What type of play structure does Blood Brothers follow?
a linear structure with flashbacks, a prologue and an epilogue
a non-linear structure with no clear beginning or end
a cyclical structure, starting and ending with the same event
an episodic structure with each act representing a different year
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How does the play employ dramatic irony?
The audience is unaware of the twins’ relationship until the end, which creates shock.
The twins are aware of their relationship from the start, but struggle to accept the truth.
The audience is given no clues about the fate of the twins.
The audience knows about the twins’ relationship, but the characters do not.
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What is one of the primary motifs used throughout Blood Brothers?
the tragic fall of kings
the image of Marilyn Monroe
the destruction of nature
the rise of industrialisation
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Which dramatic technique does Russell use to show the passage of time?
flashbacks to earlier moments
fast-paced dialogue between characters
musical montages to narrate events
lengthy monologues from the characters
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How does Russell use lighting in the play to signify key moments?
Red lighting is used to signify moments of violence and death.
Blue lighting is used to create a calm and peaceful atmosphere.
Flashing lights are used to indicate major character changes.
Lighting is not used as a significant element in the play.
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Which stagecraft technique does Russell use to contrast the lives of Mrs Johnstone and Mrs Lyons?
He uses sound effects to emphasise the wealth of Mrs Lyons and vastness of her home.
He uses different colours for the costumes of the characters, symbolising their status.
He places the two houses at opposite ends of the stage to symbolise class divide.
He shows the inside of Mrs Lyons’ house but keeps Mrs Johnstone’s children outside.
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How does the use of songs contribute to the structure of Blood Brothers?
The songs act as moments of comic relief throughout the play, breaking up the tragedy.
The songs are used as soliloquies to express the inner thoughts of characters.
The songs serve only as entertaining interludes, and they do not advance the plot.
The songs are irrelevant to the emotional development of the characters.
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How does Russell use a cyclical structure to reinforce a sense of tragedy?
by starting and ending the play with the same scene, highlighting the inevitability of fate
by changing the ending each time the play is performed, to create suspense
by beginning the play with hope and ending it in despair, showing the impact of choices
by skipping between different timelines, confusing the audience about the characters’ fate
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Comment on the effect of Russell using two separate acts.
The two-act structure confuses the audience, making it hard to follow the play.
The second act emphasises the play’s message by repeating the events and ideas from the first act.
The first Act 1 is focused on Eddie’s life and story, while the second Act 1 is focused on Mickey’s downfall.
The two-act structure contrasts innocent childhood in Act 1 with the harsh reality of adulthood in Act 2.
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How does the role of the Narrator relate to classic Greek tragedy?
The Narrator is used only to move the story forward and is not connected in any way to the characters.
The Narrator mirrors a Greek chorus: he provides commentary, foreshadowing, and moral judgement.
The Narrator tries to change the fate of the characters and avert tragedy but is ultimately unsuccessful.
The Narrator interacts directly with the characters, influencing their decisions throughout the play.
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Explain the significance of Russell’s use of the motif of Marilyn Monroe in Blood Brothers.
Marilyn Monroe represents glamour and success, symbolising the wealth Mrs Johnstone longs for.
Marilyn Monroe symbolises Mrs Johnstone’s lost youth and dreams, as well as the idea of tragedy.
Marilyn Monroe reflects Mrs Lyons' envy of Mrs Johnstone’s freedom.
Marilyn Monroe is a symbol of Mickey’s obsession with fame and money.
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Suggest how the lighting in the first and last scenes of Blood Brothers helps to support the play’s tragic structure.
The lighting is dark and ominous in both scenes to signify the violent ending of the twins.
The lighting remains bright throughout, emphasising hope even during the darkest moments.
The lighting is used to confuse the audience about the characters’ fate, flickering on and off.
The lighting gradually gets brighter, suggesting the atmosphere of a police interrogation.
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How does Russell juxtapose the two acts of Blood Brothers to illustrate class differences?
by using different musical styles in Act 1 and Act 2 to symbolise Mrs Johnstone’s changing mood
by placing Mrs Johnstone and Mrs Lyons in the same social class, yet showing their differences
by contrasting the hope of Act 1 with the despair of Act 2, reflecting the brothers’ diverging fortunes
by using different lighting techniques in each act to represent the passing of time
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Apply your understanding of dramatic irony to explain how it influences the audience’s reaction to the twins’ relationship?
The audience is aware of the twins’ real relationship from the beginning, increasing tension as the characters remain unaware.
The twins know about their relationship early on, which creates suspense for the audience as tension between them grows.
The audience and characters discover the twins’ relationship at the same time, leading to a shocking reveal in the play’s conclusion.
The dramatic irony is removed by the end of the play, allowing the characters to reflect on their fate in full knowledge of the truth.
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How might Russell’s use of stage directions—placing Mrs Johnstone’s children outside while Mrs Lyons’ home is shown as secure—suggest social inequality?
It implies that Mrs Lyons is unwilling to allow her children to play outside in a more equal setting.
It suggests that Mrs Johnstone’s children are more independent and liberated than Mrs Lyons’.
It shows that Mrs Johnstone is afraid of her children being inside the house.
It highlights the safety and security that wealth provides, contrasted with the vulnerability of poverty.
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Assess how Russell’s use of a cyclical structure in Blood Brothers influences the audience’s understanding of fate.
It suggests that the characters have the power to change their fate, but fail to do so on this occasion.
It emphasises that the characters are trapped in an unchangeable cycle of fate and tragedy.
It allows the audience to witness the characters’ growth and how they ultimately escape their destiny.
It indicates that the tragic events of the play could have been avoided.
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Criticise the effectiveness of Russell’s portrayal of Mrs Johnstone as a tragic hero in Blood Brothers.
She is portrayed as a tragic hero because her decisions and fatal flaws directly lead to her downfall.
She is portrayed as a tragic hero because she is able to overcome her flaws and rise above her circumstances despite adversity.
She is not portrayed as a tragic hero because she is powerless to change her fate, with society and superstition influencing her choices.
She is portrayed as a tragic hero because she intentionally sacrifices one of her twins to ensure the other’s success.
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Evaluate Russell’s use of sound to depict off-stage events and how it affects the audience’s engagement.
The use of sound, such as the gunshot during Mickey’s robbery, heightens tension.
The use of sound is minimal and has little effect on how the audience experiences the play.
The use of sound serves primarily as a distraction from the main action of the play.
Sound is used only in musical moments and is not intended to reflect key events in the story.
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Is Russell’s decision to end the play without resolution an effective way to convey its themes?
Ending without resolution is effective as it suggests the cyclical nature of class and fate, leaving the audience to reflect on society’s role in the tragedy.
Ending without resolution is ineffective as it leaves the audience confused and unsure about the message of the play or the fates of the characters.
The unresolved ending is meant to comfort the audience by implying that the characters’ fates could be different in the future.
The unresolved ending suggests that the characters can still change their destiny, offering hope to the audience.
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