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Samuel Beckett's radio play, *All That Fall*, was originally conceived with the working title *A Lovely Day for the Races*.
Answer: True
Explanation: The initial working title for Samuel Beckett's radio play, *All That Fall*, was indeed *A Lovely Day for the Races*, as documented in the script's provenance.
The BBC commissioned Samuel Beckett's *All That Fall* in late 1956, and it was completed by the end of that year.
Answer: True
Explanation: The commission from the BBC for *All That Fall* was received in late 1956, and Samuel Beckett completed the manuscript within that same year.
Upon receiving the idea for *All That Fall*, Samuel Beckett felt it was a cheerful concept, leading him to eagerly accept all upcoming appointments.
Answer: False
Explanation: Beckett described the initial idea for *All That Fall* as a "nice gruesome idea" and experienced a "whirl of depression" during its writing, causing him to cancel appointments, rather than finding it cheerful.
The premiere broadcast of *All That Fall* occurred on January 13, 1957, on the BBC Third Programme, featuring Mary O'Farrell and J. G. Devlin.
Answer: True
Explanation: The initial broadcast of Samuel Beckett's *All That Fall* took place on January 13, 1957, on the BBC Third Programme, with Mary O'Farrell and J. G. Devlin among the featured performers.
The play's setting in Foxrock, a Dublin suburb, draws inspiration from Samuel Beckett's childhood experiences.
Answer: True
Explanation: Samuel Beckett situated *All That Fall* in Foxrock, a Dublin suburb familiar from his childhood, grounding the play's narrative in personal experience and locale.
What was the original working title for Samuel Beckett's radio play *All That Fall*?
Answer: Lovely Day for the Races
Explanation: The original working title for Samuel Beckett's radio play *All That Fall* was *A Lovely Day for the Races*, as indicated by manuscript evidence.
For which organization was *All That Fall* produced, and when was it completed?
Answer: BBC, September 1956
Explanation: *All That Fall* was commissioned by the BBC and completed by Samuel Beckett in September 1956.
How did Samuel Beckett describe the idea for *All That Fall* when it first came to him?
Answer: A gruesome idea full of cartwheels and dragging feet
Explanation: Beckett characterized the initial concept for *All That Fall* as a "nice gruesome idea full of cartwheels and dragging of feet and puffing and panting."
Which of the following performers had an early role in the first broadcast of *All That Fall*?
Answer: Both A and C
Explanation: The premiere broadcast of *All That Fall* featured early roles for both Jack MacGowran and Patrick Magee, who would become significant collaborators with Beckett.
Maddy Rooney, the protagonist of *All That Fall*, is a young woman known for her optimism and robust physical health.
Answer: False
Explanation: Maddy Rooney is depicted as a gritty, outspoken, septuagenarian woman suffering from various ailments, including rheumatism, and is not characterized by youthful optimism or robust health.
Dan Rooney suffers from blindness and an old leg wound, while Maddy experiences obesity and heart trouble.
Answer: False
Explanation: The description is partially correct but inverted. Dan Rooney suffers from blindness and an old leg wound, while Maddy Rooney experiences obesity and ailments such as rheumatism and heart trouble.
The relationship between Maddy and Dan Rooney is characterized by open affection and shared activities.
Answer: False
Explanation: The relationship between Maddy and Dan Rooney is depicted as strained and distant. Maddy seeks connection, while Dan is notably laconic and appears disengaged from their marital reality, preferring fictional narratives.
The name 'Miss Fitt' is interpreted as a pun suggesting she is well-adjusted and fits in perfectly.
Answer: False
Explanation: The name 'Miss Fitt' is widely interpreted as a pun suggesting the opposite: that she is a self-righteous misfit, embodying a certain detachment and perhaps an ironic commentary on societal expectations.
The play contrasts Maddy's verbose nature with Dan's tendency towards lengthy, detailed explanations.
Answer: False
Explanation: The play contrasts Maddy's loquaciousness (verbosity) with Dan's laconic nature (brevity). Dan is not characterized by lengthy explanations; rather, he is reticent and terse.
What are Maddy Rooney's defining characteristics as described in the play?
