The History Boys

A mind map on Alan Bennett's play :)

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  • Created by: Sophie
  • Created on: 02-04-13 13:56
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  • The History Boys
    • Central Conflict - two different educational methods. Hector and Irwin
    • Homosexuality
      • Not unusual in context. Boys come to terms with in in 'undramatic' way
      • For most of boys, experience with homosexualityis just part of them growing up. Some barely affected, and for others (Posner, Dakin?) it has a permanent effect, key in their formative years
      • Hector's fixation on boys ~ worships their innocence? Like  Lewis Carroll - reference to Alice in Wonderland at beginning
      • Excludes Hector. Discussing Hardy, words bring ' a sense of not sharing'
        • References  Hardy 'Un-kissed. Un-rejoicing. Un-confessed
    • Slaughtered Innocence
      • Posner  reads 'Drummer Hodge' by Hardy to Hector
        • Posner is  Drummer Hodge - virginal, innocent, abused
      • Discussion about the Holocaust
    • Setting
      • 80s England.  Margeret Thatcher. Very democratic 'greed is good;
        • Shocking music, bright fashion. Fun. Consumerism central
        • Philistine - looked down on cullture
          • French conversation interspersed throughout play. Encouraged to indulge in culture, flaunt their intellectualism by Hector
    • Central aim to get into Oxford or Cambridge
      • Seen as 'Ivory Tower' we aspire to. Other people want it so we want it. Sacred.
      • Headmaster's concern rests only in League tables
        • Headmaster wants students to be 'Renaissance man' - breadth of knowledge, well-rounded. Progression from just History Boys
          • Abrupt character. Used to giving orders,, imperative speech. Doesn;t know if Leighton Park is school or prison, detracts from intelligence. Doesn't have worldly knowledge he aspires to
    • Religion
      • Repeated Biblical references. (Not just Religion, English mythology rooted in Bible)
      • Scripps openly Religious
  • Irwin
    • Initially viewed as intruder
      • When Irwin first meets the boys during Hector's class  'The classroom falls silent at this unexpected intrusion'
    • The History Boys
      • Central Conflict - two different educational methods. Hector and Irwin
      • Homosexuality
        • Not unusual in context. Boys come to terms with in in 'undramatic' way
        • For most of boys, experience with homosexualityis just part of them growing up. Some barely affected, and for others (Posner, Dakin?) it has a permanent effect, key in their formative years
        • Hector's fixation on boys ~ worships their innocence? Like  Lewis Carroll - reference to Alice in Wonderland at beginning
        • Excludes Hector. Discussing Hardy, words bring ' a sense of not sharing'
          • References  Hardy 'Un-kissed. Un-rejoicing. Un-confessed
      • Slaughtered Innocence
        • Posner  reads 'Drummer Hodge' by Hardy to Hector
          • Posner is  Drummer Hodge - virginal, innocent, abused
        • Discussion about the Holocaust
      • Setting
        • 80s England.  Margeret Thatcher. Very democratic 'greed is good;
          • Shocking music, bright fashion. Fun. Consumerism central
          • Philistine - looked down on cullture
            • French conversation interspersed throughout play. Encouraged to indulge in culture, flaunt their intellectualism by Hector
      • Central aim to get into Oxford or Cambridge
        • Seen as 'Ivory Tower' we aspire to. Other people want it so we want it. Sacred.
        • Headmaster's concern rests only in League tables
          • Headmaster wants students to be 'Renaissance man' - breadth of knowledge, well-rounded. Progression from just History Boys
            • Abrupt character. Used to giving orders,, imperative speech. Doesn;t know if Leighton Park is school or prison, detracts from intelligence. Doesn't have worldly knowledge he aspires to
      • Religion
        • Repeated Biblical references. (Not just Religion, English mythology rooted in Bible)
        • Scripps openly Religious
    • Focus on getting the boys into Oxbridge - jumping through academic hoops for - ultimately - material gain. Good education - good jobs - good money.
    • Encourages them to use different, tactical approach. Say opposite of accepted theory, not because you believe, but to get noticed. Cheating?
      • 'Flee the Crowd' 'Be peverse'
    • Dakin loves him
      • Mimicks Irwin's technqiue, follows it to the letter
    • Exams are 'fact of life'
  • Hector
    • Circle of Trust - locked door. Allows physical contact, un-othodox teaching. Outside world becomes irrelevance. Knowledge they learn in Hector's room has no application to real life
    • Believes in perfectibility of man
    • Rhetorician, orator - enjoys playing with spoken word
    • Sadness of unfulfilled, repressed life
      • Death conveys one of central themes - history is  largely accidental, and not subject to rational explanations, like some would make out
      • The boys are protective over him. Don't want him to get hurt and want to keep him happy
        • One of the boys always volunteers to go on 'Pillion Duty'
        • Protecting  him - see him as inspirational but also flawed 'Don't tell him'
      • Believes in learning for the beauty of knowledge, that to have a prupose would defile it
        • Exams are  'Enemy of education'
          • 'Summer's obligatory hurdles' - purple prose - excessve, uneccessary, fun
        • Circle of Trust - locked door. Allows physical contact, un-othodox teaching. Outside world becomes irrelevance. Knowledge they learn in Hector's room has no application to real life
      • Parallel to King Lear (Shakespeare) old, venerable. Students compete to show love for him?
      • Hits boys. They see this as positive thing ~ shows he cares. Dakin is favourite 'black and blue'

    Comments

    Anisa -Team GR

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    well the fonts too small.

    but overall its alright :)

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