"How does Alan Bleasdale create pity for Yosser in "Yosser'sStory"?"

"How does Alan Bleasdale create pity for Yosser in "Yosser's Story"?" Alan Bleasdale created "Boys from the Black stuff", a 5 part very touching story about unemployment in the 1980's in the heart of Liverpool. One of the four stories, "Yosser's Story", follows a man struggling to find a job and look after his three children! It was made into a verisimilar T.V. play in 1982.A T.V. play shows the reactions of Yosser close up. We get to take a journey in his mind and feel the emotions he feels. Using a range of techniques, Alan Bleasdale makes us feel pity for Yosser throughout this story. Irony is created quite often for Yosser using juxtaposition. We are given evidence of this in scene 12 and 13. In scene 12 we see Yosser trying to assert himself that he can cook and that he isn't a failure, while doing this he clearly tells himself, "Sod the chippy"(sc 12). However in scene 13 we cut to see Yosser and his children coming out of the chippy. This shows Yosser's failure to even cook a simple meal for himself and his family. These two scenes are very powerfully juxtaposed to create a pathetic moment for the character of Yosser. The anacalutha in Yosser's speech shows that he may be afraid of something. The examples in scene 29 prove that he is self conscious in talking to the priest. We can tell this by the way he stutters as he approaches the confession box, "Father,

  • Word count: 566
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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"A Kestrel for a Knave" and "Our Day Out" both raise the issue of social stereotyping. With close reference to the texts explore to what ends and effects this issues is raised.

"A Kestrel for a Knave" and "Our Day Out" both raise the issue of social stereotyping. With close reference to the texts explore to what ends and effects this issues is raised. To socially stereotype someone you discriminate them based on things like their background, their financial status or the area they live in. Both stories; "A Kestrel for a Knave" and "Our Day Out" raise the issue of social stereotyping and both are set against a poverty stricken, working class background. "Our Day Out" is set in a poor, run down area of Liverpool in a working class community. The children all attend a secondary modern school in the 70's. They have no prospects and are all expected to be "factory fodder". "A Kestrel for a Knave" is set in a working class mining community near Barnsley. As with "Our Day Out" the children who attend the school are seen as hopeless, but instead of the children being fodder for factories the majority end up working in the local mines. Billy's estate is overlooked by a middle class area called Firs Hill. Hines uses Firs Hill to represent a contrasting world to Valley Estate. Billy's home. Barry Hines doesn't portray Billy as a stereotype; he is a very realised character. Billy is however a product of his own social background, for example, he steals chocolate from Mr Porter's shop, eggs and orange juice from the milkman, and he commits acts of vandalism by

  • Word count: 1520
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Mr. Briggs from Willy Russell’s Our Day Out. Who’s teaching style do you think is bestFor the Progress Class?

Compare the characters of Mrs. Kay and Mr. Briggs from Willy Russell's Our Day Out. Who's teaching style do you think is best For the Progress Class? In this Essay, I am going to explain the teaching methods and styles of Mrs. Kay and Mr. Briggs. I will compare the characters and try to find out which teachers style of teaching is best for the progress class. The play, Our Day Out, by Willy Russell is set in Liverpool in the late nineteen seventies. It is about a group of progress class students who are going on a trip to Conway Castle in Wales. In the children's view, Mrs. Kay is loving, kind-hearted lady. She is a middle-aged woman, who cares deeply for children. Even the Headmaster's view is in favour of Mrs. Kay, "There's not many of her type y'know." Although the headmaster thinks Mrs. Kay is a good teacher, he doesn't approve of the way she conducts a school trip, "After the last trip of hers I said 'no more', absolutely no more." The only person who really doesn't like Mrs. Kay is Mr. Briggs. On the other hand, Mr. Briggs is looked upon as a mean, strict and unforgiving teacher. Although he does care for the children, he shies about showing it. At the beginning, when Mr. Briggs is going to accompany Mrs. Kay on the trip, the children's happiness is suddenly turned upside down into sadness because they think that they won't have any fun now. As soon as he enters

  • Word count: 2275
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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In what ways does Mr Briggs and Mrs Kay represent different attitudes and philosophies towards teaching and the children on the trip? Where do your sympathies lie and why?