Answer: An elderly, outspoken woman suffering from ailments
Explanation: Maddy Rooney is portrayed as a gritty, septuagenarian woman characterized by her outspoken nature and the physical ailments she endures, such as rheumatism and heart trouble.
The name 'Miss Fitt' is interpreted as:
Answer: A pun suggesting she is a misfit and self-righteous.
Explanation: The name 'Miss Fitt' functions as a pun, suggesting she is not well-adjusted but rather a self-righteous misfit, embodying a detached and perhaps ironic perspective.
How does the play contrast Maddy and Dan's communication styles?
Answer: Maddy is loquacious, while Dan is laconic.
Explanation: The play establishes a distinct contrast between Maddy's loquacious, verbose communication style and Dan's laconic, terse manner of speaking, highlighting differences in their personalities and engagement.
Maddy Rooney's primary goal at the beginning of the play is to collect groceries for her husband's birthday dinner.
Answer: False
Explanation: Maddy Rooney's objective at the start of the play is to surprise her husband, Dan, by meeting him at the station on his birthday, not to collect groceries for a dinner.
During her walk, Maddy encounters Christy, who offers her a ride in his horse-drawn cart.
Answer: False
Explanation: Maddy encounters Christy, a dung carrier, who attempts to sell her manure. Her own hinny is reluctant to move, and Christy does not offer her a ride; rather, he is the one with the cart.
The smell of honeysuckle distracts Maddy during her walk, and she narrowly avoids being hit by a cyclist named Mr. Tyler.
Answer: False
Explanation: The smell of laburnum, not honeysuckle, distracts Maddy. During her encounter with Mr. Tyler, it is Connolly's van that nearly hits them, covering them in dust, not Mr. Tyler himself.
Mr. Slocum, a racecourse clerk, gives Maddy a ride in his car but accidentally kills a dog.
Answer: False
Explanation: Mr. Slocum, a racecourse clerk, does give Maddy a ride in his limousine. However, the unfortunate event that occurs is the accidental killing of a hen, not a dog.
Tommy, the station porter, helps Maddy when her dress gets caught in Mr. Slocum's car door.
Answer: True
Explanation: Tommy, the porter at Boghill station, assists Mr. Slocum in freeing Maddy's dress, which had become caught in the car door.
Maddy's description of the station stairs as a 'cliff' contrasts with the relatively flat terrain of her outward journey, highlighting the increased difficulty of the return.
Answer: True
Explanation: Maddy's characterization of the station stairs as a 'cliff,' echoed by Dan's 'precipice' and Miss Fitt's 'Matterhorn,' starkly contrasts with the level ground of her outward journey, effectively emphasizing the amplified challenges and perceived dangers of the return trip.
The 'dead hen' incident occurs when Mr. Slocum's car breaks down completely.
Answer: False
Explanation: The 'dead hen' incident occurs when Mr. Slocum's car runs over and kills a hen while driving Maddy. The car does experience a stall, but the hen's death is a separate event during the ride, not contingent on a complete breakdown.
Who is Christy, and what is his role in Maddy's first encounter?
Answer: A dung carrier attempting to sell manure to Maddy
Explanation: Christy is introduced as a dung carrier who attempts to sell manure to Maddy. His interaction highlights the mundane and often unpleasant realities encountered on Maddy's journey.
What sensory detail distracts Maddy during her walk, and what happens during her encounter with Mr. Tyler?
Answer: The smell of laburnum; they are nearly hit by a van.
Explanation: The smell of laburnum distracts Maddy. During her encounter with Mr. Tyler, they narrowly avoid being struck by Connolly's van, which subsequently covers them in dust.
Who offers Maddy a ride in his vehicle, and what unfortunate event occurs?
Answer: Mr. Slocum offers a ride in his limousine, and they kill a hen.
Explanation: Mr. Slocum, a racecourse clerk, provides Maddy with a ride in his limousine. During this journey, the car accidentally runs over and kills a hen.
What is Tommy's role at Boghill station?
Answer: He is the porter who assists Mr. Slocum with Maddy's dress.
Explanation: Tommy functions as the porter at Boghill station. He provides assistance to Mr. Slocum in extricating Maddy's dress when it becomes caught in the car door.
