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Blood Brothers Practice Questions

Blood Brothers Practice Questions

Subject: English

Age range: 14-16

Resource type: Assessment and revision

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Last updated

16 February 2020

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blood brothers essay questions aqa

A simple grid featuring 36 Blood Brothers practice questions for AQA GCSE English Literature Paper 2 Section A: Modern Texts.

The grid contains six questions from the 2017, 2018 and 2019 series, and two from the AQA Sample Set 2014. The remaining questions cover a range of character and theme questions.

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Plot summary - AQA Test questions

Blood Brothers by Willy Russell is centred around Mickey and Edward, twins who are separated at birth. How will their different upbringings affect their adult lives?

Part of English Literature Blood Brothers

More guides on this topic

  • Plot summary quiz
  • Themes - AQA
  • Themes quiz
  • Characters - AQA
  • Characters activity
  • Form, structure and language - AQA
  • Form, structure and language quiz
  • Dramatisation - AQA

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GCSE: Blood Brothers

  • English Literature
  • Willy Russell
  • Blood Brothers

"And do we blame superstition for what came to pass? Or could it be what we, the English, have came to know as class?" Which do you think is more responsible for the deaths of Mickey and Edward in Willy Russell's Blood Brothers.

"And do we blame superstition for what came to pass? Or could it be what we, the English, have came to know as class?" Which do you think is more responsible for the deaths of Mickey and Edward in Willy Russell's Blood Brothers.

Sam Plackett "And do we blame superstition for what came to pass? Or could it be what we, the English, have came to know as class?" Which do you think is more responsible for the deaths of Mickey and Edward? Blood Brothers is a play set in Liverpool, Willy Russell wrote it in 1983. Willy Russell has wrote plays based in Liverpool because this is where he was brought up as a kid in a working class family, Blood Brothers relates to this and aspects of class that he would have experienced when he lived there. Willy Russell grew up just outside Liverpool, he left school when he was only 15 to become a hairdresser, it was in his early twenties when he decided to go back to school and take his O levels. His plays were about everyday circumstances and his portrayal of life then. In this essay I intend to find out the reason for Mickey and Edward's deaths, whether it was superstition or class, I will evaluate both of the possible causes and how they are used within the play, then I will have to make a conclusion to which side of the argument proves to be the correct one. The main sources of superstition revolve around Mrs Johnstone because she is the character who believes that when certain things happen consequences will unfold due to this. Willy Russell points these superstitious events out to the audience, by using one of the characters to mention this or a song will be used

  • Word count: 2330
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English

"Blood Brothers" is set in Liverpool in the early eighties.

"Blood Brothers" is set in Liverpool in the early eighties.

"Blood Brothers" is set in Liverpool in the early eighties. The play follows the life of two main characters: Eddie Lyons and Mickey Johnstone. The play has proved extremely popular with audiences of all ages. In this essay I aim to consider all the dramatic qualities of the play and how Willy Russell uses them to promote the dramatic effectiveness of the play. In "Blood Brothers" the characters fall into two stereotypical groups: the working class Johnstones and their associates, and the middle class Lyons. It seems ironic that although the Johnstone family live on the breadline they start off cheerfully, compared to the Lyons who never seem content. This makes the audience what is wrong in the lives of both families and created dramatic tension. The main characters, Eddie and Mickey are people that we can relate to: we feel pathos with them as they face the trials and tribulations of life. Russell uses pathos to involve the audience so they feel pity when Mickey loses his job, fear at the end of the play when the shooting scene takes place, and experience childhood joy when Eddie and Mickey share jokes. Humour, in its various forms, plays a large part in æBlood BrothersÆ. It keeps the audience interested and balances out the conflict and sadness in the play. Throughout the play we experience different types of humour such as the use of a pun when Mickey and Eddie are

  • Word count: 892

"Blood Brothers", a play by Willy Russell, was set in the late sixties/early seventies and was written in 1981

"Blood Brothers", a play by Willy Russell, was set in the late sixties/early seventies and was written in 1981

