Imagine you are Mrs Johnstone.

Write about your thoughts and feelings after the events of the play. An example response: Even now, months after my two sons were killed, I still cant believe its true. I sit with Mickeys little lass and Linda, trying to get them through. Thats the only thing that keeps me going. I think back over everything that happened and blame myself over and over again. What mother wouldnt? And I can never forget what our Mickey said as he stood there with the gun in his hand. Why didnt you give me away, mam? It was like he was willing to swap me and our memories for Eddies council job, education and money. The Lyons family had all that but they werent happy. Eddie had more happiness playing in the street and going around with Mickey and Linda than he ever had with his posh friends. I know I was happy to think my son, yes, a son of mine, would go to a posh school and get his uniform from George Henry Lees, might get a decent white collar job and not have to be a wage slave, but I would have kept him if I could. I couldnt believe it when he turned up after seven years, nearly eight, looking like such a clever, rich kid. Theres our Mickey dressed in rags and covered in dirt and scratches, and a bit scrawny as I couldnt afford many treats, and Eddie turns up, socks pulled up, shirt tucked in and talking like hes swallowed a silver spoon. When Mickey introduced him as me brother, I thought it had all come out and theyd both drop dead. Thats what she said, Mrs Lyons, if I told anyone theyd both die. She was right, as well, but I still blame her. Why did she have to go and tell Mickey that Edward and Linda were having an affair? Im not even sure that they were, anyway. Linda says she was just so lonely, with Mick on those pills; he wasnt much company for a young girl. Eddie knew how to charm the girls; hed read all that Shakespeare at his fancy school, while our Mick was busy bunking off. I dont blame Linda. But I can see how Mickey must have thought Eddie had everything and he had nothing. It doesnt seem fair that one twin had it all and one didnt, when they were just the same inside. Identical twins! It just goes to show that all the rich have got over us is the chance to succeed. I wouldnt swap with Mrs Lyons, even if she did have a lovely house and all the clothes she wanted, and never had to do a days work for any of it. Copyright 2009 www.englishteaching.co.uk + www.english-teaching.co.uk

But she couldnt have kids and she never made my lad hers, not really. He knew somehow that there was a special bond between us. I laughed when he told me what hed said to the teacher at school who tried to take his locket away, even if I never wanted him to start effing and blinding! When we first moved out to this estate, I thought it was the beginning of a whole new life. But now, I hate it here. This estate has too many memories. The neighbours talk about me behind my back and I know they think I was evil to give away one of my babies. But no-one lifted a finger to help me, you know. I told the welfare I couldnt feed two more mouths, but they didnt give me any more money. Mrs Lyons pushed me into it as well; she made me swear on the bible. Being a Catholic, that meant a lot to me. She pushed the book into my hand before I had time to think, and she made me believe I was doing the right thing. But I didnt tell her Id had them. I hoped she might have changed her mind, but no. She turned up just as I arrived back from the hospital to find the bailiffs taking our stuff away again! I know I shouldnt buy things on the never never but its such a temptation. I couldnt even bear to see which one she took. It was hard explaining it to the others as well. I had to tell them one twin had gone to Heaven and the poor little mites were jealous. Thats how bad times were. I was alright when I had the little cleaning job, and I would never had let her have my boy if I thought I wasnt going to see him everyday, but I wasnt to know shed sack me just because he looked at me the way he never looked at her. Every time I think of that terrible day my sons died, I relive it all over again. Mrs Lyons, she told Mickey about Linda and Eddie. I dont understand why she did that. She had gone increasingly strange, and I remember one time she turned up at the house and threatened me with a knife. She said Id never really let Edward go. It was her that couldnt let him go. You have to let your children free, we dont own them. Id always known that. She wanted a doll to dress up, not a living child that laughs in your face as they find their own way in the world. She thought I was following her! She was the one that was running. I should have realised then that she was dangerous. She was always too cunning for me. I used to believe in all that stuff about seeing one magpie meaning sorrow and it being bad luck to put new shoes on the table, but she came to believe it more than I did. She said if I told anyone the truth, both boys would die instantly. Well, that came true, didnt it? But I know now she made that up, to Copyright 2009 www.englishteaching.co.uk + www.english-teaching.co.uk

frighten me. In the end, it was her truth that killed them, her truth about Linda. Poor Linda, she just wanted her Mickey back the way he was, the way he could have been if he hadnt lost his job, if he hadnt been jealous of Eddies success, if he hadnt had our Sammy for a big brother. I blame myself for that. Sammy had a plate in his head because Id had to leave him with Donna-Marie and she was too young. Thank God our Donna-Maries got a decent husband, not like her own dad. I suppose the welfare were right in some ways I couldnt control my kids. They missed their fathers discipline. I was too soft on them. Sammy got in with the wrong crowd and I just couldnt see it. When he burnt the school down, I even blamed the teachers for letting him do chemistry. Im older and wiser now. I have given up dancing and even poor Marilyn Monroe is long dead, al her dreams turned to ashes too. The whole story just goes to show, though, doesnt it? If Mickey had had all the chances Eddie had, they could have both had good jobs and money. But there was only one Linda. She loved Mickey. Our little Sarahs all thats left now of my two bonny boys. And I tell her, her dad was a good man and he loved her, and so did her uncle Edward. But I am old before my time and I will never be able to accept whats happened. Tips for good empathy responses: 1) Write in the characters voice 2) Include close reference to the text remember the point is to show how much you know 3) Refer to themes 4) Include events the character was involved in 5) Be specific and show the examiner you know what you are talking about. I.e. dont talk about what happened, say when____________ happened. 6) Dont think of an empathy response as an easy option always consider which question suits you the best 7) Quick plan think of 6 main paragraphs worth of ideas, or events you want to include and add a concluding paragraph (no more than 5 minutes to plan, if that) 8) Spend at least 35 minutes writing it 9) Dont invent too much its not a creative writing exercise 10) Remember it is QUALITY, NOT QUANTITY! Copyright 2009 www.englishteaching.co.uk + www.english-teaching.co.uk