How does Maddy's description of the station stairs contribute to the play's themes?
Answer: It contrasts with her outward journey, highlighting increased difficulty and perceived danger.
Explanation: Maddy's description of the station stairs as a 'cliff' serves to heighten the sense of difficulty and danger, contrasting sharply with the relatively flat terrain of her outward journey and underscoring the arduous nature of the return.
The series of unreliable vehicles Maddy encounters, such as Christy's hinny and Slocum's car, foreshadow potential dangers associated with mass transportation like trains.
Answer: True
Explanation: The progression of problematic transport Maddy encounters—her difficult walk, Christy's reluctant hinny, and Slocum's stalled car—serves as a thematic foreshadowing of the potential unreliability and peril inherent in larger modes of transport, including the train.
Maddy recalls a story about a young girl who died because she had 'never really been born,' linking to themes of incomplete existence.
Answer: True
Explanation: During her walk, Maddy recounts a disturbing memory of a lecture concerning a girl who "never really been born," a narrative that resonates with the play's exploration of existential themes, including incomplete existence and the precariousness of life.
The characters Maddy and Dan laugh hysterically at the biblical quote about divine support, interpreting it as a genuine source of comfort.
Answer: False
Explanation: While Maddy and Dan do react to the biblical quote "The Lord upholdeth all that fall..." with laughter, this reaction is typically interpreted as a dark, existential response to their suffering, suggesting despair rather than genuine comfort.
Maddy's statement, 'We are alone. There is no one to ask,' reflects her belief in a supportive community and readily available guidance.
Answer: False
Explanation: Maddy's declaration, "We are alone. There is no one to ask," profoundly conveys a sense of isolation and existential questioning, suggesting a lack of external guidance or divine solace, rather than a belief in a supportive community.
The theme of death is explored through musical references like Schubert's *Death and the Maiden* and the mention of poisonous plants.
Answer: True
Explanation: The pervasive theme of death in *All That Fall* is indeed explored through various elements, including the musical reference to Schubert's *Death and the Maiden*, the poisonous nature of the laburnum tree, and recollections of deceased individuals and maritime disasters.
The absence of children is a source of sorrow for Maddy and Dan, and the play features the tragic death of a child.
Answer: True
Explanation: Childlessness is presented as a significant sorrow for Maddy and Dan. Furthermore, the play incorporates the tragic death of a child, underscoring themes of loss and the precariousness of life.
References to Dante Alighieri's *Inferno* appear in the play, such as characters cursing their conception and the steep station stairs being likened to Mount Purgatory.
Answer: True
Explanation: The play incorporates allusions to Dante's *Divine Comedy*, particularly *Inferno* and *Purgatorio*. Examples include characters cursing their conception and the station stairs being compared to Mount Purgatory.
The laburnum tree mentioned in the play is noted for its sweet-smelling flowers, which Maddy finds pleasant.
Answer: False
Explanation: While the laburnum tree is mentioned, its significance lies in its poisonous nature, not its pleasant scent. Maddy notes the "golden drizzle" of its blossoms, but the tree itself carries connotations of danger and death.
The theme of characters feeling 'not really there' is expressed by Miss Fitt and Maddy, suggesting existential detachment.
Answer: True
Explanation: The sensation of "not really there" is articulated by characters such as Miss Fitt and Maddy, reflecting a profound sense of existential detachment and questioning of their own presence and reality.
The phrase 'bawdy hour of nine' refers to a specific time when the train is scheduled to depart.
Answer: False
Explanation: The phrase "bawdy hour of nine," mentioned in relation to the train's lateness, is interpreted as a humorous, possibly sexual, reference rather than a scheduled departure time. It adds a layer of dark levity to the dialogue.
The 'clashing of couplings' is mentioned as a sound effect symbolizing the train's arrival and potentially birth imagery.
Answer: True
Explanation: The sound of 'clashing couplings,' associated with the train's arrival and the characters' exclamations, contributes to the play's complex layering of imagery, including potential symbolism related to birth and climax.
Maddy refers to the laburnum tree's blossoms as a 'silvery mist'.
