Stoppard's borrowed fragments : three plays of pastiche

The purpose of this study was to define and identify pastiche as a literary collage technique used by the playwright, Tom Stoppard. This paper is a compilation of names, dates, styles, techniques, philosophies, and plots which Stoppard used in writing three of his most popular plays: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Jumpers, and Travesties. In each play, pastiche is discussed by dividing the many items which Stoppard borrowed into two categories, character and language.

Stoppard's plays are often discussed as being parodies, travesties and cliches. Unfortunately, his plays are rarely explained as being examples of pastiche. Three of the most extensive critics used for this study are Joan Fitzpatrick Dean, Thomas R. Whitaker, and Jim Hunter. With the aide of these authors, this writer was able to bring together a list of items which Stoppard borrowed for his plays of pastiche. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Jumpers, and Travesties are literary collages containing items which originated elsewhere, from authors and events such as William Shakespeare, Samuel Beckett, Oscar Wilde, James Joyce, World War I, Dadaism and Zeno.