5.4.1

Imagery

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Imagery in Blood Brothers

Imagery is where a writer uses language to create a visual image in the minds of the audience.

Russell's use of imagery

Russell's use of imagery

There is limited imagery in the play because the characters mainly talk in a very realistic way.
Many of them are working class and, as such, have a very straight-to-the-point way of communicating with one another.

The Narrator and imagery

The Narrator and imagery

The exception to this, however, is the Narrator.
Russell has made the Narrator use imagery frequently during his appearances.
This clearly sets him apart from the rest of the characters.
The audience is able to understand that he is an outsider to the story, observing and commenting from the sidelines, and not directly involved in the action.

The devil

The devil

The Narrator frequently alludes to (references) “the devil”. This creates a clear image of impending doom, and serves as a reminder to the audience that the play will have an inevitable tragic ending.

Debt

Debt

The Narrator also makes a number of references to debt, for example, through his appearance as the Milkman demanding payment for unsettled bills.
These references are actually intended as metaphors for the greatest debt of all: the price that Mrs. Johnstone must pay for agreeing to give Mrs. Lyons one of her children.

The beach

The beach

During the scene where we see Mickey, Edward and Linda’s carefree teenage years, the Narrator describes a trip to the beach where the characters “don’t even notice the broken bottles in the sand.” (Act Two).
This visual image is actually a metaphor, telling us that the teenagers are unable to notice the dangers that lie in their path, and are therefore unaware of the disastrous fate that awaits them.

1

Context & Author

1.1

Context

1.1.1Setting 1.1.2Political Background 1.1.3Education & Work 1.1.4Marilyn Monroe & Pop Culture 1.1.5Family

1.2

Author

1.2.1Willy Russell 1.2.2End of Topic Test - Context & Author

2

Plot

2.1

Act One

2.1.1Overview: Introduction to Mrs Johnstone & Lyons 2.1.2Analysis: Introduction to Mrs. Johnston and Lyons 2.1.3Overview: The Birth of Mickey & Edward 2.1.4Analysis: The Birth of Mickey & Edward 2.1.5Overview: Mickey Playing at Home 2.1.6Overview: Mickey & Edward as Seven-year-olds 2.1.7Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Seven-year-olds 2.1.8Overview: Mickey & Edward as Seven-year-olds 2 2.1.9Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Seven-year-olds 2 2.1.10End of Topic Test - Act One 2.1.11End of Topic Test - Act One 2

2.2

Act Two

2.2.1Overview: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 2.2.2Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 2.2.3Overview: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 2 2.2.4Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 2 2.2.5Overview: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 3 2.2.6Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 3 2.2.7Overview: Mickey & Edward as Adults 2.2.8Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Adults 2.2.9End of Topic Test - Act Two 2.2.10End of Topic Test - Act Two 2

3

Characters

3.1

Mickey

3.1.1Mickey 3.1.2Mickey as a Damaged Adult

3.2

Edward

3.2.1Edward 3.2.2Edward 2 3.2.3End of Topic Test - Mickey & Edward

3.3

Linda

3.3.1Linda 3.3.2Linda 2

3.4

Mrs Johnstone

3.4.1Mrs Johnstone 3.4.2Mrs Johnstone 2

3.5

Mrs Lyons

3.5.1Mrs Lyons 3.5.2Mrs Lyons 2 3.5.3End of Topic Test - Linda & Mothers

3.6

Mr Lyons

3.7

Sammy

3.8

The Narrator

3.8.1The Narrator

3.9

Minor

3.9.1Minor Characters 3.9.2End of Topic Test - Other Characters

3.10

End of Topic Sessions

3.10.1Grade 9 - Key Characters

4

Themes

4.1

Parents & Children

4.1.1Parents & Children

4.2

Growing Up

4.2.1Growing Up

4.3

Friendship & Brotherhood

4.3.1Friendship & Brotherhood 4.3.2End of Topic Test - Parents, Growing Up, Friends