DRAFT COPY OF BLOOD BROTHERS ESSAY "Blood Brothers", a play by Willy Russell, was set in the late sixties/early seventies and was written in 1981. It is a Liverpudlian West Side Story about twin brothers being separated at birth because their mother cannot afford to keep them. She gives one of them away to a wealthy woman who longs for a child. The two children grow up as friends in very different environments, not bothered about the old tale about a curse that states that if twins are separated at birth, they will die if brought back together during their lives. But a quarrel between the two boys soon brings trouble. Russell uses the play, including the scene that I am going to be focusing on, to put across views about 20th century society and to show the importance of class and life in Liverpool in the late sixties and early seventies. He also highlights the importance of environment and the way society, at the time, regarded single mothers. Single mothers were thought of as lower class characters that have many children born of different fathers. At the time that "Blood Brothers" was set, politics would've been really bad. The government probably wouldn't have cared or been bothered about the poor living conditions that some of the weaker families were living in. This would've had a large effect on those weaker families, such as the Johnstones, because of lack of money

  • Word count: 1713

Blood Brothers

> "Well how come you got everything...and I got nothing". This quote by Mickey highlights the relationship between class and opportunity which is what this essay is going to be focusing on. Willy Russell is a modern playwright but throughout history these themes have appeared in literature, for example world war one often revels the fact that men of a more lower class were sent to the front line whereas men from a wealthy class made all the decisions. The playwright uses a number of techniques to make the message accessible to the audience. Some of these include dramatic devices, language and the overall content of the play. The relationship between class and opportunity is that the opportunities you receive is based upon the class you are represented by. > Blood Brothers is a powerful illustration of how divisions in social class can affect the opportunity an individual has in life. It is a tragic musical written by the fantastic writer Willy Russell. Mrs Johnstone, a lonely woman whose husband has abandoned her and a houseful of mouths to feed, learns she is expecting AGAIN, however what she doesn't learn till later on is that she is having twins which adds to the life problems that her life comes to struggle with. She works for Mrs Lyons who is desperate for kid s but isn't able to have any her self, when she finds out about Mrs Johnstone's pregnancy she uses it to her

  • Word count: 815

Blood Brothers interview with Willy Russell

Blood Brothers interview with Willy Russell

Mr. Russell, welcome to our program, Writers' Question Time. Could you briefly tell us what your play is about? Thank you for inviting me to the show. "Blood Brothers" is about the story of twin brothers separated at birth. The twins' working-class mother - Mrs. Johnston - is too poor to keep both twins, so gives one to her very rich employer Mrs. Lyons, who cannot have children of her own. Mrs. Johnston is extremely superstitious, and Mrs. Lyons discovers this early on when Mrs. Johnston finds shoes on the table. Mrs. Lyons takes advantage of this, and tells Mrs. Johnston 'that if either twin learns he was one of a pair they shall both die immediately!' Until the twins are about eight years of age, Mrs. Lyons and Mrs. Johnston have no problem keeping their secret shut away. They then find that the twins have met, and have become very good friends without realising they are related to each other. Mrs. Lyons persuades her husband to move the family away from the city to the countryside. Later in the play, Mrs. Johnston and her children get moved from the slums, closer to the house of Mrs Lyons. As the twins discover each other once again, Mrs. Lyons' mental health begins to deteriorate, and paranoia starts to kick in. With Mrs. Johnston, anxious as ever that her secret will slip out, the general mood of the play becomes more sinister, and the ending is tragic. Mr. Russell,

  • Word count: 2740

Who is to blame for the tragic deaths of the twins in Willy Russell's 'Blood Brothers'?

Who is to blame for the tragic deaths of the twins in Willy Russell's 'Blood Brothers'?

