Aufbau der MaxNotes am Beispiel von
 Samuel Beckett´s Waiting for Godot
 
Die MaxNotes sind insbesondere geeignet für Schüler und Studenten, die sonst eher deutschsprachige Lektürehilfen vorziehen, denn der Inhalt eines jeden Kapitels ist mit Bildern visualisiert und die Sprache ist sehr schülergerecht. Zum Ende eines jeden Aktes erfolgen "Study Questions", die direkt im Anschluss auch beantwortet werden.
 

 
26
Waiting for Godot


 

Vladimir: How do you mean tied?

Estragon: Down.

Vladimir: But to whom? By whom?

Estragon: To your man.

Vladimir: To Godot? Tied to Godot! What an idea!

This "idea" creates the tension these characters feel throughout the play. Hopelessly adrift, they live on the verge of a constant unknown whose vague and various sounds bring them either hope or terror. This section ends with them "Huddled together, cringing away from the menace." And so, they wait.
Act I    27
   


Study Questions

1. Who are Vladimir and Estragon waiting for?Why?
2. Where does Estragon think the men were yesterday?
3. What are the nicknames of the characters?
4. Why does Estragon pull away from Vladimir when they embrace?
5. Why does Estragon want to hang himself "immediately?"
6. Why won't Estragon and Vladimir hang themselves?
7. What will Godot have to do before he promises them anything?
8. What food does Vladimir have in his pocket?
9. What is the difference in the way Estragon and Vladimir approach food?
10. Estragon repeats "Nothing to be done." Why?

Answers

1. They are waiting for someone named Godot, because he told them to wait for him. They hope he will help them in some way.
2. Estragon thinks they were exactly in the same place yesterday.
3. Estragon is called Gogo; Vladimir is called Didi.
4. Estragon pulls away because Vladimir has bad breath from the garlic he eats.
5. Estragon wants to hang himself because Vladimir suggests it would give him an erection.
6. There isn't any way they could hang themselves without one of the men remaining alive.
7. Godot will have to consult with his family, friends, agents, correspondents, books, and bank account.
8. Vladimir has turnips and a carrot in his pocket.