What style of language was the caucasian chalk circle play written in?

Answer 1

The Caucasian Chalk Circle uses a variety of different language styles in order to get its point across, both its obvious moral, and then political, ones.

Firstly, the narrative is handled not by a traditional narrator but instead a singer, meaning that the segments of the play are divided by short, melodic intervals.

This echoes Brecht's time in the cabaret, as the singer serves the role of an 'MC', whom would have introduced different acts throughout the night.

It's also significant because of how much it plays into Brecht's Epic Theatre: By separating each segment with singing, Brecht perpetuates his 'Distancing Effect'.

It makes the audience very aware that they're watching a play, which is important for Brecht because of the didactic nature of his work: He wants people to think about the play for what it is, opposed to losing themselves in the characters (In this way, he was the anti-Stanislavski.)

This choice also allowed for great periods of time to be skipped in an instance, for example:

"THE SINGER: As she sat by the stream to wash the linen

She saw his image in the water, and his face grew dimmer

As the months passed by.

As she raised herself to wring the linen."

Secondly, dialogue itself is written in two differing forms: The lower and lower-middle classes (Serfs, as they would've been called) that inhabit Grusinia talk as you and I do, in fluid and perfectly eloquent flow.

This is because the lower classes are meant to represent us as a viewer. Once again, this is due to the didactic nature of Brecht's plays: He's trying to get across a message of Communism by making characters we're meant to feel sympathetic towards speak as we do.

This is meant to bring us together, and unite us beneath the same banner.

In contrast, however, the upper classes speak in, to quote Azdak (when he's mocking the Fat Prince's Nephew), a 'jerky, clipped manner of speech'.

This is to draw a line between us, the people, and the upper classes (who are the unequivocal 'bad guys' throughout the play, just as they are in the eyes of Communism.)

A couple of good examples of this jerky manner of speech are as follows:

"THE NEPHEW: Quiet! Now pass sentence. Must be hanged. Hanged by the neck. Having lost the war. Sentence passed. No appeal."

"THE FUGITIVE: Am hunted. Ask for undivided attention. Make proposition."

"AZDAK: Young man, seriously advise not to fall publicly into jerky, clipped manner of speech. Can't be employed as watchdog if howl like wolf. Got it?"

It also helps us identify a character's status in society quickly (such as with The Nephew), because more often than not, a character introduced by Brecht will disappear just as quickly as they'd arrived, and characterisation needed to be rapid.

Answer 2

"The Caucasian Chalk Circle" play was written in the style of epic theatre by German playwright Bertolt Brecht. This style emphasizes using theatrical techniques to provoke critical thinking and social change among the audience.