Who is to blame for the tragic deaths of the twins in Willy Russell's 'Blood Brothers'? Blood Brothers, a story of twins separated at birth, growing up in completely different environments, but with the same genetic composition, "never knowing that they shared one name, 'till the day they died, when a mother cried, my own dear sons lie slain", is a compelling story of which we will discuss in detail, of who is to blame for their tragic deaths. There are many character in 'Blood Brothers', which can be blamed for the tragic deaths; Mrs.Lyons, the rich, devious woman, Mrs.Johnstone, the under-privileged mother of eight, Sammy, Mickey's brother and his influence, and even superstition and fate. First of all, we will discuss the case of Mrs.Lyons, a vindictive, manipulative woman who has a caring side to her, for the desperation of the love for a child. Indeed she did start all of this deception, by offering to take one of Mrs. Johnstone's baby's and lying to Mrs.Johnstone that she could see her child everyday. She also lied to her husband that the child was theirs and not an adopted baby (as Mr.Lyons hated the fact of adopting children). Mrs.Lyons decided to take it upon herself to have the child as her own, "He need never guess" was her response to Mrs.Johnstone, about the deceit...could this be the story of the twins' deaths; being cruelly separated at birth by Mrs.Lyons, not

  • Word count: 2139

The Function of the Narrator in Blood Brothers

The Function of the Narrator in Blood Brothers

The Function of the Narrator in Blood Brothers The narrator's role in 'Blood Brothers' is quite unusual. The convention of the narrator in most plays is such that they are usually brought on to introduce the next part of the play and then move offstage and the play continues. However, in Blood Brothers the narrator is a physical character and is on stage all of the time. At the beginning of the play the narrator says, "So did y' hear the story of the Johnstone twins?" This indicates that he is the storyteller. His presence at every scene thereafter shows that he is telling us about that part of the story. The narrator is on stage all the time, watching the characters and often lurking in the background, and this makes him seem a sinister and threatening character, which contrasts with other plays where the narrator is usually neutral. Also, as the narrator already knows the end of the story and is telling it back to the audience he can also suggest what is going to happen in the future which has a disquieting effect. Although the narrator knows what is eventually going to happen he doesn't try and prevent it in any way and even seems to be pushing the characters into performing their actions. The narrator speaks in rhyming couplets, which is akin to the supernatural characters used by Shakespeare; this would link with his prophetic knowledge and his cold presence around

  • Word count: 1225

Blood Brothers - The Narrator

Blood Brothers - The Narrator

To what extent do you think the Narrator is presented as a moral guardian or a figure of doom in the play? Give reasons for your opinions. Throughout the play of Blood Brothers I think that the Narrator is presented as a moral guardian. It could be argued that he is a figure of doom because of his actions, but I disagree with this statement because I see him in a different light and I feel that Willy Russell wants his audience to look beyond his actions and see the positive reasons why he delivers bad news. I believe that the Narrator makes his actions obvious and that Willy Russell has made sure that his audience see him as evil straight away because of he says and does. But I think that Willy Russell is hoping that his audience look deeper and don't judge him based on his outward thoughts and sayings. I feel that there is something hidden underneath all the bad forebodings which he gives. There is something else to him and I think this is why I can see him as a moral guardian. From the opening of Act one he sets the scene. 'He steps forward and starts to recite the prologue to his audience. In this soliloquy he tells 'the story of the Johnstone twins...how one was kept and one was given away...never knowing that they shared one name, till the day they died.' This soliloquy is very effective in the fact that it allows the Narrator to prepare the audience for the

  • Word count: 2281

What is the importance of the narrator in blood brothers?

What is the importance of the narrator in blood brothers?

