Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead Group at eNotes

What is an example of a chiche, black humor, and burlesque in...

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:32:49 PST

What is an example of a chiche, black humor, and burlesque in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead by Tom Stoppard?

Rosecrantz and Guildenstern spend almost the entire play in a state of...

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:18:24 PST

Rosecrantz and Guildenstern spend almost the entire play in a state of uncertainty. Since the play is absurdist, the constant questioning of the two courtiers, who are at turns knowing and completely ignorant of their fate, the uncertainty is presented humorously. For example, in Act One Rosencrantz and Guildenstern play the ridiculous game of "Heads/Tails" flipping a coin. Though in the real world the outcome of a coin toss is truly...

Uncertainty is one of the themes of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are...

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 05:45:19 PST

Uncertainty is one of the themes of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. How far is it true?

The complete slanted inversion of Hamlet (The holiest Holy of all...

Thu, 5 Mar 2009 09:34:22 PST

The complete slanted inversion of Hamlet (The holiest Holy of all theatrical productions) so that it is told 'through a glass darkly' by a couple of minor characters and that those characters are not 'in' the play but cluelessly bouncing around, (ie at the whim of a fickle, God-like playwright who can mould reality) that is ironic. Hamlet turns from the world's best loved tragedy into a surreal farce. Yesterday R+G were in the real...

The most important and ironic situation of R&G are dead is...

Thu, 5 Mar 2009 08:50:16 PST

The most important and ironic situation of R&G are dead is the petty but symbolic confusion that Rosencrantz makes when he introduces himself to the Tragedians. Rosencrantz introduces himself as Guildenstern and then rectifies his mistake.This depicts the insignificance of their identity and it shows how little power they exert upon themselves despite the fact that they are completely free.Another ironic situation that illustrates the...

The relationship between the audience and the players is also...

Tue, 8 Jan 2008 10:04:28 PST

The relationship between the audience and the players is also investigated. I believe that Stoppard is focusing on both the role of fate but also the problem of art. The artist/player/playwright is forever looking to provoke the audience into thought. The audience is not just a stakeholder in the value of the art but perhaps creates the restrictions of the capacity of art to move them. The quote, “The audience knows what to expect and that...

I think the play shows fate as the dominant force throughout the play. ...

Sat, 5 Jan 2008 06:48:38 PST

I think the play shows fate as the dominant force throughout the play. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are not in control of what is happening from the very beginning. They don't know why they are travelling, they are transported to new locations, their attempts to escape fail, and they can't even complete the 'mission' for which they were sent. Their death at the end is out of their control - throughout the entire play, it is like there is...

The coin tossing, for one. The law of probability stands firmly...

Sat, 1 Dec 2007 15:32:59 PST

The coin tossing, for one. The law of probability stands firmly against that many "heads" in one sitting.The arrivals and departures of these two are quite ironic as well. They seem to just appear and disappear at will. It is an absurd bit of theatre.The deaths of R and G are never reported in the play, even though the audience expects this event. This is one of the themes of absurdity and the believeablity of theatre--that...

What are some ironic situations in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead?

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 19:51:43 PST

What are some ironic situations in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead?

The tone in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is that of Sarcasm. He...

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 10:06:39 PST

The tone in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is that of Sarcasm. He is taking the characters out of the original play Hamlet and showing us how they may be perceived with these two characters as the main focus. It is meant to be full of humor and at the same time is a literary analysis showing us how they are being perceived by other characters in the text. The tone has an effect upon the perception of theme because it is showing that...

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern is considered as “absurd,” a literary...

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 03:57:49 PST

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern is considered as “absurd,” a literary term for a movement, especially in theater, that can show the meaninglessness of life. This sense of “absurdity” in life derives from its existential origins. In the case of this play, the tone is comical, satirical, and even farcical. Tone is the attitude the author has to his subject matter, and in the case of this play Stoppard treats the themes of Hamlet...

What is the author's tone in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, and...

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 19:22:43 PST

What is the author's tone in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, and what effect does tone have upon the reader's perception of theme?

Hamlet is the prince and Ophelia is the daughter of Polonius, an advisor...

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 09:20:09 PST

Hamlet is the prince and Ophelia is the daughter of Polonius, an advisor to King Claudius. In the play of Hamlet by Shakespeare, Ophelia reveals that Hamlet has expressed his love for her, written her love letters, and given her trinkets as a sign of his affection. Laerters, Ophelia's brother, points out to her, however, that she can never marry Hamlet because he is the prince and his marriage will be arranged. In Rosencrantz and...

What is Hamlet's relationship with Ophelia?

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 09:05:03 PST

What is Hamlet's relationship with Ophelia?

Fate and free will

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 18:47:00 PST

I've discussed this topic a lot with different people, and everyone seems to have their own view on how does fate and free will determine the outcome of the play. What is your opinion?

To reply to the other answer, fate is not the premise of the play, the...

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 17:01:03 PST

To reply to the other answer, fate is not the premise of the play, the premise is that we choose are own fate, at the end Rosencrantz says, " there was a point, where we could of said no, but I don't remember..." .The point is Hamlet asks three times, were you sent for? They avoid it and then they finally confess that they were sent for. They loose Hamlet's trust right then. Then when their on the boat they could of told Hamlet that he was...

I would say that Fate is the dramatic question if Rosencrantz and...

Mon, 19 Mar 2007 08:52:29 PST

I would say that Fate is the dramatic question if Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead, and it is that question that follows and leads the story. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have to die. They die in Hamlet, and for the story to make any sense, the have to die in Stoppards play as well. Even though they, and Stoppard as well, try to avoid their deaths, the audience is aware that it is going to happen. It has to, it is fate. And when the...

What is the major dramatic question in "Rosencrantz and...

Sun, 18 Mar 2007 14:04:21 PST

What is the major dramatic question in "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead"?

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are merely plot devices, minor characters,...

Thu, 1 Mar 2007 09:03:35 PST

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are merely plot devices, minor characters, in Shakespear's Hamlet. In Stoppard's play, however, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern become the most important part of the story, with the rest of the cast in supporting roles. It's a hilarious farce and an interesting treatment on fate, since one knows that Rosencratz and Guildernstern must die, since they die in Hamlet.

What is the importance of Rosencrantz?

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 23:53:31 PST

What is the importance of Rosencrantz?