Example of a response to an extract question: pp50-54 (exit of narrator) Task: How does this extract show similarities and differences between Edward and Mickey and hint that the past is not buried? This extract shows parallel scenes of both Edward and Mickey at school and comes from Act 2. Russell cleverly cuts between them so that the audience can see how the boys lives seem to be running parallel, as both get into trouble at school. There is also strong dramatic irony present as Mrs Lyons questions her son about his locket. The scene also moves the plot along, as it is because of both boys being suspended that they meet up again. Themes of education, class differences, love and the past all feature, and Russell also uses humour to keep us entertained. Edwards school scene shows how well he is doing: talk of Oxbridge, however the teacher shows him no respect and taunts him for wearing a locket. Edward is threatened with a flogging, which reminds us of the harsh regime in schools then. He values the locket so much that he commits a very funny act of impertinence to distract the teacher. He says: You can take a flying fuck at a rolling doughnut. This outrageous rudeness causes a laugh in the theatre because it is impossible and incongruous. The f alliteration and the assonance of the o sound heighten the humour by drawing attention to the words. The contrast with Mickeys school is stark. Here we see a teacher trying to control a bored and inattentive class. The teacher does not want to hear the answer, as he calls Perkins, who knows the answer a boring little turd. Mickey wasnt listening and cannot see how the topic on the Boro Indians diet, will help him get a job. He has a point, especially as unemployment was rising at the time, but the teacher suspends both Mickey and Linda, who supports him. Mickeys education is not going to get him to Oxbridge like Edwards. He is at a less prestigious secondary modern school. Russell is making the point that class differences are unfair and although the twins are identical, Edward is having all the opportunities and Mickey none. Copyright 2009 www.englishteaching.co.uk + www.english-teaching.co.uk

However, Mickey does have the chance of a girlfriend, although he is more embarrassed than grateful as Linda loses no opportunity of telling him, in assembly, in class and in front of his friends. Edward, however, does not have an opportunity to meet girls, so potentially Mickey is happier in his personal life. The scene with Mrs Lyons links to both themes as Mrs Lyons is convinced that Edwards locket holds a picture of a girlfriend. The dramatic irony is strong here as she mistakes the child Mickey with her son: When were you photographed with that woman?. We can see that she too is haunted by the past and that Edward is unaware of her secret. Edward also shows that she is unstable: youre not ill again, like you used to be. It is ironic that he says he never looked a bit like Mickey, as we know they started out as twins and Mrs Lyons can see the resemblance, yet Edward does not pick up on it. The locket also acts as a visible reminder of the past and a link with the previous act. Just as before when Edward risked worse trouble rather than give up the locket, it shows how important Mickey is to him. The narrator helps to bring out these points clearly for the audience. He enters when Mrs Lyons is alone on stage and the tune and words take us back to Shoes on the Table, which brings in the themes of superstition and guilt. The narrators use of rhyme, metaphor and rhetorical question serve to separate his points from the episodic scenes, and draw them together for the audience. The recurrent motifs of the broken mirror, the knocking on the door and the devil pursuing the guilty all combine to show how haunted Mrs Lyons feels. Russell effectively shows in this extract that Edward has a more privileged schooling and more prospects in life, but he is denied the chance to meet girls easily and his relationship with his mother is awkward as she is far too Read the essay. Use the margin to make notes on what you think the candidate protective. The past knowledge is still making its presence felt and scenes about the is showing of. Decide what grade youthe think this should be awarded. A useful rule of thumb is boys are carefully matched so that they seem to be doing similar things at D- just telling the story similar times. Both rebel against and Edward isand learning to keep secretsto back C- making points which school show understanding selecting quotations them up from his mother to protect her. Dramatic irony is used to show that the past B- C skills plus ability to explore, or have several ideas about the same point will keep coming to the surface once the through a etc Aon some discussion of HOWand as well asagain WHAT narrator, i.e. looking at style A* - all of the above but with a WOW factor which makes the reader realise familiar song, reminds us of key themes. the playwrights skill. How could this essay be improved? Copyright 2009 www.englishteaching.co.uk + essay www.english-teaching.co.uk Then try writing a plan to reduce this into. NB this is probably too long for an extract question, but it aims to be comprehensive.

Read the essay. Use the margin to make notes on what you think the candidate is showing knowledge of. Decide what grade you think this should be awarded. A useful rule of thumb is D- just telling the story C- making points which show understanding and selecting quotations to back them up B- C skills plus ability to explore, or have several ideas about the same point A some discussion of HOW as well as WHAT i.e. looking at style etc A* - all of the above but with a WOW factor which makes the reader realise the playwrights skill. How could this essay be improved? Then try writing a plan to reduce this essay into. NB this is probably too long for an extract question, but it aims to be comprehensive. Use this space to explain your grade for this piece: _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________

Copyright 2009 www.englishteaching.co.uk + www.english-teaching.co.uk