What is the importance of the narrator in Blood Brothers? One of the most compulsory characters in Willy Russell's 1983 play Blood Brothers is the narrator. He is the main dramatic device and is critical for the audience. He makes the plot constantly flow and explains loose ends throughout the story. As well as being the narrator he plays various minor roles. He sings many songs, which show characters' emotions, and introduce and develop important themes. The narrator's main focus is to explain the story and what's happening. After long sections of speech he will briefly explain what's just happened, in case the actions don't make it clear. He also makes sure you fully understand the story. One example is just after Mickey shoots someone. The gun goes off and straight after the narrator says, "There's a man lies bleeding on a garage floor." This explains someone has just been shot and because you don't see it, you might not have known it had happened without him. He appears to be very omniscient by dropping hints about things that are going to happen in the future. This is one of the many devices he uses, to reveal the plot. The narrator plays many small roles in Blood Brothers as well as being the main character. Some examples are the milkman, Mrs Johnstone's ex husband, the policeman, the gynaecologist and the judge. All of these roles seem to bring negativity and bad

  • Word count: 938

The German Job

The German Job

The German Job By Tom Prendergast I could tell he was aiming bottom left. I just knew by the way he was standing nervously, waiting for the whistle. Putting the shiny white ball on the perfectly marked spot, stepping slowly back, lining up the crucial shot. Everyone silent. Ten other players hoping their schoolboy dreams would come true. Seventy six thousand fans from around the world packed into the Olympiastadion Berlin waiting anxiously for one single kick. Tens of millions watching carefully from houses, pubs and streets and then there was us, ten rows up, right behind the goal with a perfect view of the fear in the taker's eyes, ready to jump up in joy or drop in despair and after coming all this way we needed something special. All that long, hard labour, all of those brainless, dangerous risks and the bits of luck we had along the way, but to get so close to our dream only to be crushed and by the worst possible team, but........... wait, I better tell you how we got here first. My name is Jonathan Francis, also know as John, Jono, Frankie, Francy, Franny, King Kong - don't ask, but most people call me Johnny. I've always had this dream, since I was little enough to kick a ball, to go to a World Cup Final and see England win against the Germans in the final - for obvious reasons, but I always knew that it wasn't going to be very likely with it always being

  • Word count: 2727
  • Fewer than 1000 73
  • 1000-1999 112
  • 2000-2999 39

Teacher Reviews

Peer reviews.

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Nature vs. Nurture

Nurture in blood brothers.

The question of nature vs. nurture is one of the key debates explored throughout the play. Essentially, how much of a person’s life comes from inherited genetics (nature), and how much is down to their upbringing (nurture)?

Illustrative background for Edward's upbringing

Edward's upbringing

  • Edward Lyons grows up in a rich and well-connected household, and his parents have provided him with many opportunities to be successful.
  • As a result, he goes on to study at university and becomes successful in local government as “Councillor Eddie Lyons” (Act Two).

Illustrative background for Mickey's upbringing

Mickey's upbringing

  • Mickey, on the other hand, grows up in desperate poverty.
  • Although very loving towards him, his mother, Mrs. Johnstone, is unable to provide him with the same opportunities as Edward.
  • Furthermore, he receives an inferior education and, from a young age, witnesses the criminality of his older brother, Sammy.

Illustrative background for Mickey's opportunities

Mickey's opportunities

  • “Mickey: Leave me alone will y’? I can’t cope with this. I’m not well.” (Act Two).

Nature in Blood Brothers

Illustrative background for Edward's attraction to the Johnstone family

Edward's attraction to the Johnstone family

  • Russell presents a key question as to why Edward is so drawn to the Johnstone family, while he seems not to be fully connected to his own.

Illustrative background for Edward's relationship with Mrs. Lyons

Edward's relationship with Mrs. Lyons

  • “If you loved me you’d let me go out with Mickey because he’s my best friend. I like him more than you.” (Act One).

Illustrative background for Edward preferring Mrs. Johnstone

Edward preferring Mrs. Johnstone

  • Meanwhile, there are several occasions where Edward expresses his admiration for Mrs. Johnstone. He considers her to be “smashing” (Act One) and “fabulous” (Act Two).

Illustrative background for Reasons for Edward preferring Mrs. Johnstone

Reasons for Edward preferring Mrs. Johnstone

  • It could be that Edward finds his own home environment oppressive, and that he simply enjoys the freedom of the Johnstone household where children are allowed to express their feelings and behave in a way that Mrs. Lyons would consider to be indecent.
  • Alternatively, however, Russell could be suggesting that Edward has a biological connection to the Johnstone family which is drawing him ever closer towards them.

