Aims - To prepare for the extract section of GCSE Literature mock exam - To become familiar with plot, theme and character, structure, language - To consider effectiveness of opening Copyright © 2009 englishteaching.co.uk

ACT 1 The play opens on a council chamber, two dead bodies are lying on stretchers surrounded by police and onlookers. As the narrator explains the story, the onlookers slowly start to exit, leaving only the narrator and a grieving woman on stage (Overture). What is gained by showing us the ending at the start? Tell me it’s not true Copyright © 2009 englishteaching.co.uk

THE STORY OF BLOOD BROTHERS... Act 1 Synopsis- First Part - The narrator speaks as though telling an old story. What is effect of this? - Why does he use rhyme? - Why does the narrator use questioning here? Copyright © 2009 englishteaching.co.uk ‘So did y’hear the story of the Johnstone twins?’

NARRATOR (speaking): So did y’hear the story of the Johnstone twins? As like each other as two new pins, Of one womb born, on the self same day, How one was kept and one given away? An’ did you never hear how the Johnstones died, Never knowing that they shared one name, Till the day they died, when a mother cried My own dear sons lie slain. MRS JOHNSTONE: An did y’ never hear of the mother, so cruel. There’s a stone in place of her heart? Then bring her on and come judge for yourselves How she came to play this part. Copyright © 2009 englishteaching.co.uk

Mrs Johnstone sings us the story of her life and how she became a mother of seven by the age of 25. She explains how her husband left her for another woman and she is expecting another baby. Copyright © 2009 englishteaching.co.uk Marilyn Monroe Why is this told as a song? Consider what we learn about characters, setting, themes Look at the language used- humour, use of dancing as a metaphor, and Marilyn Monroe as an icon.

Copyright © 2009 englishteaching.co.uk She comes home from the hospital to find men taking away ordered items she couldn't pay for, and sings of how everything slips away from her, even one of her babies (Easy Terms). Mrs Johnstone gives birth to two boys, Michael and Edward. Mrs Johnstone reluctantly agrees as Mrs Lyons says she will be able to see the child every day at work. Mrs Lyons learns of this and as she is unable to have children of her own, persuades Mrs Johnstone to give her one of the twins (My Child). Mrs Johnstone learns that she is in fact expecting twins; she is extremely worried that the welfare will take some of her children away as she cannot afford to look after them all. Mrs Lyons' husband is away on business for nine months. Mrs Johnstone gets a job cleaning the house of a rich woman, Mrs Lyons.

What is the root cause of Mrs Johnstone’s problems? Copyright © 2009 englishteaching.co.uk