The Bald Soprano

Ionesco calls The Bald Soprano an “anti-play.” In what ways is the play an “anti-play”? What Theatre of the Absurd conventions does the play employ, and what conventions does it reject?

Analyze the role of gender and/or class in the play. Are these conventions upheld or subverted in the play? Substantiate your answer with examples from the text.

The clock is a major symbol in the play. What is the role of time in the play? Does the clock symbolize anything other than time?

The Bald Soprano is a seminal work of the Theatre of the Absurd movement. In what ways does the play adhere to the Theatre of the Absurd aesthetic? In what ways does it depart from the movement?

What is the play’s message about the role of language in our everyday lives?

Compare the two couples: the Smiths and the Martins. In what ways are these characters similar? In what ways are they different? What is the significance of replacing the Smiths with the Martins at the end of the play?

The play takes place entirely in the Smiths’ home. Does this setting contribute to a sense of logic in the play, or to a sense of absurdity? Substantiate your answer with examples from the text.

Through the lens of this play, is the search for meaning ever possible? Or is it always futile? Can we ever achieve true human connection? Use examples from the text to support your answer.