanding of modernism and what it is like in real life (our life is getting modernized everyday. How do you feel about the state of the society, people's attitudes toward morality, money. What's the dominating mood of the world or the world you know? Is modernism an antonym of traditionalism?

Solicited answer:

• Life is controlled and made easy by modern technology-online shopping, chatting, yet physical isolation, lack of human touch.
• TV (media) replaces human interactions and communications and manipulates our thinking.
• Advanced transportation makes the world accessible, in result, help expand our horizon.
• There are too many choices available, which causes confusion.
• We feel alone, the world is moving so fast. Everyone is trying to catch up.
• Fewer people have faith or are losing faith. Money has replaced it or the pursuit of money has dominated our life.
• Modern weapons make us more at mercy of a few politicians' decision.
• Greed is the essence of morality and controls our thinking and decisions.
• People take up jobs they hate and are unhappy with who they are.
• People are easily vexed and get into fights or lose control-they are under a lot of pressure.

Glossary

capacious / vacuously /muster / spool / ledger / pompous  / whelp / engross /opus magnum / laxation /glint / viduity / weir / perambulator / chrysolite / gauge/ punt / siphon / dune / drivel  /

Activities:

1. Share our journals on modernism.
2. Click open  Miro's drawing . In your journal describe-
   • What images do you see in the painting?
   • What aspects of modernism are depicted in this drawing?
   • What emotional effects does the drawing have on you?
3. As we can see, modernism is depicted in all art forms-visual , music (atonal music),  language art (poetry by T.S. Eliot & Yeats), and theater (Samuel Beckett's plays and Harold Pinter's drama). Select an art work from moma.org that expresses the emotions or attitudes toward modernism.
4. Discuss: Why is Krapp the main cause of his Isolation and Loneliness?
   • Describe the stage setting.
   • What's Krapp's repetitious behavior? What's Krapp searching for?
   • How is Krapp portrayed physically as depicted in the narration?
   • What does his name indicate (the kind of person/artist he is or the situation he is in)?
   • Why doe he keep eating bananas?
   • In the first Tape's monologue, what life story do we get to know about Krapp in his past?
   • What's his attitude toward having a woman in his life, toward happiness and youth?
   • In Krapp's 2nd speech, what does he mean when he sings "Now the day is over,/ Night is drawing nigh-igh/ Shadows.."?
   • As described in Tape's 3rd speech, "...A small, old, black, hard, solid rubber ball. I shall feel it, in my hand, until my dying day. I might have kept it. But I gave it to the dog", why does the young Krapp feel this way toward a "rubber ball"? What happened between the " dark young beauty" and young Krapp?
   • Also in Tape's 3rd speech, what was revealed to Krapp in that "memorable night in March at the end of the jetty, in the howling wind" (page 4)? What did he see? What does the "lighthouse" symbolize? What does he refer to when he describes the "light of the understanding and the fire" that can stop the "unshatterable association"?
   • How is his love affair with Bianca described? Why did Krapp leave Bianca?
   • In Krapp's 4th speech (page 5), how did he criticize the young Krapp 30 years ago?
   • Interpret "... What's a year now? The sour cud and the iron stool. Revelled in the word spool.(with relish) Spoooool! Happiest moment of the past half million." (Krapp's speech 4)
   • What has Krapp accomplished in his life as far as his writing career go?
   • What image constantly comes to Krapp's mind? What did Krapp sometimes wonder at night when he gets drunk ?
   • What emotions are expressed when Krapp said in his final speech," Perhaps my best years are gone. When there was a chance of happiness. But I wouldn't want them back. Not with the fire in me now. No, I wouldn't want them back." Why is the ending also ironic?

Homework #8 Select one of the topics to write an analytical essay on Beckett's Krapp's Last Tape.

1. Theme Analysis: Why Is Krapp the Cause of his Isolation and Loneliness?
2. Symbolisim and Imagery in Krapp's Last Tape by Samuel Beckett
3. Why Does Krapp Represent the Majority of Modern Beings?

Before you hand in the essay, please use the checklist to reexamine your work:

_____ 1. A thesis statement in the Introductory Paragraph(5%)

_____ 2. Three supporting evidence ( illustrative details from the play) in three separate Body Paragraphs (45)%)

• ______ The appropriateness and relevance of examples used
• ______ At least one quotation from the play in each body paragraph (three quotations in three paragraphs)
• ______ Topic sentence to begin each body paragraph

_______5. Concluding paragraph (5%)

_______6. Grammatical rules followed (10%)

_______7. Originality of ideas that  demonstrates keen insight into the text (20%)

________8. Clarity of expressions(10%)

________9. Sophistication of language use. (5%)

________10. Clear structure (Intro, Body and Conclusion) 5%.