Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/2-1-2-dramatic-devices [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [IGCSE](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse.md) › [English Literature](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature.md) › [Edexcel IGCSE](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse.md) › Dramatic Devices # Dramatic Devices English Lit: Edexcel IGCSE The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, topic 2.1.2 ## Dramatic Devices Throughout the play, Stephens uses different dramatic techniques to help the audience experience the world from Christopher’s point of view – to dramatise the interior of Christopher Boone’s brain. ### Siobhan used as a narrator ![Siobhan used as a narrator](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-08/db4ee614-ecc8-4585-8b1f-f8af7c15e51d/thoughts-.png) - At times, Siobhan reads aloud from Christopher’s notebook, allowing us to hear Christopher’s thoughts. ### Flashbacks ![Flashbacks](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-01/4af6eaea-5b1e-424c-a82b-beec925d38b7/sandcastle-beach-.jpg) - Stephens uses flashbacks to show us key moments from Christopher’s past, usually about his mother, Judy. - For example, Christopher remembers his mother at the beach trying to encourage him to get in the water. It shows Judy trying to give Christopher as ‘normal’ a childhood as possible. - Christopher also remembers his father telling him that his mother is dead. This flashback shows us Christopher’s lack of emotion when he hears the news. ### Appearances ![Appearances](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-04/79c214c8-0b85-4754-a2b9-c5362c2a8cdd/underground-london-tube-.jpg) - At times, characters ‘appear’ on stage even though they are not physically present in the scene. - For example, Ed ‘appears’ and guides Christopher on to the London Tube even though he's actually in Swindon and does not know his son is in London. - Siobhan also ‘appears’ at key moments - e.g. helping Christopher to calm down during the exam. ### Significance of the appearances ![Significance of the appearances](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/517f300c-e208-4473-bce1-c646457752fe/man-thinking-forget.jpg) - These ‘appearances’ show how Christopher is using the coping strategies Ed and Siobhan have taught him: in remembering their advice, it is as if they are present with Christopher as he faces these challenges. ### Direct address ![Direct address](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/fec347c9-b23a-4dcd-87eb-91c3bda2ee57/speech-giving-speech-.jpg) - Christopher speaks directly to the audience at the end of the play. This is another sign that he is becoming more confident and independent. ## Dramatic Devices Throughout the play, Stephens uses different dramatic techniques to help the audience experience the world from Christopher’s point of view – to dramatise the interior of Christopher Boone’s brain. ### Stage design ![Stage design](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-08/b990a597-1c76-47b9-b4f1-24e0498fcf8f/square-paper-.png) - The stage in most productions is designed to look like a grid from a Maths exercise book. This helps us to see how Christopher ‘sees’ the world, almost like a mathematical problem which needs to be solved. The grid acts as a map of Christopher’s mind, allowing the audience to see his mental processes. ### Lighting ![Lighting](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-05/6b6100d8-eb7c-46da-bef7-13b1976a92fc/RightAngle%20(3).png) - Lighting is used to light up ‘routes’ or project words on to the stage. - In the final ‘Maths appendix’ scene, lighting is used to create the right-angled triangle which forms the basis for the difficult problem in his Maths A-level exam paper. - This use of lighting again makes Christopher’s ‘thought processes’ visible to an audience. ### Movement and dance ![Movement and dance](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/4407f3c6-8450-4bf8-b4d5-df0aa104b703/shutterstock_378343003.jpg) - Simon Stephens has described the way Christopher thinks as **“balletic”** (like a ballet), highlighting the grace and strange beauty of his thought processes. - At key moments in the play, Christopher and other cast members move in dance-like patterns and rhythms, for example when Christopher boards the Tube train in London. ### Voices ![Voices](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-05/7881fa93-9c13-4679-89b0-2a9389934257/speaker-megaphone-man-.jpg) - Stephens uses pre-recorded voices which call out the names of all the signs and announcements Christopher can see and hear. - This helps us to experience how confused and overloaded Christopher feels by all the new sights and sounds. ## Test yourself on Dramatic Devices - When does Christopher directly talk to the audience? - What is the stage in most productions designed to look like? - What does Stephens use pre-recorded voices for? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/36b9c16b-ef8e-44b2-a41f-f08361a4bbde/section/e87babd5-1c7c-430b-995b-3842d13b3dad/session) - Previous topic: [2.1.1 Writing About the Text as a Playscript](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/2-1-1-writing-about-the-text-as-a-playscript.md) - Next topic: [2.2.1 Genre](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/2-2-1-genre.md) ## English Lit: Edexcel IGCSE The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time contents ### 1 Introduction & Context - 1.1 Novel & Play - [1.1.1 Mark Haddon's Novel (2003)](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/1-1-1-mark-haddons-novel-2003.md) - [1.1.2 Simon Stephens' Adaptions (2012)](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/1-1-2-simon-stephens-adaptions-2012.md) - 1.2 Christopher's Autism - [1.2.1 Christopher's Autism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/1-2-1-christophers-autism.md) - [1.2.2 End of Topic Test - Introduction & Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/1-2-2-end-of-topic-test-introduction-and-context.md) ### 2 