Rhinoceros Lesson Plan

Theatre of the Absurd 102

Kind of Activity:

Individual Writing

Objective:

Students will be able to take agency in their understanding of Theatre of the Absurd

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.3, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.5

Structure:

Now that they have read more of Rhinoceros in addition to the previous day's scenes from Beckett, ask students what they think about Esslin's definition of Theatre of the Absurd. What do they think characterizes it?

Prepare two bowls with writing prompts. In the first bowl, provide students with very serious dramatic scenarios for two characters—e.g. "A student is in the principal's office and might be expelled"; "A girl learns her...