4.4

Fate & Superstition

4.4.1Fate & Superstition

4.5

Nature vs. Nurture

4.5.1Nature vs. Nurture

4.6

Social Class

4.6.1Social Class 4.6.2End of Topic Test - Fate, Upbringing & Class

5

Literary Techniques

5.1

Structure

5.2

Tragedy

5.3

Dramatic Irony

5.3.1Dramatic Irony

5.4

Imagery

5.5

Character & Voice

5.6

Music & Lyrics

5.6.1Music & Lyrics

5.7

Accent & Dialect

5.7.1Accent & Dialect 5.7.2End of Topic Test - Literary Techniques 5.7.3End of Topic Test - Literary Techniques 2

Jump to other topics

1

Context & Author

1.1

Context

1.1.1Setting 1.1.2Political Background 1.1.3Education & Work 1.1.4Marilyn Monroe & Pop Culture 1.1.5Family

1.2

Author

1.2.1Willy Russell 1.2.2End of Topic Test - Context & Author

2

Plot

2.1

Act One

2.1.1Overview: Introduction to Mrs Johnstone & Lyons 2.1.2Analysis: Introduction to Mrs. Johnston and Lyons 2.1.3Overview: The Birth of Mickey & Edward 2.1.4Analysis: The Birth of Mickey & Edward 2.1.5Overview: Mickey Playing at Home 2.1.6Overview: Mickey & Edward as Seven-year-olds 2.1.7Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Seven-year-olds 2.1.8Overview: Mickey & Edward as Seven-year-olds 2 2.1.9Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Seven-year-olds 2 2.1.10End of Topic Test - Act One 2.1.11End of Topic Test - Act One 2

2.2

Act Two

2.2.1Overview: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 2.2.2Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 2.2.3Overview: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 2 2.2.4Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 2 2.2.5Overview: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 3 2.2.6Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Teenagers 3 2.2.7Overview: Mickey & Edward as Adults 2.2.8Analysis: Mickey & Edward as Adults 2.2.9End of Topic Test - Act Two 2.2.10End of Topic Test - Act Two 2

3

Characters

3.1

Mickey

3.1.1Mickey 3.1.2Mickey as a Damaged Adult

3.2

Edward

3.2.1Edward 3.2.2Edward 2 3.2.3End of Topic Test - Mickey & Edward

3.3

Linda

3.3.1Linda 3.3.2Linda 2

3.4

Mrs Johnstone

3.4.1Mrs Johnstone 3.4.2Mrs Johnstone 2

3.5

Mrs Lyons

3.5.1Mrs Lyons 3.5.2Mrs Lyons 2 3.5.3End of Topic Test - Linda & Mothers

3.6

Mr Lyons

3.7

Sammy

3.8

The Narrator

3.8.1The Narrator

3.9

Minor

3.9.1Minor Characters 3.9.2End of Topic Test - Other Characters

3.10

End of Topic Sessions

3.10.1Grade 9 - Key Characters

4

Themes

4.1

Parents & Children

4.1.1Parents & Children

4.2

Growing Up

4.2.1Growing Up

4.3

Friendship & Brotherhood

4.3.1Friendship & Brotherhood 4.3.2End of Topic Test - Parents, Growing Up, Friends

4.4

Fate & Superstition

4.4.1Fate & Superstition

4.5

Nature vs. Nurture

4.5.1Nature vs. Nurture

4.6

Social Class

4.6.1Social Class 4.6.2End of Topic Test - Fate, Upbringing & Class

5

Literary Techniques

5.1

Structure

5.2

Tragedy

5.3

Dramatic Irony

5.3.1Dramatic Irony

5.4

Imagery

5.5

Character & Voice

5.6

Music & Lyrics

5.6.1Music & Lyrics

5.7

Accent & Dialect

5.7.1Accent & Dialect 5.7.2End of Topic Test - Literary Techniques 5.7.3End of Topic Test - Literary Techniques 2

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1
Which character uses imagery frequently?Multiple choice

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Dramatic Irony

Character