Using Gen AI in Literature Classroom

  Using Gen AI in Literature Classroom

Here is the link to the professor's blog for background reading: Click here.

Following are the questions which were asked in Worksheet 1:

1.1. Why does Beckett grow a few leaves in Act II on the barren tree - The tree has four or five

leaves?

 

Ans  :

The few leaves on the barren tree in Waiting for Godot (Act II) symbolize the ambiguous passage of time, a faint yet futile hope, and the absurdity of existence. While they suggest change, they do not alter the characters' endless waiting, reinforcing the play’s themes of uncertainty, irony, and stagnation.

1.2. Can we do any political reading of the play if we see European nations represented by the

'names' of the characters (Vladimir - Russia; Estragon - France; Pozzo - Italy and Lucky -

England)? What interpretation can be inferred from the play written just after World War II?

Which country stands for 'Godot'?

ANS:

In a political reading, Waiting for Godot reflects post-WWII Europe’s paralysis—Vladimir (Russia) and Estragon (France) wait in vain, Pozzo (Italy) dominates but declines, and Lucky (England) is burdened. 'Godot' could symbolize the U.S. (Marshall Plan) or an unattainable political salvation, reinforcing themes of futility and disillusionment.

1.3. In Act I, in reply to Boy’s question:

"BOY: What am I to tell Mr. Godot, Sir?

VLADIMIR: Tell him . . . (he hesitates) . . . tell him you saw us. (Pause.) You did see us, didn't

you?

How does this conversation go in Act II? What is the significance?

Ans:

In Act II, Vladimir tells the Boy, "Tell him you saw me," instead of "us," marking his growing isolation. This reinforces existential uncertainty, highlights the play’s cyclical stagnation, and deepens the futility of their endless wait for Godot.

1.4. In both Acts, evening falls into night and the moon rises. How would you interpret this

‘coming of night and moon’ when actually they are waiting for Godot?

Ans:

The coming of night and the rising moon mark the slow, inevitable passage of time, emphasizing the futility of waiting. Vladimir eagerly anticipates night, not because it brings change, but because it offers closure to another day of meaningless hope. The moon, distant and indifferent, mirrors their endless cycle—time moves, yet nothing truly happens, deepening the play’s existential despair.

1.5. What is the meaning of the terms ‘Apathia, Aphasia, and Athambia’ in Lucky’s speech? “. . .

divine apathia divine athambia divine aphasia loves us dearly with some exceptions for

reasons unknown ...”

Ans:

Lucky’s speech is a chaotic parody of scholarly and theological discourse, blending real and nonsensical words to highlight the absurdity of intellectual pursuits. The terms Apathia, Aphasia, and Athambia mock God’s supposed qualities—indifference, silence, and impassivity—questioning divine benevolence. The speech’s rapid delivery, fragmented logic, and physical chaos on stage reinforce the play’s themes of existential absurdity, the futility of communication, and the meaningless search for certainty in an indifferent universe.

1.6. ‘A better solution to the tramp’s predicament than to wait – is, suicide”. Is it really so?

Why did they fail to commit suicide? (Pg 36 in the article)

Ans:

In Waiting for Godot, Vladimir and Estragon view suicide as a possible escape from their meaningless existence, yet they ultimately fail to go through with it. Their reasons are both practical and existential:

Lack of Proper Means – They consider hanging themselves but lack a strong rope, and Estragon’s belt is too weak. Their failure to find a simple tool mirrors their overall helplessness.

Fear of Being Left Alone – If one succeeds while the other survives, the survivor would be left in unbearable loneliness, a fate perhaps worse than waiting.

Inertia and Habit – They are trapped in an endless cycle of inaction, incapable of making decisive choices, whether it be living meaningfully or dying.

Flickering Hope – Though Estragon is more skeptical, Vladimir clings to the faint hope that Godot might bring salvation, keeping them tethered to the idea of waiting.

1.7. Explain: “Godot might become an image of what Sartre calls Bad Faith”. (Pg 39 in the

article)

Ans:

Godot: A Symbol of Bad Faith

Vladimir and Estragon’s endless wait for Godot mirrors Sartre’s concept of Bad Faith—self-deception that keeps individuals from embracing their own freedom. Instead of taking control of their existence, they cling to the illusion that Godot will bring meaning, using his absence as an excuse for inaction. Much like those who conform to societal roles to avoid confronting life’s absurdity, they surrender to false hope rather than face the unsettling truth: there is no salvation beyond what they create for themselves.

