Discuss the dramatic devices Willy Russell uses in the zoo scene of ‘Our Day Out’. - page 3
Keywords: essay dramatic devices film our day out
By Jenny on 02/07/2009
Level: GCSE Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11)
Page Number: 3 of 5 pages: 1 2 3 4 5
children have to part from their new friends, and gives a clue as well to the shape of the impending problem, which was hinted at before.
The next scene is another short one and serves to emphasise the difference between the two main teachers on the trip, Mr. Briggs and Mrs. Kay.
“How many sugars … no sugar, thank you”. This passage shows how different they are. Mr. Briggs addresses her with the formal “Mrs. Kay” and this one short sentence forms his sole contribution to the conversation in this scene. In contrast, Mrs. Kay is relaxed telling him to “call her Helen” and freely conversing about her life.
Additionally, she speaks in short sentences making her seem approachable and friendly but finishes with ‘thank-you’ showing she is also polite. All this is to emphasise the contrast between them.
The next device also features Mrs. Kay and Mr. Briggs, talking about the children. “To tell you the truth … in animals”.
This piece of dialogue continues to explore the contrast between the two teachers. Mr. Briggs stereotypes the kids by the class they are in and assumes they wouldn’t be interested in the subjects other children are taught about.
I think that with this device Willy Russell aims to influence his audience with the idea that this type of stereotyping is wrong, both when it is actively acted upon and when it is just subconscious assumptions, while at the same time reminding them that they may be guilty of it themselves.
The device demonstrates the underlying moral theme running beneath the surface of this story.
His choice of language is also interesting, “to tell you the truth”, this implies that this is a reluctant admission, that Mr. Briggs is perhaps slightly ashamed of this belief and maybe attempts to hide it.
The following scene contains no dialogue; the stage directions say it all. “The animal pit is empty. The children have gone.” It’s a visual device and it gives us yet another clue to the problem ahead as the audience deduces where they’ve gone. The language used here is simple, two short sentences emphasising the undeniable simple facts – both the animals and children have gone.
Briggs’ first line in the following scene illustrates a start of a change of heart for him. “Don’t … back to school.” It appears that the children have honoured the trust that is so important to him and he seems to have
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