Illustrative background for Similarities between Mickey and Edward

Similarities between Mickey and Edward

  • Both of the boys like swearing and using bad language.
  • They both enjoy playing the same kinds of games, mostly involving toy guns, inspired by cowboy and gangster films of the time.
  • Mickey and Edward both have strong feelings for Linda.
  • Both of them are suspended from their schools, suggesting a natural tendency to rebel against authority.

1 Context & Author

1.1 Context

1.1.1 Setting

1.1.2 Political Background

1.1.3 Education & Work

1.1.4 Marilyn Monroe & Pop Culture

1.1.5 Family

1.2.1 Willy Russell

1.2.2 End of Topic Test - Context & Author

2.1 Act One

2.1.1 Overview: Introduction to Mrs Johnstone & Lyons

2.1.2 Analysis: Introduction to Mrs. Johnston and Lyons

2.1.3 Overview: The Birth of Mickey & Edward

2.1.4 Analysis: The Birth of Mickey & Edward

2.1.5 Overview: Mickey Playing at Home

2.1.6 Overview: Mickey & Edward as Seven-year-olds

2.1.7 Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Seven-year-olds

2.1.8 Overview: Mickey & Edward as Seven-year-olds 2

2.1.9 Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Seven-year-olds 2

2.1.10 End of Topic Test - Act One

2.1.11 End of Topic Test - Act One 2

2.2 Act Two

2.2.1 Overview: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers

2.2.2 Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers

2.2.3 Overview: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 2

2.2.4 Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 2

2.2.5 Overview: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 3

2.2.6 Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 3

2.2.7 Overview: Mickey & Edward as Adults

2.2.8 Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Adults

2.2.9 End of Topic Test - Act Two

2.2.10 End of Topic Test - Act Two 2

3 Characters

3.1.1 Mickey

3.1.2 Mickey as a Damaged Adult

3.2.1 Edward

3.2.2 Edward 2

3.2.3 End of Topic Test - Mickey & Edward

3.3.1 Linda

3.3.2 Linda 2

3.4 Mrs Johnstone

3.4.1 Mrs Johnstone

3.4.2 Mrs Johnstone 2

3.5 Mrs Lyons

3.5.1 Mrs Lyons

3.5.2 Mrs Lyons 2

3.5.3 End of Topic Test - Linda & Mothers

3.6 Mr Lyons

3.6.1 Mr Lyons

3.7.1 Sammy

3.8 The Narrator

3.8.1 The Narrator

3.9.1 Minor Characters

3.9.2 End of Topic Test - Other Characters

3.10 End of Topic Sessions

3.10.1 Grade 9 - Key Characters

4.1 Parents & Children

4.1.1 Parents & Children

4.2 Growing Up

4.2.1 Growing Up

4.3 Friendship & Brotherhood

4.3.1 Friendship & Brotherhood

4.3.2 End of Topic Test - Parents, Growing Up, Friends

4.4 Fate & Superstition

4.4.1 Fate & Superstition

4.5 Nature vs. Nurture

4.5.1 Nature vs. Nurture

4.6 Social Class

4.6.1 Social Class

4.6.2 End of Topic Test - Fate, Upbringing & Class

5 Literary Techniques

5.1 Structure

5.1.1 Structure

5.2 Tragedy

5.2.1 Tragedy

5.3 Dramatic Irony

5.3.1 Dramatic Irony

5.4 Imagery

5.4.1 Imagery

5.5 Character & Voice

5.5.1 Character

5.6 Music & Lyrics

5.6.1 Music & Lyrics

5.7 Accent & Dialect

5.7.1 Accent & Dialect

5.7.2 End of Topic Test - Literary Techniques

5.7.3 End of Topic Test - Literary Techniques 2

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Blood Brothers (Grades 9–1) York Notes GCSE Revision Guide

GCSE Study Notes and Revision Guides

Blood brothers (grades 9–1) york notes, willy russell, examiner's notes, you assessed this answer as grades 8–9 . hover over the highlighted text to read the examiner’s comments., question: how does russell present ideas about friendship in the play.

