1. Blood Brothers Learning Goal: to examine the background of the play;
to revise themes and issues in the play.

2. Which character is represented below
Which character is represented below? State what links the pictures to the character.

3. Which character is represented below
Which character is represented below? State what links the pictures to the character.

4. Design your own pictogram for a character from the play.

5. Background to the Author
Willy Russell was from Liverpool.
He was from a working class background.
Russell left school at 15 with no qualifications.
He did various difficult and low paid jobs – he trained to be a hairdresser.
Russell then decided to go back to school.
He eventually got all his qualifications and became a teacher.

6. Background to the Play: CONTEXT
The play was written in the 1980s. In is set in the late 1970s and progresses into the 1980s as the boys grow up.
In the 80s there was high unemployment.
Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister.
She introduced ‘free market’ policies which were good for companies and factories but not good for ordinary workers.
Liverpool, where the play is set, had particular problems with unemployment.

7. ACT II – Correct order
Mickey as a teenager; Edward off to prep school.
Sammy fare-dodging, Edward’s school and Mickey’s school.
Mickey and Edward – awkward teenager song; porn movie.
Mrs. J and Mrs. L , confrontation they fight over knife.
Linda, Mickey, Edward and policeman
Mickey and Linda married, Lyons sacks Mickey
Sammy plans a robbery with Mickey
Mickey arrested and imprisoned, given pills
Linda contacts Edwards, Mrs. L points this out to Mickey

8. Write a short summary describing the ending of the play.
Sum up in no more than 3 sentences what happens at the end of the play. Don’t miss anything out.

9. What does Willy Russell want the audience to feel at the end of the play? Write a paragraph explaining what you think he wants us to feel and why?

10. Themes in Blood Brothers
Write a list of all the themes you can think of.
Next list the characters next to the themes that you think concern those particular characters.
You have 3 minutes.

11. Social Class Write a definition of class in your English books.
“Or could it be what we, the English, have come to know as class?”
‘Class’ means a mixture of things.
Write a definition of class in your
English books.

12. Social Class Mickey and Eddie are genetically identical.
They were born EXACTLY the same.
The only reason they turn out differently is their upbringing.
The two families, the Johnstone’s and the Lyons’ are meant to represent two different social classes – the workers and the factory owners.
This is shown in many ways.

13. In Blood Brothers what are the most important differences between the Johnstone family and the Lyons family? GIVE EXAMPLES (quotes) IF YOU CAN. Make a note of this in your books.

14. Nature and Nurture
Although the two boys are brought up differently, similar things happen to them in the play.
Mrs. Lyons is always worried that Eddie will escape from her ‘nurturing’ influence, and go back to his ‘natural’ family and way of life.
The two boys are seen to have a connection and a friendship that would not ‘normally’ happen if they did not have something they don’t know about in common.

15. POINT – what do you want to say about the text?
EVIDENCE – a pertinent (relevant) quote from
the text.
EXPLANATION – explain why that quote proves
your point, and include any techniques the author might
have used to get their message across.
EXPLORATION - include your opinion and why the
author used that technique, how effective it was.

16. Does Willy Russell portray the two classes equally
Does Willy Russell portray the two classes equally? Or is he more interested in a particular class?
Bullet point 6 points in your English books. You will need these for a PEEE paragraph later. 

17. Now leave at least half a page.

18. Brothers THIS IS CALLED DRAMATIC IRONY: When the audience
We know that Mickey and Eddie are brothers,
but they don’t (until the very end). How does
this add to the suspense created in the play?
THIS IS CALLED DRAMATIC IRONY: When the audience
knows more than the main characters.
Discuss and bullet point you answer with a
partner. Then answer this question in your
English books. USE QUOTES. Make reference to dramatic
irony.

19. Fate
“but y’know the devil’s got your number...” How important are fate and superstition with the play Blood Brothers? Find examples to back up your answer.

20. Superstition
Superstition is at first only associated with Mrs. Johnstone and seen as a symbol of her lack of education.
Later Mrs. Lyons starts to believe in the superstitions as her own guilt gradually makes her a little bit mad.
The superstition Mrs. Lyons makes up about twins separated at birth dying if they find out, eventually comes true.

21. Escape Eddie escapes from his poor family by being adopted.
Mrs. Lyons tries to escape what she has done by moving away.
Mrs. Johnstone escapes some of her problems by being moved out of the inner city.
Willy Russell has escape as a theme in lots of his other work, for example, ‘Educating Rita’, ‘Our Day Out’, ‘Shirley Valentine’

22. Does Willy Russell portray the two classes equally
Does Willy Russell portray the two classes equally? Or is he more interested in a particular class?
Initially, Willy Russell explores how class can make a big difference to people’s lives and happiness.
Mrs Johnstone is … Russell shows this through …
For example, “…” shows … However, Mrs Lyons is …
This is shown through … For example, “…” shows …
This idea is carried on through … Their class affects their education, … , …
Mickey … Eddie …

23. Love
Mickey Eddie Linda Select four quotes and comment on them, to illustrates Russell’s views on love and marriage.

24. Empathy task Why does Linda marry Mickey?
How might things have been different if Eddie
had proposed to her instead?
Write a dramatic monologue that explores
Linda’s feelings at these points when;
Eddie leaves for University (pg 77);
She finds out she is pregnant with Mickey’s baby( pg 81);
Mickey loses his job (pg 82);
She meets up with Eddie (pg 87);
Mickey gets sent to jail (pg 90);
She visits him in prison (pg 91);
She fights with Mickey about the pills (pg 93);
She meets up with Eddie (pg 95);
She realises what Mickey is going to do (pg 97);