The mime and the clown - or Samuel Beckett as comedian

Seminar paper from the year 2008 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 2,0, University of Bamberg, course: Proseminar Samuel Beckett, language: English, abstract: Clowns and mimes have been accompanying theatrical work since the ancient world and they have not lost their comic effect until today. Even when Beckett has never admitted explicitly that his clown-like characters were intended, his plays do, however, show a considerable influence of comic elements. These clownish and mimetic elements shall be examplified in this term paper. Hence a short view over the history and characteristics of mimes and clowns shall be given and the results embedded into the plays Waiting for Godot, Endgame und Act Without Words I.