'I wish I was our Sammy' monologue
This hugely popular KS4 Teachit worksheet helps students explore language and characterisation in this important monologue from Willy Russell’s iconic GCSE English Literature play Blood Brothers.
The lesson activities help students to explore the relationship between brothers Mickey and Sammy in the monologue and in other key events, and to consider how it develops as the play progresses.
Classroom activities include:
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close textual analysis of the monologue 'I wish I was our Sammy', focusing on the playscript and looking at key quotations and Russell’s use of a working-class dialect from the speech, including references to ‘nudey women...when he goes swimmin’, ‘toy car’, ‘underground den’, ‘he’s got two worms and a catapult an’ and ‘he wees straight through the letterbox’
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plotting significant events involving the two key characters, Mickey and Sammy e.g. the robbery
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identifying how other characters such as Linda and Mrs Johnstone are important in their relationship
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discussing questions to reflect on the relationship between the working-class characters of Mickey Johnstone and his brother Sammy.
Suggested answers are included, along with teaching notes to support teachers.
You might also like our comprehensive Blood Brothers teaching pack for GCSE students, a complete scheme of learning, classroom resources and lesson plans for Willy Russell’s play.
For more lesson planning inspiration for key stage 4, try our downloadable Blood Brothers worksheets, focusing on other characters from the play, including Mrs Johnstone, Mrs Lyons and Linda.
An example task from the teaching resource:
Task three
1. When does Mickey stop wanting to be like Sammy? Why?
2. As they grow up what are the major differences between Mickey and Sammy?
3. How do you think class affects their decisions?
4. Do you feel any sympathy for the wrong choices Mickey and Sammy make?
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11/11/2016