logo

86 pages 2 hours read

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1962

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Introduction

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

  • Genre: Fiction; drama; dark comedy
  • Originally Published: 1962
  • Reading Level/Interest: College/Adult
  • Structure/Length: 3 acts; approximately 272 pages; approximately 3 hours of running time
  • Protagonist/Central Conflict: The play is set in a small New England college town and centers on George, a history professor in his late 40s, and his wife, Martha. The conflict arises from their volatile relationship, which they expose in front of a younger couple, Nick and Honey, leading to a night of intense confrontation, deception, and revelation.
  • Potential Sensitivity Issues: Contains strong language; alcohol abuse; sexual themes; intense emotional confrontation; elements of psychological manipulation

Edward Albee, Author

  • Bio: Born 1928; died 2016; adopted by wealthy theater owner family; expelled from Trinity College; moved to Greenwich Village to pursue writing; emerged as a critical playwright in the American Theatre; faced controversies for his often explicit and confrontational work; known for his exploration of illusion versus reality; Pulitzer Prize for Drama for A Delicate Balance (1967), Seascape (1975), and Three Tall Women (1994)
  • Other Works: The Zoo Story (1958); The Death of Bessie Smith (1959); The Sandbox (1960); The American Dream (1961); Tiny Alice (1964); A Delicate Balance (1966); Seascape (1975); Three Tall Women (1991); The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? (2002)
  • Awards: New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Play (1963); Tony Award for Best Play (1963 for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf; 2002 for The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?)

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 86 pages of this Study Guide

Plus, gain access to 8,550+ more expert-written Study Guides.

Including features:

+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools