Blood Brothers Summer Homework Due September 2019
To reinforce your understanding and help you prepare for literature paper 2 next year, create a Blood Brothers
revision booklet. Make sure it’s neat and well presented so that it is helpful to you next year when you’re
revising.
You MUST include:
CON Context: Include at least 5 important details and explain how they link to the text.
CON Willy Russell: Include at least 5 important details about his life, background and viewpoints, link these details to the text.
SU Summary: Write summaries for Act 1 and Act 2, track what happens to the characters, the development of themes and
notice how the play opens and ends. You could: write this in paragraphs, bullet points or as a graphic novel
etc. The important thing is that you understand what happens and when.
Characters: Create a mind map or character page for each of the important characters. Include: 3-5 quotes for each
character; important events; how they change; themes they are linked to and explain their function in the play
(why did Russell include them?). Include these characters:
Mrs Johnstone
Mickey Johnstone
Sammy Johnstone
Linda
Mrs Lyons
Mr Lyons (use 2 quotes for him)
Edward Lyons
The Narrator
Themes: Create mind maps on these themes:
Childhood/Coming of Age
Social Class/Money
Education
Nature/Nurture
Superstition/Fate
Crime/Violence
S Structure and Form: Make notes on the form and structure used and what impact this has. How does it help Russell to get his ideas
across? Think about: why Russell chose to write Blood Brothers as a musical; the use of songs; dialogue; stage
directions; the prologue; use of time e.g. the seven year gap between the twins being separated and meeting
again and the differences between the first and second act.
Include any other details you feel are relevant.
2
Write down 5 important contextual details and explain how they are reflected in the play.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Write down 5 important details about his life, background and viewpoints, link these de-
tails to the text.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
(CON)
(CON)
3
ACT ONE
Write summaries for Act 1 and Act 2, track what happens to the characters, the develop-
ment of themes and notice how the play opens and ends. You could: write this in para-
graphs, bullet points or as a graphic novel etc. The important thing is that you understand
what happens and when.
ACT TWO
(SU)
4
Three adjectives to describe her:
(P IN)
Quote 1: (E)
Quote 2: (E)
Quote 3: (E) What happens to her in the play?
(LM SR)
Which themes is she linked to? (WM)
What is her function in the play? Why is she
important? (WM WA S)
Three adjectives to describe him:
(P IN)
Quote 1: (E)
Quote 2: (E)
Quote 3: (E) What happens to him in the play?
(LM SR)
Which themes is he linked to? (WM)
What is his function in the play? Why is he im-
portant? (WM WA S)
5
Three adjectives to describe him:
(P IN)
Quote 1: (E)
Quote 2: (E)
Quote 3: (E) What happens to him in the play?
(LM SR)
Which themes is he linked to? (WM)
What is his function in the play? Why is he im-
portant? (WM WA S)
Three adjectives to describe her:
(P IN)
Quote 1: (E)
Quote 2: (E)
Quote 3: (E) What happens to her in the play?
(LM SR)
Which themes is she linked to? (WM)
What is her function in the play? Why is she
important? (WM WA S)
6
Three adjectives to describe her:
(P IN)
Quote 1: (E)
Quote 2: (E)
Quote 3: (E) What happens to her in the play?
(LM SR)
Which themes is she linked to? (WM)
What is her function in the play? Why is she
important? (WM WA S)
Three adjectives to describe him:
(P IN)
Quote 1: (E)
Quote 2: (E)
What happens to him in the play?
(LM SR)
Which themes is he linked to? (WM)
What is his function in the play? Why is he im-
portant? (WM WA S)
7
Three adjectives to describe him:
(P IN)
Quote 1: (E)
Quote 2: (E)
Quote 3: (E) What happens to him in the play?
(LM SR)
Which themes is he linked to? (WM)
What is his function in the play? Why is he im-
portant? (WM WA S)
Three adjectives to describe him:
(P IN)
Quote 1: (E)
Quote 2: (E)
Quote 3: (E) What happens to him in the play?
(LM SR)
Which themes is he linked to? (WM)
What is him function in the play? Why is he
important? (WM WA S)
8
Characters linked to this theme Quotes to show the theme (E)
1.
2.
3.
Writer’s message? (WM)
Effect on the audience? (ER)
Childhood / Coming Of Age
Characters linked to this theme Quotes to show the theme (E)
1.
2.
3.
Writer’s message? (WM)
Effect on the audience? (ER)
Social Class / Money
9
Characters linked to this theme Quotes to show the theme (E)
1.
2.
3.
Writer’s message? (WM)
Effect on the audience? (ER)
Education
Characters linked to this theme Quotes to show the theme (E)
1.
2.
3.
Writer’s message? (WM)
Effect on the audience? (ER)
Nature / Nurture
10
Characters linked to this theme Quotes to show the theme (E)
1.
2.
3.
Writer’s message? (WM)
Effect on the audience? (ER)
Superstition / Fate
Characters linked to this theme Quotes to show the theme (E)
1.
2.
3.
Writer’s message? (WM)
Effect on the audience? (ER)
Crime / Violence
11
Why is it written as a musical?
Why does Russell include the prologue?
How is the first act different from the second?
Make a list of all the songs and explain what the songs represent.
Any other interesting details:
(S)
12