Question

Which of the following writers are associated with the Theatre of the Absurd?

• A. Harold Pinter
• B. Edward Albee
• C. John Osborne
• D. Eugene O'Neill

Hint:

For Absurdist theatre, memorize the "core four": Beckett, Ionesco, Pinter, and Albee. Don't confuse with realist playwrights like Osborne or O'Neill.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A, B

Step 1: Define Theatre of the Absurd
The Theatre of the Absurd (term popularized by Martin Esslin, 1960s) refers to post-WWII plays highlighting existentialism, meaninglessness, and illogical structures. Key dramatists include Samuel Beckett, Eugène Ionesco, Harold Pinter, and Edward Albee.

Step 2: Evaluate options
(A) Harold Pinter — yes, absurdist dramatist, known for The Birthday Party, The Dumb Waiter, famous for "Pinteresque" pauses. ✔
(B) Edward Albee — yes, though American, he is associated with absurdist drama; plays like The Zoo Story show absurdist traits. ✔
(C) John Osborne — key figure in "Angry Young Men" movement; wrote Look Back in Anger. Not Absurdist, but realist/working-class concerns. ✘
(D) Eugene O'Neill — early 20th century American dramatist (Long Day's Journey Into Night); expressionist, not Absurdist. ✘
\[ \boxed{\text{Absurdist dramatists here: (A) Harold Pinter and (B) Edward Albee}} \]