Blood Brothers (AQA GCSE English Literature)

Exam Questions

5 hours125 questions
11 mark

What does the Narrator’s prologue at the beginning of the play foreshadow about the fate of the Johnstone twins?

  • The twins will have a tragic ending.

  • The twins will grow up together and live happy lives.

  • The twins will be separated at birth but later reunite successfully.

  • The twins will never find out they are related.

Did this page help you?

21 mark

How does Mrs Johnstone's financial situation influence her decision to give up one of her twins?

  • She is paid to give up one of her twins.

  • She dislikes the idea of having twins and prefers to raise only one child.

  • She feels pressured by Mrs Lyons, who threatens her with legal action.

  • She is struggling to support both children.

Did this page help you?

31 mark

Why does Mrs Lyons move her family to the country in Blood Brothers?

  • She is running away from legal problems in the city.

  • She dislikes the city and wants a more peaceful life in the countryside.

  • She wants to keep Edward away from Mickey and the influence of Mrs Johnstone.

  • She believes Edward needs a change of environment for his education.

Did this page help you?

41 mark

What is the significance of the locket Mrs Johnstone gives to Edward?

  • It signifies Mrs Lyons’ influence over Edward.

  • It represents Mrs Johnstone’s desire to control Edward’s future.

  • It is a keepsake meant to distance Edward from his birth family.

  • It symbolises the hidden connection between Edward and Mickey.

Did this page help you?

51 mark

Why does Mickey confront Edward at the council offices with a gun?

  • Mickey believes Edward is responsible for his financial difficulties.

  • Mickey is driven by jealousy and rage after learning about Linda’s affair with Edward.

  • Mickey wants to force Edward to confess to their mother about their twin connection.

  • Mickey is seeking revenge for losing his job at the factory.

Did this page help you?

61 mark

How does Mickey’s involvement in the robbery with Sammy affect his life?

  • It allows him to escape his financial troubles and build a better life.

  • It leads to his arrest, contributing to his mental deterioration and eventual tragic end.

  • It helps him gain respect and leadership within his community.

  • It has no significant impact on his life or the lives of those around him.

Did this page help you?

71 mark

How does the class difference between Mickey and Edward impact their lives as they grow older?

  • It creates tension and ultimately leads to their tragic downfall.

  • It strengthens their friendship and helps them understand each other better.

  • It has no impact on their relationship as adults.

  • It ensures that Edward has a more successful life, while Mickey remains content with his own.

Did this page help you?

81 mark

What is the significance of Mickey's declining mental health after losing his job?

  • It is due to Edward’s betrayal and the class divide between them.

  • It demonstrates the damaging effects of poverty and lack of opportunity.

  • It shows his inability to cope with Linda’s pregnancy.

  • It represents his guilt over helping Sammy with the robbery.

Did this page help you?

11 mark

How does Mrs Johnstone's decision to give away one of her twins illustrate her struggle with poverty?

  • She is forced to do so by the welfare agency.

  • She believes it is the only way to give one of her children a better life.

  • She is manipulated into it by Mrs. Lyons' wealth and status.

  • She does not want the responsibility of raising two children.

Did this page help you?

21 mark

What does the growing divide between Mickey and Edward as they reach adulthood represent?

  • Mrs Johnstone's failure to keep them together.

  • Their personal differences and lack of shared interests.

  • The inevitable impact of social class on relationships.

  • Edward’s desire to leave behind his working-class roots

Did this page help you?

31 mark

How does Mrs Lyons' manipulation of Mrs Johnstone reflect the theme of ambition in Blood Brothers?

  • It shows how Mrs Lyons' ambition to have a child leads her to act selfishly.

  • It shows that Mrs Johnstone is too weak to resist.

  • It represents Mrs Lyons' desire to improve her own life at any cost.

  • It highlights the contrast between the two women's lives.

Did this page help you?

41 mark

What does Mrs Johnstone's decision to give away one of her twins suggest about her views on ambition?

  • She believes that Edward will have a better life with the Lyons family, showing she has given up hope of offering him a prosperous future.

  • She gives Edward away to relieve herself of the financial and physical burden of raising two children in impoverished circumstances.

  • She sees no difference between the lives Edward and Mickey will lead, showing she lacks ambition for her children.

  • She feels confident that she can provide an equally good life for Mickey, demonstrating ambition for both her children.

Did this page help you?

51 mark

How does Linda’s involvement with Edward suggest an alternative path for her ambition compared to Mickey?

  • Linda pursues Edward out of loyalty to Mickey, hoping that Edward might improve their lives together.

  • Linda’s relationship with Edward shows her desire for stability, something Mickey can no longer offer.

  • Linda becomes romantically involved with Edward because she no longer has ambition for her future.

  • Linda’s relationship with Edward is driven by her desire to ruin his toxic friendship with Mickey.

Did this page help you?

61 mark

How might Mrs Lyons' use of superstition to manipulate Mrs Johnstone reflect her own ambitions?

  • Mrs Lyons does not care about superstition, but uses it to threaten Mrs Johnstone out of jealousy.

  • Mrs Lyons is genuinely afraid of superstition and believes it will protect Edward from Mickey.

  • Mrs Lyons uses superstition to make peace with Mrs Johnstone and maintain their friendship.

  • Mrs Lyons uses superstition to separate the twins, ensuring that she has control over Edward.

Did this page help you?

71 mark

Suggest why Edward’s privileged upbringing shapes his ambition differently from Mickey’s.

  • Edward’s ambition is focused on pleasing Mrs Lyons, whereas Mickey’s ambition is driven by his desire for wealth.

  • Edward’s prospects are limited by his wealthy upbringing, whereas Mickey’s working-class background drives his ambition.

  • Both Edward and Mickey share the same level of ambition, but only Mickey is able to achieve his goals through hard work.

  • Edward’s access to education and resources fosters his ambition to succeed, while Mickey is held back by his working-class circumstances.

Did this page help you?