1.8. Explain: “One hardly feels the absurdity of some things, on the one hand, and the

necessity of those other things, on the other, (for it is rare that feeling of absurdity is not

followed by the feeling of necessity), when one feels the absurdity of those things of which

one had just felt the necessity (for it is rare that the feeling of necessity is not followed by

the feeling of absurdity)” .

Ans:

This statement captures the endless loop of human perception—what seems absurd soon feels necessary, and what feels necessary eventually seems absurd. In Waiting for Godot, Vladimir and Estragon’s waiting follows this cycle: they doubt its meaning (absurdity), then justify it (necessity), only to question it again. This reflects existential anxiety, where people cling to illusions of purpose to escape the void of meaninglessness.

Video 1

1. Biblical Reference and Its Subversion

Beckett uses the Bible story of the sheep and the goats, where sheep (good) are rewarded and goats (bad) are punished. But in Waiting for Godot, this is flipped—the goat-tender is spared and the sheep-tender is punished. This reversal makes us question if divine judgment is really fair or reliable.

2. Critique of Religious Morality

The play shows that following religious rules doesn't guarantee God's favor. Vladimir’s talk with the boy shows fear of God rather than love. Beckett challenges black-and-white ideas of good and bad, asking us to think critically about the religious and moral beliefs we take for granted.

3. Broader Symbolic and Social Meanings

The sheep and goats also represent political or social divides (like right vs. left). Both animals show traits like obedience or resistance, just like people do. Beckett points out that fixed systems—religious, political, or social—are limited and flawed. He encourages us to question authority and rethink how we define justice and goodness.

Conclusion

By flipping a familiar Bible story, Beckett questions moral certainty, challenges rigid beliefs, and invites us to look deeper at the systems we follow. Waiting for Godot asks us to think more critically about what we believe and why.

Video 2

1. Religious Interpretations and Waiting

The play shows Christian values through the care Vladimir and Estragon show each other. Waiting is seen as a spiritual act—patient, kind, and hopeful. A Bible quote, “they also serve who only stand and wait,” supports this.

Other religions, like Hinduism in the Bhagavad-Gita, also see waiting as a path to self-realization through action and devotion. So, across beliefs, waiting can mean growth, though its meaning is not always clear.

2. Existential Critique and False Hope

Philosopher Sartre’s idea of “bad faith” applies here—waiting is a way to avoid making choices and facing freedom. Godot never arrives, showing that the hope the characters have may be false.

Their repeated routines are like modern distractions (e.g., endless scrolling), keeping them stuck instead of growing. This shows how false hope can stop us from truly living.

3. Duality, Mortality, and Today’s World

The play balances kindness and passivity—caring for each other brings comfort, but also leads to avoiding life’s hard truths, like death.

Beckett explores time, routine, and even thoughts of suicide—not as dark topics, but as honest reactions to a confusing world.

In the end, Beckett mixes religion and existential doubt, asking: is hope helpful or just a way to escape reality? This makes the play very relevant in today’s busy, distracted world.

Conclusion

Waiting for Godot blends faith and doubt, showing hope as both a strength and a trap. The characters’ care for each other shows human goodness, but their endless waiting shows how we sometimes use hope to avoid real change. Beckett invites us to ask: is our hope helping us grow, or just keeping us from facing the truth?

References

Barad, Dilip. “Hope - Christian Faith or Sartrean Bad Faith | Waiting for Godot | Samuel Beckett.” YouTube, uploaded by DoE-MKBU, 30 Jan. 2023, youtu.be/umeapOKxyds. 

 “Objectives for Using ChatGPT in Literature Classroom.” Dilip Barad | Teacher Blog, 22 Jan. 2023, blog.dilipbarad.com/2023/01/objectives-for-using-chatgpt-in.html. 

 “The Sheep and the Goat | Waiting for Godot | Samuel Beckett.” YouTube, uploaded by DoE-MKBU, 26 Jan. 2023, youtu.be/6KJw9LZ_HC8.