Answer: False
Explanation: Maddy refers to the laburnum tree's blossoms as a "golden drizzle," not a "silvery mist." This description highlights the tree's visual impact and its association with both beauty and potential toxicity.
References to Dante Alighieri's *Inferno* appear in the play, such as characters cursing their conception and the steep station stairs being likened to Mount Purgatory.
Answer: False
Explanation: While Dante is referenced, the specific references mentioned in this question (cursing conception, station stairs as Purgatory) are more directly linked to Dante's *Inferno* and *Purgatorio* respectively, not solely *Inferno*. The question also mentions *Titanic* and *Lusitania* which are related to disaster, not Dante.
The title *All That Fall* directly references a biblical quote about divine protection, offering a message of hope.
Answer: False
Explanation: While the title *All That Fall* does reference a biblical quote concerning divine support, within the context of the play, it takes on a more somber meaning, reflecting the pervasive themes of suffering, failure, and mortality rather than offering a message of hope.
Dan Rooney describes Maddy's speech as 'struggling with a dead language,' implying its ineffectiveness.
Answer: True
Explanation: Dan Rooney's characterization of Maddy's speech as "struggling with a dead language" suggests that her mode of expression is perceived as ineffective or perhaps meaningless within their dire circumstances, alluding to a breakdown in meaningful discourse.
Dan's office at the terminus is described as a 'womb-tomb,' symbolizing a place of both comfort and stagnation.
Answer: True
Explanation: The description of Dan's office as a 'womb-tomb' powerfully symbolizes a location that is simultaneously a refuge (womb-like) yet also represents stagnation and a form of living death (tomb), reflecting the oppressive and lifeless nature of his environment.
The 'golden drizzle' is a metaphor used to describe the sound of rain during Maddy's journey.
Answer: False
Explanation: The term 'golden drizzle' is used by Maddy to describe the blossoms of the laburnum tree, not the sound of rain. This imagery connects the tree's visual beauty with its underlying toxicity.
What thematic significance is suggested by the series of problematic modes of transport Maddy encounters?
Answer: They hint at unreliability and peril in life's journeys, including mass transport.
Explanation: The sequence of unreliable transport Maddy encounters serves as a thematic device, foreshadowing potential dangers and unreliability not only in her immediate journey but also in broader aspects of life and mass transportation.
What unsettling memory does Maddy recall during her walk home, and what is its connection to the play's themes?
Answer: A lecture about a girl who was 'never really born.'
Explanation: Maddy recalls a lecture concerning a girl who "never really been born," a memory that resonates deeply with the play's exploration of themes such as existence, non-existence, and the fundamental nature of being.
How is the biblical quote 'The Lord upholdeth all that fall...' used in the play?
Answer: As a text followed by the characters' laughter, suggesting existential despair.
Explanation: The biblical quote is presented, but the characters' subsequent laughter transforms its meaning, suggesting an ironic or despairing response to suffering in a world perceived as lacking divine intervention.
Maddy's statement, 'We are alone. There is no one to ask,' primarily suggests:
Answer: A profound sense of isolation and questioning of divine presence.
Explanation: This declaration powerfully conveys Maddy's deep sense of isolation and her existential questioning regarding the presence or absence of divine guidance and solace.
What object does Jerry return to Mr. Rooney, and what is its potential symbolic significance?
Answer: A small ball, a motif of childhood grief.
Explanation: Jerry returns a small ball to Mr. Rooney, which is identified as a significant motif representing childhood grief, linking the play's themes of adult suffering to enduring early loss.
Which of the following is an example of the play engaging with themes of sex and desire?
Answer: Mr. Slocum's dialogue and Maddy's suggestive comments.
Explanation: Themes of sex and desire are subtly explored through suggestive dialogue, such as Mr. Slocum's comments and Maddy's remarks, hinting at underlying tensions and flirtatious undertones.
What is a key sorrow related to children mentioned in the play?
Answer: Maddy and Dan's childlessness.
Explanation: A central sorrow for Maddy and Dan is their childlessness, a theme that permeates the play and contributes to the overall atmosphere of loss and unfulfillment.
Which historical maritime disasters are referenced in the play?
Answer: The sinking of the *Titanic* and the *Lusitania*
Explanation: The play references the historical maritime disasters of the *Titanic* and the *Lusitania*, using these events to underscore themes of catastrophe, loss of life, and the perils of mass transport.