Robert Chamberlain In what ways does Mr Briggs and Mrs Kay represent different attitudes and philosophies towards teaching and the children on the trip? Where do your sympathies lie and why? The play "Our Day Out" was wrote for a television audience. We can tell this because of the quick scene changes, short scenes and the in-depth stage directions, which would make it extremely hard to act out on a theatre stage. "Our Day Out" was written by Willy Russell to highlight some of the problems facing real children in the 1970's. The play tells us about the poverty and unemployment of Liverpool at the time and some of the social conditions and deprived backgrounds of children and their families. Also it indicates that some of the children's parents were prostitutes so that the family had some money to spend and that some of the children had only one parent living with them at home. To illustrate these points he uses a progress class from an inner-city school, on a visit to Conway Castle assisted by the two main stereotype characters, Mr Briggs and Mrs Kay. Mrs Kay is portrayed as a kind hearted caring schoolmistress and Mr Briggs represents the strict, militant and disciplined figure. Mrs Kay has organised a trip to Conway Castle in Wales for the progress class she takes. Mr Briggs is sent on it by the headmaster "to keep things in order" as he sees Mrs Kay's method of

  • Word count: 1190
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Trip objectives: Collect stories from children in four different schools and gather it all together to produce a book

The diary of a teenager's experience: One week down in Khao Lak to help children tell their stories to the world Trip objectives: * Collect stories from children in four different schools and gather it all together to produce a book to be sold, hopefully, worldwide. * Paint a mural and fence at Pak Weep School Sunday 26th June 2005 The initial plan was to meet up at Bangkok International Airport, Domestic Terminal at 1400 hrs, by the orange chairs near the Check-In counter. A few were early, a few on time, and yes, some were late. No one is perfect. By the time we gathered everyone as a group and made changes to the groups, we were headed towards the check in counter, half an hour after our meeting time. It's the same every time. Pass your bags through the x-ray machine, queue up at the check in counter, and check in. After that simple process, we were slowly heading inside the waiting area in front of our gate. And for once, we didn't have to walk across the whole terminal, not that it's big or anything, but it can be pretty annoying considering Burger King is right at the front. Lucky for us, it was right opposite our gate. Lunch time. Or maybe not. We had two hours free time to do whatever we wished to do. For the majority of us, it meant sitting down on chairs or floors, or even laying down on the floor to chat to friends and play cards. Boarding time was at

  • Word count: 3607
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Look at the Way Tension is Built up in Scene 35. Examine the Characters of Mr. Briggs and Carol Chandler and Explain how Language adds to the Dramatic Effect of this Scene.

Look at the Way Tension is Built up in Scene 35. Examine the Characters of Mr. Briggs and Carol Chandler and Explain how Language adds to the Dramatic Effect of this Scene. 'Our Day Out' is a play by Willy Russell about a school trip. The trip is undertaken by the Progress Class, also known as the remedial/S.E.N class. Mrs. Kay teaches the Progress Class and has organized the trip. "Y' go down there in the week if y' can't do sums or writing. If y' backward like." At the very beginning of the play Carol explains to Les, the lollipop man, what the progress class is. The progress class is part of an inner-city comprehensive school in a rough area of Liverpool. The trip is to Conwy Castle in Wales but has many unscheduled trips going and coming back. The stops include a trip to the zoo, a beach and the fair. The trip has no educational value and as Mrs. Kay says just before they leave "We want everyone to enjoy themselves." Mrs. Kay says this because she knows that the children won't have many days like this in their lives so she wants to make it a good day out for them. The teachers that are meant to accompany the trip are Susan Colin and Mrs. Kay but the head teacher doesn't trust Mrs. Kay and sends Mr. Briggs to accompany them "I don't want to be unprofessional but I get the feeling that she sees education as one long game." The teachers on the trip don't want

  • Word count: 2056
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Understanding That Ignorance Isn't Bliss...

