Add your own ‘scenes’ into Act 1 and Act 2.

Why have you chosen to divide the play where you have?

Add the Scenes – Act II

ESSAY QUESTION:How does the character of Mrs Lyons

develop throughout the play?

Mrs Lyons is not a ‘fixed’ character: she changes throughout the play, which stretches over 30 years.Under the following headings, chart the way that she changes.

Chart the Changes

Beginning of the play Pre-Edward With baby Edward

7-year-old Edward Teenage Edward Grown-up Edward

Section of the play:

Key character traits:

Motivations/excuses:

Quotations:

Section of the play:

Key character traits:

Motivations/excuses:

Quotations:

Section of the play:

Key character traits:

Motivations/excuses:

Quotations:

Section of the play:

Key character traits:

Motivations/excuses:

Quotations:

Section of the play:

Key character traits:

Motivations/excuses:

Quotations:

Section of the play:

Key character traits:

Motivations/excuses:

Quotations:

Mrs Lyons

How does Mrs Lyons change throughout Blood Brothers?

What kind of person is she? Which of the following words do you think apply?

ArrogantMature

Childish

Lonely

Obsessive

Dangerous

MadMotherly

Impulsive

Thoughtful

Paranoid

Sensible

Victim

Over-thinker Thoughtless

Deserted

Clingy

Example Assessment Criteria

• Explanation of character.

• Use of relevant examples to demonstrate understanding of character.

• Evaluation of selected examples.

• Communicates ideas effectively using correct terminology, and organises material clearly. Accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar.

For your evidence, use Mrs Lyons’ speech, stage directions, and what other characters say about her.

PEE for this essay

• Point

• Evidence

• Explanation

• Language Features

• Audience

Ways to introduce your evidence.

Point. For example, Russell writes, ‘…

Point. This is shown when she says, ‘…

Point. The audience see this when Mickey says, ‘

Point. Mrs Lyons is described as a ‘…

Point. When she finds out ___ she is ‘…

PEE for this essayAt the beginning of the play, Mrs Lyon’s is lonely, and desperately wants a family. She tells Mrs Johnstone that ‘we bought such a large house for the – for the children – we thought children would come along’. She finds her home too big because her husband is away with work a lot, and she is living in it alone. She explains that she and her husband expected to have children together, and clearly sounds disappointed.Russell does not include many stage directions to indicate how Mrs Lyons would have spoken particular lines. However, from her stuttering and repetition, the audience can see that Mrs Lyons is clearly uncomfortable and upset.

PEE for this essayAt the beginning of the play, Mrs Lyon’s is lonely, and desperately wants a family. She tells Mrs Johnstone that ‘we bought such a large house for the – for the children – we thought children would come along’. She finds her home too big because her husband is away with work a lot, and she is living in it alone. She explains that she and her husband expected to have children together, and clearly sounds disappointed. Russell does not include many stage directions to indicate how Mrs Lyons would have spoken particular lines. However, from her stuttering and repetition, the audience can see that Mrs Lyons is clearly uncomfortable and upset.

How does the character of Mrs Lyons develop throughout the play?

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• Intro – setting of the play – idea of class. Who is Mrs Lyons? Who does she contrast with?

• p. 2 – what is she like at the beginning of the play? Is she happy/lonely/content/polite? Why?

• p. 3 – what is she like when she has baby Edward? Is she secure and happy now? How does she get him? How does she treat Mrs J?

• p. 4 – what is she like when Edward is a young boy/teenager? Is she a good mother? How is she different to earlier in the play? (i.e. more paranoid? More secure? More superstitious?)

• p. 5 – what is she like at the end of the play? What is her final act? What does this tell you about her? Who does it affect and is this what she intended?

• Conc – sum up how she’s changed and why. Did she find happiness? Did she deserve to? What does Russell want you to think of her/what is he saying about class? Give your opinion.