Blood Brothers Context and Themes

'Liverpool and Skelmersdale'

True or False? In the play, Skelmersdale and Liverpool have richer and poorer areas.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

True. In Liverpool, there is a "rough end" of town, but it is suggested there is also a "nicer" end, as the Lyonses live in a "large", "lovely" house. Similarly, in Skelmersdale, Mickey lives in an "estate" while Edward lives in a "big house on the hill".

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10. RL.11-12.10

'Liverpool and Skelmersdale'

Why were people relocated from Liverpool to Skelmersdale in the 1960s? (There are 2 correct answers.)

• Overcrowding

• Poor quality housing

• To segregate the classes

• To prevent crime

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.7

CCSS.RI.11-12.7

CCSS.RI.8.7

CCSS.RL.11-12.7

CCSS.RL.9-10.7

'Liverpool and Skelmersdale'

Mrs Johnstone says that in Skelmersdale "the washing stays clean on the line". What does this suggest about Liverpool?

Answer explanation

This suggests that there was a lot of air pollution in Liverpool, which would cause the washing on the line to become dirty.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.7

CCSS.RI.11-12.7

CCSS.RL.11-12.7

CCSS.RL.8.7

CCSS.RL.9-10.7

'Money and Social Class'

What three things does Mrs Johnstone appear with early on in the play that suggest she is working class: a 'brush, dusters and a ___ bucket'.

'Money and Social Class'

What does Mrs Lyons give Mrs Johnstone in order to buy her silence?

• five hundred pounds

• one hundred pounds

• eighty pounds

• fifty pounds

'Money and Social Class'

Edward decides to look up "_____ ___" in the dictionary, while Mickey has never even heard of a dictionary.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

'Fate and Superstition'

What is an example of how Mrs Lyons tries to alter fate?

• She makes sure Edward spends all his holidays abroad

• She buys Mrs Johnstone a house as far away from them as possible

• She moves to Skelmersdale to separate the brothers

• She bribes the Headmaster of Edward's school not to let Mickey attend.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.8.7

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10. RL.11-12.10

'Fate and Superstition'

True or False? Mrs Johnstone moves to Skelmersdale to follow Edward.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Mrs Johnstone is rehoused in Skelmersdale by the council.

'Fate and Superstition'

What superstition does Edward learn from Mickey? 'One magpie means ______'

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.7

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

'Childhood and growing up'

Which two phrases suggest the Johnstone children have difficult childhoods?

• They say "people laugh at our rags"

• They say "we've nothin' to wear"

• They say they're "starvin"

• They say "there's nothin' in"

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2