Understanding That Ignorance Isn't Bliss... In order to change the world, one must first change their mind about the world for it is impossible to change that which is not understood. Understanding is not natural instinct--it is a chosen activity. Things worth understanding in life must be worked at. In the book There Are No Children Here, by Alex Kotlowitz, the author dares to venture into the misunderstood lives of the tenants of the Henry Horner Homes. The opening chapter contains the following passage which, first introduces the theme of misunderstanding and ignorance and the menace it poses to those living in the projects: "The youngster had heard that the suburban bound commuters from behind the tinted train windows, would shoot at them for trespassing on the tracks. Some of the commuters had heard similar rumors about the neighborhood children and worried that, like the cardboard lions in a carnival shooting gallery, they might be the target of talented snipers. For both the boys and the commuters, the unknown was the enemy" (Kotlowitz 7). In this book the reader encounters two kinds of outside forces: those who attempt to understand the poverty stricken tenants and those who choose to not make an effort. If ignorance is bliss, it is also danger. In ignorance, priceless opportunities to change circumstances slip through fingers before even realizing what they hold.

  • Word count: 817
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Compare the characters of Mrs Kay and Mr Briggs from Willy Russell

Compare the characters of Mrs Kay and Mr Briggs from Willy Russell's Our Day Out. Whose style of teaching do you think is best for the progress Class? Mrs Kay believes being friendly to the kids is the best way to teach them. The kids in the progress class like Mrs Kay's way of teaching because Reilly a kid in the School says to Mrs Kay "You're ace miss". On the other hand there is Mr Briggs a strict typical inner City teacher. Who believes discipline is the best way to teach these kids in the progress class Because of Mr. Briggs strict approach towards the kids. The kids don't like Mr Briggs Less says "Arrogant get, that one is". Firstly, I am going to describe Mrs Kay and Mr Briggs's relationships with the pupils. Mrs Kay treats the children friendly and has a laugh and a joke with them "You are like an old woman come on then". Mr Briggs is much more formal and is like a typical teacher. He shouts at them more than any thing else "(shouting) shut up lad! (Pause) Is it any wonder that people won't do any thing for you?" Mrs Kay knows and understands the difficulties the kids in the progress class faces and she is sympathetic towards them, this has been shown in the play many times "it's a shame really isn't it, eh? We bring them to crumbling pile of bricks and mortar and they think they're in the fields of heavens". Mr Briggs doesn't know or understands the difficulties

  • Word count: 773
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Explain how Philip Ridley tries to make "Sparkleshark" appeal to a modern teenage audience.

Explain how Philip Ridley tries to make "Sparkleshark" appeal to a modern teenage audience. Introduction Sparkleshark is a play about teenagers for teenagers. The play is based on nine characters, all around fourteen to sixteen years of age, who live in the East-End of London. They come together on a tower block roof and act out a story, which brings them together although they are very different characters. The play might appeal to teenagers because it is about them and their interests. Teenagers might not relate to the story that is acted out because it is about dragons and magical things, but the play could appeal because the characters become friends and seem to forget their differences. The Setting The play is set in the East-End of London on the roof of a tower block. This is an ideal place for teenagers because it is away from adults; it is not very accessible to older or younger people. The fact that the play is set in London may be why the teenagers meet on the roof, there probably aren't many other places to go such as playing fields or open spaces. There is rubbish on the roof, an old armchair, trolleys, boxes and other discarded furniture, this would appeal to teenagers, as somewhere they did not have to keep clean and tidy. The play is set in mid September at about 4.30 pm and the weather is sunny, the characters are outside making the most of the late summer

  • Word count: 2372
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Can Willy Russell be accused of using stereotypes as a means of putting his opinions forward?

Asha Greaves Assessed Coursework Can Willy Russell be accused of using stereotypes as a means of putting his opinions forward? Throughout the play; 'Our Day Out', written by Willy Russell, there is a constant use of stereotypes portrayed in the characters. Stereotypes are standardised characters or a fixed idea of something. Willy Russell used stereotyping as an effective way of putting his opinions forward because he could develop his initial ideas for characters to raise awareness of what Liverpool was like in the 1970s. In my opinion Willy Russell wanted to show the general life of many children in Liverpool in the 1970s and also to show that stereotypes create false views of certain people and are harmful in general. In the text, the main characters are children and teachers in 1970S Liverpool. Teachers are often stereotyped anyway; people presume that they are strict and disliked or the opposite. This contrast is shown with the two characters Mr Briggs, who is rather strict and Mrs Kay who is not. In the play Mr Briggs is often shouting at the children or telling them off: "Never mind what for, just do what you're told, lad." This emphasises the point that he is stern. There are no points in the text where Mrs Kay has this attitude directly towards the children. The children in the play are also stereotyped because they live in a rough area and don't have many

  • Word count: 1845
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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