Form, Structure & Language - 2.1 Dramatic Devices - [2.1.1 Writing About the Text as a Playscript](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/2-1-1-writing-about-the-text-as-a-playscript.md) - [2.1.2 Dramatic Devices](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/2-1-2-dramatic-devices.md) - 2.2 Genre & Structure - [2.2.1 Genre](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/2-2-1-genre.md) - [2.2.2 Structure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/2-2-2-structure.md) - 2.3 Language - [2.3.1 Language](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/2-3-1-language.md) - [2.3.2 End of Topic Test - Form, Structure & Language](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/2-3-2-end-of-topic-test-form-structure-and-language.md) ### 3 Text Summary & Analysis - 3.1 Part One - [3.1.1 Discovering the Dead Dog & Christopher's Autism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-1-1-discovering-the-dead-dog-and-christophers-autism.md) - [3.1.2 The Policeman & Siobhan](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-1-2-the-policeman-and-siobhan.md) - [3.1.3 The Police Station & Ed's Entry](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-1-3-the-police-station-and-eds-entry.md) - [3.1.4 Mother's Death & Beginning the Investigation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-1-4-mothers-death-and-beginning-the-investigation.md) - [3.1.5 Ed's Frustrations & Revisiting Mrs Alexander](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-1-5-eds-frustrations-and-revisiting-mrs-alexander.md) - [3.1.6 Remembering Judy & "Fight" Scene](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-1-6-remembering-judy-and-fight-scene.md) - [3.1.7 Judy's Letters](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-1-7-judys-letters.md) - [3.1.8 Ed's Confession](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-1-8-eds-confession.md) - [3.1.9 End of Topic Test - Part One](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-1-9-end-of-topic-test-part-one.md) - [3.1.10 End of Topic Test - Part One 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-1-10-end-of-topic-test-part-one-2.md) - 3.2 Part Two - [3.2.1 Preparing to Run Away & Train Station](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-2-1-preparing-to-run-away-and-train-station.md) - [3.2.2 On the Train & Arriving in London](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-2-2-on-the-train-and-arriving-in-london.md) - [3.2.3 On the Tube & Arriving at Judy's House](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-2-3-on-the-tube-and-arriving-at-judys-house.md) - [3.2.4 Policeman, Ed Visits & Tensions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-2-4-policeman-ed-visits-and-tensions.md) - [3.2.5 Back in Swindon & New Beginnings](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-2-5-back-in-swindon-and-new-beginnings.md) - [3.2.6 The End & Maths Appendix](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-2-6-the-end-and-maths-appendix.md) - [3.2.7 End of Topic Test - Part Two](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-2-7-end-of-topic-test-part-two.md) - [3.2.8 End of Topic Test - Part Two 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-2-8-end-of-topic-test-part-two-2.md) ### 4 Themes - 4.1 Themes - [4.1.1 Independence](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/4-1-1-independence.md) - [4.1.2 Parenting](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/4-1-2-parenting.md) - [4.1.3 Order & Disorder](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/4-1-3-order-and-disorder.md) - [4.1.4 End of Topic Test - Themes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/4-1-4-end-of-topic-test-themes.md) ### 5 Recap: Main Quotes - 5.1 Part One - Quotes - [5.1.1 The Dead Dog & Christopher's Autism - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/5-1-1-the-dead-dog-and-christophers-autism-quotations.md) - [5.1.2 The Policeman & Siobhan - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/5-1-2-the-policeman-and-siobhan-quotations.md) - [5.1.3 The Police Station & Ed's Entry - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/5-1-3-the-police-station-and-eds-entry-quotations.md) - [5.1.4 Mother's Death & Investigation - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/5-1-4-mothers-death-and-investigation-quotations.md) - [5.1.5 Ed's Frustrations & Mrs Alexander - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/5-1-5-eds-frustrations-and-mrs-alexander-quotations.md) - [5.1.6 Remembering Judy & "Fight" Scene - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/5-1-6-remembering-judy-and-fight-scene-quotations.md) - [5.1.7 Judy's Letters & Ed's Confession - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/5-1-7-judys-letters-and-eds-confession-quotations.md) - 5.2 Part Two - Quotes - [5.2.1 Preparing to Run Away & Train Station - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/5-2-1-preparing-to-run-away-and-train-station-quotations.md) - [5.2.2 On the Train & Arriving in London - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/5-2-2-on-the-train-and-arriving-in-london-quotations.md) - [5.2.3 On the Tube & Judy's House - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/5-2-3-on-the-tube-and-judys-house-quotations.md) - [5.2.4 Policeman, Ed Visits & Tensions - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/5-2-4-policeman-ed-visits-and-tensions-quotations.md) - [5.2.5 Back in Swindon & New Beginnings - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/5-2-5-back-in-swindon-and-new-beginnings-quotations.md) - [5.2.6 The End & Maths Appendix - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/5-2-6-the-end-and-maths-appendix-quotations.md) - 5.3 Themes - Quotes - [5.3.1 Independence - Quotes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/5-3-1-independence-quotes.md) - [5.3.2 Parenting - Quotes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/5-3-2-parenting-quotes.md) - [5.3.3 Order & Disorder - Quotes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/5-3-3-order-and-disorder-quotes.md)