Class+Quiz

1.Turn to p.16. Why do you think that the writer doesn’t name Mrs Johnston’s children? (1 mark) 2.When Mrs Lyons tells Eddie (p. 46) that she has told the gardener to plant a row of poplars in order to hide the view of the council state, what theme is the writer trying to present? As the poplars represent a certain theme, what dramatic technique is the author employing in this part of the play? (2 marks)
 * Ans: Their main function is to show that Mrs Johnston is poor and has too many mouths to feed. **
 * Ans: the theme is class divide. Symbolism- the trees act as a barried between the mansions of the upper class and the council estates which house the poor. **

3. How does Mickey’s rhyming poem about being ‘nearly eight’ make you feel sympathy for him? (1 mark) 4.Turn to p. 38. Discuss why Mrs Lyons behaves in such a manner when Eddie swears at her. (3 marks)
 * Ans: Shows us that he's restricted unlike his brother. Perhaps Mother is over-protective about Mickey and doesn't want him to run into Eddie for fear of them discovering the secret about their birth. **
 * **Mrs Lyons is shocked that Eddie is using such filthy language. **
 * **She has lost control as she realises that she can't keep Eddie from his actual roots **
 * **She is possessive of him 'you're my son, mine' she has worked so hard to gain a child she can't bear to lose him **

5. Read Act 2.5 (p.40). What do we learn about the relationship between Mr and Mrs Lyons? (2 marks)
 * **They are estranged. They don't communicate properly with each other. **
 * **Couples should have an honest relationship; here Mrs Lyons is hiding a immensely important secret from her husband **
 * **Mr Lyons thinks his wife is paranoid as he doesn't know the truth about Eddie's birth. He hangs up on her which shows his callousness **


 * 6. **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At the end of Act 2.5 (p.41), the author inserts certain stage directions. Why does Mrs Lyons scream? What atmosphere is the author trying to create? (2 marks)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Mrs Lyons is haunted by her past- this is why Mother appears as a ghost.**
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**The act of placing the shoes creates an omnious atmosphere and foreshadows that something terrible is likely to occur.**

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">7. In Act 4.2, discuss the significance of Eddie’s entrance (From the rest…Carols stops). Comment on how it presents the rift in the boys’ friendship (3 marks)
 * **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The clothes that Eddie wears his 'college scarf' shows his privileged upbringing; Mickey has no such opportunities for his education and instead has to work to support his family **
 * **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The stage directions 'leaping' and 'laughing' show that Eddie is without a care in the world and isn't forced to face the harsh realities of life. Mickey is unresponsive which suggests that he finds Eddie's presence an irritation. **
 * **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The fact that the music stops shows that the merry atmosphere is cut short and sets the tone for conflict **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">8. Look back at the end of Act5.1 (p.65). Re-read Mickey’s lines: Listen…. Mr Lyons. What do these lines reveal about his attitude towards Eddie? What dramatic technique is the author using? What is the effect? (3 marks)
 * **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mickey address Eddie formally by his surname which shows that he is aware that there is a status difference between them. His tone perhaps might be bitter and sarcastic as he resents the fact that he has to work hard to earn a living and has a family to support **
 * **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mickey is proud that he has achieved his job through merit rather than inheritance (like Eddie). **
 * **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is ironic as in the previous scene Eddie has put in a good word for Mickey, which is why he has the job not because of his own effort. **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">9. What is the significance of the narrator in the play? What literary technique does the author use to structure the Narrator’s lines? (3 marks)
 * **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The narrator comments on the action of the play- he sometimes creates the setting, sometimes sets the mood and tone **
 * **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He also offers judgements on the characters **
 * **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He speaks in rhyming couplets **