Eduqas GCSE English Literature
Eduqas GCSE English Literature Blood Brothers Exam Questions
Free Eduqas GCSE English Literature practice questions for Blood Brothers. Covers Willy Russell's musical, Mickey and Edward, Mrs Johnstone and Mrs Lyons, the Narrator, class, fate, superstition and friendship.
Blood Brothers practice questions
1 pack of exam-style practice questions for Blood Brothers. Plan and write as many answers as you can under timed conditions, then compare them with the guidance on this page and your notes.
About Eduqas GCSE English Literature Blood Brothers
Blood Brothers is a set text in Component 2, Section A (post-1914 prose/drama) of the Eduqas GCSE in English Literature. Willy Russell's musical play tells of twins separated at birth in Liverpool: Mickey stays with his poor mother, Mrs Johnstone, while Edward is raised by the wealthy Mrs Lyons. You answer one 40-mark question that uses a printed extract as a starting point and asks you to write about the whole text. The section assesses AO1, AO2 and AO4 (spelling, punctuation and grammar); context is not assessed here. The extract may come from any point, so know how the twins and their mothers change across the play.
Key themes, characters and context
- Mrs Johnstone and Mrs Lyons Struggling to feed her family, Mrs Johnstone agrees to give one twin to Mrs Lyons. Mrs Lyons invents the superstition that twins separated will die if they learn the truth, and grows increasingly paranoid.
- Mickey and Edward The boys become blood brothers at seven. Class shapes their futures: Edward goes to university, while Mickey loses his job, goes to prison and becomes dependent on pills.
- The Narrator He comments on the action, reminds the audience of the deal 'with the devil' and builds a sense of doom, like a Greek chorus.
- Songs and motifs Songs such as 'Marilyn Monroe' and 'Tell Me It's Not True' track characters' hopes and losses. Shoes on the table and the bible oath are recurring motifs of superstition.
- Class and fate Russell asks whether the twins die because of superstition or because of class. The Narrator's final question about 'what you call class' makes the audience decide.
Common mistakes in Blood Brothers
- Saying the play is only about fate. Russell suggests class may be the real cause.
- Ignoring songs and the Narrator. They are key dramatic methods to analyse.
- Losing track of timing. Know the three ages of the twins (seven, fourteen, adulthood) and how they change.
- Adding long context on 1980s unemployment. Context is not assessed in this section.
Try three Blood Brothers practice questions
1. Using the extract as a starting point, write about Mrs Johnstone and how she is presented in the play. (40 marks)
Show what a strong answer includes
A strong answer would analyse her warmth and humour; her desperation in the deal; her songs; her love for both boys; her final plea; evaluate how Russell makes her sympathetic.
2. Using the extract as a starting point, write about the friendship between Mickey and Edward and how it is presented. (40 marks)
Show what a strong answer includes
A strong answer would analyse the blood brother scene; their teenage reunion; growing distance as adults; Linda; the final confrontation; show how class changes their friendship.
3. Using the extract as a starting point, write about how Russell uses the Narrator in Blood Brothers. (40 marks)
Show what a strong answer includes
A strong answer would analyse the Narrator's opening, warnings and songs; his disguises as milkman and others; his role in creating tension and foreshadowing; his final speech.
Blood Brothers FAQs
What does Eduqas GCSE English Literature Blood Brothers cover?
It covers Willy Russell's musical as a post-1914 text: the twins, their mothers, the Narrator, and themes of class, fate, superstition and friendship.
Which component is Blood Brothers examined in?
It is in Component 2, Section A (post-1914 prose/drama). You answer one 40-mark question that starts from a printed extract and asks you to write about the whole text.
Which parts of Blood Brothers should I know best?
Know the deal between the mothers, the blood brother scene at seven, the teenage scenes, Mickey's time in prison and the final scene, and the songs linked to each.
