Sailmaker Revision for Prelim Relationships between characters Boyhood

“Sailmaker” Revision for Prelim

Relationships between characters Boyhood games unite/connect Alec and Ian They both support Rangers They both attend the same school Differences: Ian’s father (Billy) works hard and provides for his son Alec’s father achieves little and their relationship suffers Characterisation of Ian and Alec: EDUCATION separates the two; Alec is very clever and goes to a new school which Ian sees as ‘posh’ and then moves on to University!

Ian and Alec’s Relationship Early in Play They play imaginatively as young boys pretending the yacht is “a submarine”. STAGE DIRECTIONS reveal that “Ian makes explosion noises” before they pretend the yacht is “a shark” when the STAGE DIRECTIONS reveal that Alec “attacks Ian with it, going for his throat”. These examples reveal that the boys have a relationship built on play – they are both young and enjoy doing the same things at this stage!

Act 2 – Ian and Alec and Ian’s relationship becomes more distant Alec chooses education over a trade Ian doesn’t understand Alec’s choice to stay in school seeing him as a “wee brainbox”, attending a school filled with “toffee nosed wee shites”. Their common bond in football is challenged when Alec admits his new school doesn’t “even have a football team” but play rugby – a perceived middle class sport. Their DIALOGUE suggests their distance and when Ian says “anyway, ah’ll be seein ye. ” and Alec replies “Aye. Cheerio. ” the audience doubts that these boys will sustain a relationship. Their relationship has inevitably cooled due to their CONTRASTING CHARACTERISATION.

“Sailmaker” – Prelim Practice The final question – the perfect structure Make one reference to the extract (select one technique from the extract eg characterisation, dialogue, stage directions) Make your first reference from near the beginning of the drama (introduce this with a topic sentence; note another technique eg The characterisation of Alec contrasts with Ian. The playwright notes…) Make a further two references from the play as a whole showing how relationships/atmosphere have changed (cover 3 different drama techniques – characterisation, dialogue, stage directions, lighting, sound)

Checklist I have : ü a quotation from the extract and linked it to the focus of the question ü Begun paragraphs mentioning a technique ü 3 more quotations after the extract quotation ü Made reference to 3 different drama techniques ü Linked points to the question, addressing the focus of the 8 mark task!

Alec and Ian relationship Stage directions – Alec “runs out for yacht” Alec excited to show cousin; they are close; play together Dialogue – Ian “he’s a tick man. ” Ian more realistic, practical (like Billy, his father); Alec more imaginative and a dreamer like Davie (“he’s really a sailmaker…that’s his real job”) Youth bonds the two stage directions “Ian makes explosion noises” Characterisation Alec intelligent and focuses on education; Ian on a trade makes their dialogue more distant and impersonal “ah’ll be seein ye. ”/ Alec “Aye. Cheerio. ”

Topic sentences – some examples From the extract, the audience is aware of the contrast in characterisation of Alec and Ian (quote and explain!) The playwright’s stage directions early in the drama suggest a close relationship. The dramatist makes effective use of dialogue to convey the relationship between the two. Spence makes the audience aware of the dramatic change in the relationship through dialogue nearing the end of the text.

PRACTICE FINAL QUESTION – Explain how the relationship between Alec and Ian changes as the play progresses. Topic sentences The playwright’s stage directions early in the drama suggest a close relationship From the extract, the audience is aware of the contrast in characterisation of Alec and Ian Spence makes the audience aware of the dramatic change in the relationship through dialogue nearing the end of the text. Quotations Alec “runs out for yacht” Alec: “it’s a good school”. Ian: “Ah couldnae stick it. ” Ian: “ah’ll be seein ye. ”/ Alec : “Aye. Cheerio. ” (distant, impersonal dialogue contrasts with start!) Write three paragraphs of a mini-essay using the topic sentences and quotations above – 15 minutes against the clock!