Write about:

  • how the nature of friendship changes due to circumstance or time
  • how Russell presents ideas about friendship.

Russell puts Mickey and Edward’s friendship at the centre of the play, ‘Blood Brothers’. The breakdown of that friendship leads to the ending which the play builds up to from the moment the Narrator reveals it in the opening scene.

Mickey and Edward become friends within minutes of their first meeting. They decide that, because they share a birthday, they will seal their friendship by becoming blood brothers. Neither of them realises that they are in fact twins, separated at birth. Mickey is even prepared to stand up to his older brother Sammy when he calls Edward a ‘poshy’. Mickey says that Edward is his ‘best friend’, showing that he is prepared to stand up to his impressive, intimidating big brother for this friendship.

Russell shows huge differences between the twins because of their very different upbringings. Mickey swears freely, which Edward thinks is ‘smashing’. The adjective ‘smashing’, and Edward’s plan to look up the swear word in the dictionary, strongly suggest that Edward comes from a middle class, educated background very different from Mickey’s. However, their differences are irrelevant to the two best friends.

Mickey and Edward continue to be best friends in their teenage years with many parallels in their lives. For example, both of them are suspended from their very different schools when they challenge the authority of their teachers. This shows again that, although they are different, they have very similar attitudes and personalities, reminding the audience that they are not just friends, but really are blood brothers.

One thing they have in common is their love of Linda. Mickey is too shy to tell her and Edward hides his feelings because of his friendship with Mickey. This is ironic because after the breakdown of their friendship near the end of Act Two, it is Edward’s affair with Linda which drives Mickey to shoot Edward dead by mistake.

Mickey and Edward’s friendship cannot stand the pressures of adulthood. As they turn eighteen, Russell highlights how they are drifting apart because of their different backgrounds. Edward goes to university while Mickey gets a job in a factory. When Edward returns from university, he finds that Mickey is married to Linda, who is pregnant, and that Mickey has been made redundant. They argue because Edward cannot understand the pressures that Mickey is under. Mickey calls him a ‘kid’ who hasn’t grown up because he ‘didn’t need to’. The word ‘kid’ suggests that Edward has not changed since the beginning of the play. He has a good life and does not really understand what is happening in Mickey’s life.

After this point in the play there is very little dialogue between Edward and Mickey, showing how far apart their lives have drifted and how damaged their friendship is. Edward becomes a councillor, while Mickey loses his job, commits a crime, is sent to prison and becomes hooked on antidepressants. This was a problem in the early eighties when the play was written. However Russell also highlights the damage it does to friendship and to family. It leads to Mickey’s final confrontation with Edward when they discover their true relationship.

The twins’ friendship and brotherhood cannot save their lives at the end of the play. Russell builds up their friendship for most of the play, creating a heart-warming story of two very different people’s bond of friendship. When their social class and circumstances drive that friendship apart, it is all the more tragic.

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Blood Brothers

Revision booklet on Blood Brothers

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Revision and revision questions

'Blood Brothers' Exam Questions- plan them, and write them, using appropriate timings.

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This small booklet examines some key quotations for 'Blood Brothers'. Add these to your notes, or add more ideas to these quotes.

  • Quote explosions - SS Blood Brothers.docx

Below is the audio of a lecture on some complex ideas related to 'Blood Brothers'. Use the presentation next to the audio to keep track of the ideas and quotations that are discussed. Be aware that most of the ideas discussed here are Level 8/9 concepts.

  • Blood Brothers Aiming Higher Lecture - SS.pptx

Use these essay questions to practice essay planning (and indeed, writing).

  • Blood Brothers Revision Essays.pptx 2mb

Example grade 4/5 response to a Blood Brother's question.