What does Dan Rooney mean when he describes Maddy's speech as 'struggling with a dead language'?
Answer: He implies her communication is ineffective or meaningless in their context.
Explanation: When Dan Rooney refers to Maddy's speech as "struggling with a dead language," he implies that her mode of expression is ineffective or lacks meaning within their current situation, possibly alluding to a broader breakdown of communication.
The description of Dan's office as a 'womb-tomb' suggests:
Answer: A location that is both a refuge and a symbol of living death or stagnation.
Explanation: The 'womb-tomb' metaphor for Dan's office encapsulates a dual symbolism: it is a refuge, akin to a womb, yet also represents stagnation and a form of living death, characteristic of his terminal location and perhaps his life.
Robert Pinget translated *All That Fall* into French, and the French title is *Tous les Tombeurs*.
Answer: False
Explanation: While Robert Pinget did translate *All That Fall* into French, the correct French title, with revisions by Beckett himself, is *Tous ceux qui tombent*, not *Tous les Tombeurs*.
Music plays a role in the play's structure, with its progression likened to the development section of a fugue.
Answer: False
Explanation: While music is structurally significant, the play's progression is likened to sonata form, encompassing exposition, development, and recapitulation, rather than the development section of a fugue.
Samuel Beckett requested that natural sounds be used exactly as recorded to enhance the play's realism.
Answer: False
Explanation: Beckett specifically requested that natural sounds be manipulated—slowed down, sped up, echoed, or fragmented—to reflect the characters' psychological states, rather than being used for strict realism.
The innovative sound experiments for *All That Fall* led to the creation of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.
Answer: True
Explanation: The groundbreaking sound design and experimental techniques employed for *All That Fall* were instrumental in the subsequent establishment of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.
Samuel Beckett believed adapting *All That Fall* for television or stage would enhance its core qualities.
Answer: False
Explanation: Samuel Beckett considered adapting *All That Fall* for visual media "unthinkable" and potentially "destructive" to its essence, which he believed was intrinsically tied to its auditory, radio-based form.
Despite Beckett's reservations, he readily approved all subsequent adaptations of *All That Fall* for visual media.
Answer: False
Explanation: Beckett was notably resistant to visual adaptations of *All That Fall*, viewing them as potentially detrimental to the play's unique qualities. While some adaptations occurred, his approval was not readily given for all of them.
Critics universally panned *All That Fall* upon its premiere, citing its bleakness.
Answer: False
Explanation: Contrary to universal panning, *All That Fall* received critical acclaim upon its premiere, with critics praising its "captivating, complex humanity" and Michael Billington considering it Samuel Beckett's best play.
The play's structure is compared to sonata form, mirroring the movements of Maddy's journey.
Answer: True
Explanation: The structure of *All That Fall* is indeed compared to sonata form, with its distinct sections corresponding to the exposition (outward journey), development (station wait), and recapitulation (return journey), mirroring musical composition.
Who translated *All That Fall* into French, and what is the correct French title?
Answer: Robert Pinget, *Tous ceux qui tombent*
Explanation: Robert Pinget undertook the French translation of *All That Fall*, with revisions by Beckett himself. The resulting French title is *Tous ceux qui tombent*.
What was Samuel Beckett's initial stance on adapting *All That Fall* for visual media?
Answer: He considered it 'unthinkable' and potentially destructive.
Explanation: Samuel Beckett initially viewed the prospect of adapting *All That Fall* for television or stage as "unthinkable," believing such a transition would fundamentally undermine the play's auditory integrity.
What was a significant outcome of the innovative sound experiments conducted for *All That Fall*?
Answer: The establishment of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.
Explanation: The pioneering sound design techniques developed for *All That Fall* were a direct catalyst for the creation of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, marking a significant advancement in audio production.
How does the play's structure mirror musical composition?
Answer: It is compared to sonata form, with distinct sections like exposition and recapitulation.
Explanation: The play's structure is frequently compared to sonata form, mirroring the musical progression through distinct movements such as exposition, development, and recapitulation, which align with the stages of Maddy's journey.