Literature Help: The Caucasian Chalk Circle

By Students' Academy

“The Caucasian Chalk Circle” by Bertolt Brecht was written in 1944. This play is a noticeable example of the playwright’s epic theatre.

The play presents a parable that revolves around a peasant girl. She rescues a baby and proves herself a better mother than the baby’s rich natural parents.

While writing the play, the playwright was living in the United States. It was written in German language. The play was translated into English by Brecht’s friend and admirer Eric Bentley.

Literature Help: The Caucasian Chalk Circle
Copyright
Chapter One: Introduction
Chapter Two: Plot Overview
Chapter Three: Characters
Chapter Four: Complete Summary
Act One
Act Two
Act Three
Act Four
Act Five
Chapter Five: Critical Analysis

• Language: English
• Publisher: Raja Sharma
• Release date: May 27, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310076909

Students' Academy

Easy study guides for the students of English literature.

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Literature Help: The Caucasian Chalk Circle

Copyright

Literature Help: The Caucasian Chalk Circle

Students' Academy

Copyright@2015 Students' Academy

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Chapter One: Introduction

The Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertolt Brecht was written in 1944. This play is a noticeable example of the playwright’s epic theatre.

The play presents a parable that revolves around a peasant girl. She rescues a baby and proves herself a better mother than the baby’s rich natural parents.

While writing the play, the playwright was living in the United States. It was written in German language. The play was translated into English by Brecht’s friend and admirer Eric Bentley.

The play was first performed at Carleton College, Minnesota, in 1948. After that several other productions of the play took place in several parts of the world.

The German premiere of the play took place in 1954 at the Theater am Schiffbauerdamm, Berlin.

The Georgian version of the play is often considered to be the best. It was performed at Rustaveli State Drama Theatre.

Now, The Caucasian Chalk Circle is regarded as one of the best plays written by Brecht. Even today, it remains the most regularly performed German play.

Chapter Two: Plot Overview

At the beginning of the play there is a Prologue. It describes a dispute over a valley. There are two groups of peasants who try to establish their claim over a valley that had been abandoned during the Second World War when the Germans had invaded the area.

It is revealed that one of the groups used to live in that valley. They herded their goats there. The other group happens to be from a nearby valley. They hope to plant fruit trees there.

To settle the dispute, a delegate has arrived. The fruit growers explain that they have got an elaborate plan to irrigate that valley and then produce huge amount of food there. In the same way, the goat herders claim that the land belongs to them because they have always lived there and herded their goats there.

Finally, the valley is given to the fruit farmers because they will make the better use of the land. A small party is held by the peasants. There is a