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    blood brothers essay questions aqa

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  1. AQA GCSE Blood Brothers Predictions 2024 with Miss Adams Teaches

  2. Blood Brothers

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  4. Blood Brothers Unveiled A Deep Dive into Willy Russell's Masterpiece

  5. Plot Summary Of Blood Brothers By Willy Russell

  6. BLOOD BROTHERS (Official Video)

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  1. PDF AQA GCSE English Literature Paper 2: 'Blood Brothers' Sample Essay

    AQA GCSE English Literature Paper 2: 'Blood Brothers' Sample Essay Questions 1. How does Russell use the characters of Mrs Johnstone and Mrs Lyons in Blood Brothers to explore ideas about class? Write about: • how Russell presents Mrs Johnstone and Mrs Lyons • how Russell uses these characters to explore ideas about class.

  2. Blood Brothers

    How far does Russell present Mrs Johnstone as a strong female character in Blood Brothers? Write about: how far Russell presents Mrs Johnstone as a strong female character. [30 marks] How did you do? Did this page help you? Exam paper questions organised by topic and difficulty. Our worksheets cover all topics from GCSE, IGCSE and A Level courses.

  3. Blood Brothers

    Paper 2 requires you to answer four questions (three on poetry) in 2hrs 15min. That means you have approximately 45 minutes to plan, write and check your Blood Brothers essay. Paper 2 is worth 96 marks and accounts for 60% of your overall GCSE grade. The Blood Brothers essay is worth 34 marks in total, because it also includes 4 marks for ...

  4. Blood Brothers: Themes

    The boys, without knowing their kinship, become blood brothers, suggesting an innate connection between them. They refuse to stay apart despite being instructed to, highlighting their bond. When the boys are teenagers they are both rebellious at school, suggesting their similar nature.

  5. Sample Answers

    Mickey's resentment builds when he learns that Edward has taken the 'one thing left in my life': Linda. However it is Mrs Johnstone's revelation that they are twins which finally drives Mickey's resentment to its peak: 'I could have been him!'. Despite this jealousy of Edward, and the shooting that follows, Mickey tells Edward ...

  6. PDF Gcse English Literature

    • an AQA 12-page Answer Book. [Turn over] A . 2 . BLANK PAGE . 3 . INSTRUCTIONS ... The PAPER REFERENCE is 8702/1M. • Answer ONE question. ... DO SO . 4 Modern prose or drama Questions Page JB Priestley ' An Inspector Calls ' 0 1 - 0 2. 6 - 7 : Willy Russell ' Blood Brothers ...

  7. PDF Gcse English Literature

    • Answer ONE question from SECTION A, ONE question from SECTION B and BOTH questions in SECTION C. • You must NOT use a dictionary. INFORMATION • The marks for questions are shown in brackets. • The maximum mark for this paper is 96. • AO4 will be assessed in SECTION A. There are 4 marks available for AO4 in SECTION A in addition to

  8. Blood Brothers Practice Questions

    Blood Brothers Practice Questions. Subject: English. Age range: 14-16. Resource type: Assessment and revision. File previews. docx, 155.67 KB. A simple grid featuring 36 Blood Brothers practice questions for AQA GCSE English Literature Paper 2 Section A: Modern Texts. The grid contains six questions from the 2017, 2018 and 2019 series, and two ...

  9. PDF Gcse English Literature

    INSTRUCTIONS. Use black ink or black ball-point pen. Do NOT use pencil. Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The PAPER REFERENCE is 8702/1M. Answer ONE question. You must NOT use a dictionary.

  10. Blood Brothers

    Themes - AQA. A theme is an idea that runs throughout a text. In Blood Brothers, the themes of social class and inequality, superstition and fate, and violence are explored.

  11. Blood Brothers: AQA Rapid Revision Guide (Grades 9-1) York Notes

    Printed Edition. Free P&P. £3.99. Quickly catch up on what you need to know about Blood Brothers. Refresh and sharpen your study, writing and memory skills. Rapidly review all the essential topics, themes, contexts and quotations. Make the most of your time and focus on what matters most. Actively revise with colourful ideas maps and quick ...

