Close analysis of extract A* from the play Black watch' by Gregory Burke - Essay Example

Topic: Close Analysis of Extract A* from the play "Black watch by Gregory Burke and Date of Submission:The Black Watch has a lot of elements of performance that are intended to bring meaning to the audience. There is the language which has been used as a central unifying factor. Without a common language, there is no result to be achieved. Language is used to show the pace of the actions in the play. The interruption of mortar bombs is illustrated by use of language describing the moves (Burke, 2007, 9).

Narration has been used to tell the audience what happens in the play. For instance, when the narrator tells of the mortar bomb explosions which make Nabsy, Kenzie and Macca dive for cover. Through this narration, the audience connects the moves in the play and this fosters comprehension (Burke, 2007, 10).The speech directions have been used to tell the actor how to say the lines. They help in enhancing fluency in the play. Stage directions are used to tell us what is happening on stage. For example, when the sergeant enters we are notified (Burke, 2007, 11).

The actions are well explained to the audience so that he or she connects the movements and their meaning as done on the stage. There are explosions that are used as off stage noises. They are represented by recurring imagery which is done to represent the mortar bombs that scare the Black Watch community (Burke, 2007, 10). John Humphrys uses soliloquy by speaking for a long time in stage. He says things that require reactions of the other characters. The language he uses invites actions because he says things that need to be answered by the other members of the Black Watch community (Burke, 2007, 8).

Entrances and exits in the play are used to show that there are movements in the play. It is imperative to note the points at which the characters exit and enter the stage because they help in highlighting their different roles in the play instead of just listening to what they say (Burke, 2007, 11). The play is divided in scenes and acts for instance, Camp Incoming. Camp Incoming is a new scene which is in the act. It is differentiated from the rest of the play by use of a capital letter heading.

This shows that there is a change of acts in the play which require a different way of approach apart from the one that was in provision there before. Symbolism has been used in the play whereby the north region where the soldiers were sent is a symbol of death. It is referred to as ‘a triangle of death’. This is because three soldiers died in that region as a result of suicide bombers, which injured eight soldiers (Burke, 2007, 8). Prose and verse technique has been used where the mood of the characters can be told from the manner in which they talk.

The short verses are different from the prose used by Humphrys. Comic scenes are written in prose whereas characters of low status do not speak in verses. Recurring imagery and words have been used to show the explosions of the bombs. This shows the regular explosions until the new soldiers are told that it is a welcome sign by the existing soldiers (Burke, 2007, 11). Reference Burke, G, (2007), Black Watch, Faber and Faber, London. Pp. 8-11.