  12. Blood Brothers: Context

    Each of the below topics links directly to Russell's ideas in Blood Brothers: Conservative ideology; Social class; Gender; Conservative ideology. Within the play, Russell criticises Conservative ideology regarding families:; In 1981 when Russell wrote the play, England was governed by a staunch Conservative government under Margaret Thatcher; Conservative ideology endorses the nuclear ...

  13. Plot summary

    AQA; Plot summary - AQA Test questions. Blood Brothers by Willy Russell is centred around Mickey and Edward, twins who are separated at birth. How will their different upbringings affect their ...

  14. Sample Answers

    This is an excellent analysis of the theme of friendship. There is good understanding of literary techniques, and sound analysis of language and its effect. Links have been made to other features of the play, particularly to the central theme of class and also to the playwright's main purpose. A sophisticated range of vocabulary has been used ...

  15. PDF Question paper: Paper 2 Modern texts and poetry

    •an AQA 16-page Answer Book. Instructions •Use black ink or black ball-point pen. Do not use pencil. •Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is 8702/2. •Answer one question from Section A, one question from Section B and both questions in Section C. •You must not use a dictionary. Information

  16. Blood Brothers

    There are many character in 'Blood Brothers', which can be blamed for the tragic deaths; Mrs.Lyons, the rich, devious woman, Mrs.Johnstone, the under-privileged mother of eight, Sammy, Mickey's brother and his influence, and even superstition and fate. First of all, we will discuss the case of Mrs.Lyons, a vindictive, manipulative woman who has ...

  17. Nature vs. Nurture

    Mickey and Edward both have strong feelings for Linda. Both of them are suspended from their schools, suggesting a natural tendency to rebel against authority. The question of nature vs. nurture is one of the key debates explored throughout the play. Essentially, how much of a person's life comes from inherited genetics (nature), and how much ...

  18. Blood Brothers: Writer's Methods & Techniques

    Blood Brothers is a two-act musical, which means part of the narration is in the form of a song. At the end of Act I, Mrs Johnstone's move is shown with a montage: minor characters celebrate the departure of the Johnstones, the children pack and Mrs Johnstone sings about her hopeful future; Mickey sings about his admiration for his troubled older brother in Act I

  19. Sample Answers

    They decide that, because they share a birthday, they will seal their friendship by becoming blood brothers. Neither of them realises that they are in fact twins, separated at birth. Mickey is even prepared to stand up to his older brother Sammy when he calls Edward a 'poshy'. Mickey says that Edward is his 'best friend', showing that ...

  20. Blood Brothers

    Quote explosions - SS Blood Brothers.docx. Below is the audio of a lecture on some complex ideas related to 'Blood Brothers'. Use the presentation next to the audio to keep track of the ideas and quotations that are discussed. Be aware that most of the ideas discussed here are Level 8/9 concepts. Blood Brothers Aiming Higher Lecture - SS.pptx.

  21. AQA

    Question paper (Modified A4 18pt): Paper 2 Shakespeare and unseen poetry - June 2022. Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 204 KB. Mark scheme: Paper 1P Poetry anthology - June 2022. Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 243 KB. Question paper: Paper 1N The 19th-century novel - June 2022.

  22. Blood Brothers: Plot Summary

    Blood Brothers is a two-act musical set in Liverpool, England, written by Liverpudlian playwright Willy Russell. The play follows the lives of twin brothers from their birth in the 1960s through to adulthood in the 1980s. At the play's outset, we are introduced to Mrs. Johnstone, a working-class woman, who is pregnant, single and struggling.

  23. Blood Brothers: Key Quotations

    Social class. The musical, Blood Brothers, explores the influence of social class on an individual's ability to determine their own future. The play presents the twins' tragic lives from birth to death, presenting the influences of both privilege and discrimination on the families' emotional and physical well-being.