Exploring Family Dynamics in Sailmaker
Alec
•
At the start of the play, he is 11 and is told by his father
of his mother’s death.
•
He struggles to cope with this traumatic experience
•
As the clouds separate, he imagines the patch of blue
sky to be a sign from the heavens that his mother is
safe and this comforts him.
•
Alec is proud of his father’s trade as a sailmaker and
boasts about this to Ian.
•
Alec’s intelligence is shown by his imaginative games
when the boys are playing pirate and cowboy games
•
By the end of Act I, there is a sense that Alec is
intelligent, able to think for himself and has coped with
the loss of his mother better than his father.
Davie
•
Davie’s grief and depression are preventing him
from being a good parent.
•
Davie is an intelligent man.
•
Davie is working as a tick man, going door-to-door
collecting credit payments.
•
Davie feels worthless as he is unable to use his
skills.
•
He has been gambling
•
Davie does not make the sail for Alec’s yacht
•
Davie loses his job
Billy
•
Davie’s younger brother and Ian's father
•
Billy is a practical man, who is keen to get the job
done.
•
He keeps his promises and paints the yacht
•
Billy tries to help Davie and lends him money and
tries to get the bookie to leave him alone
•
Billy is wiser than Davie when it comes to money
and has not been drawn into gambling
•
He hates Catholics
Ian
•
Ian's function in the play is to provide a contrast to
Alec
•
He is a simple character who knows what he likes
and sticks to it
•
The boys share an interest in Rangers Football
Club, but Ian's views are sectarian
•
Ian winds Alec up a lot.
Pages 30-32 (End of Act 1)
1.
How does Alan Spence demonstrate the boys’
imagination as they play football? (4)
2.
How does Alan Spence’s use of language show us
Davie’s disappointment as losing his job (“Try tellin…
Nothin.”)? (4)
3.
How does Billy try to support Davie? (2)
4.
How does Davie rationalise his disappointment when
he speaks to Alec? (2)
5.
Poverty is a major theme in Sailmaker. Referring
briefly to the extract and in detail to the rest of the
play, explain how Spence explores this theme. (8)
P21-23
(Billy: Hey… - Comes
forward…)
1.
What was Billy and Davie’s relationship like as children
and how does Spence show this on page 21? (3)
2.
How does Spence convey Davie’s grief over his wife’s
death
(Naw ye don’t… - If ah ever dae.)
? (3)
3.
How does the discussion about the yacht show the
difference between Davie and Billy? (3)
4.
What does Davie’s language tell us about the two sides of
Billy (
Ach aye… - Solid.)
? (3)
5.
The relationship between Billy and Davie is an important
one in Sailmaker. Referring briefly to the extract and in
detail to the rest of the play, explain how Spence explores
the relationship and its relevance to the ideas of the play.
(8)
In "Sailmaker," Alan Spence delves into the intricacies of family relationships and the impact of loss on individuals. The play follows Alec as he copes with his mother's death, Davie's struggles with grief and gambling, Billy's support for his brother, and Ian's contrasting personality. Poverty and imagination are key themes explored through the characters' interactions. Spence skillfully weaves a narrative that highlights the complexities of familial bonds and the ways in which individuals navigate challenges and emotions.
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Presentation Transcript
Alec At the start of the play, he is 11 and is told by his father of his mother s death. He struggles to cope with this traumatic experience As the clouds separate, he imagines the patch of blue sky to be a sign from the heavens that his mother is safe and this comforts him. Alec is proud of his father s trade as a sailmaker and boasts about this to Ian. Alec s intelligence is shown by his imaginative games when the boys are playing pirate and cowboy games By the end of Act I, there is a sense that Alec is intelligent, able to think for himself and has coped with the loss of his mother better than his father.
Davie Davie s grief and depression are preventing him from being a good parent. Davie is an intelligent man. Davie is working as a tick man, going door-to-door collecting credit payments. Davie feels worthless as he is unable to use his skills. He has been gambling Davie does not make the sail for Alec s yacht Davie loses his job
Billy Davie s younger brother and Ian's father Billy is a practical man, who is keen to get the job done. He keeps his promises and paints the yacht Billy tries to help Davie and lends him money and tries to get the bookie to leave him alone Billy is wiser than Davie when it comes to money and has not been drawn into gambling He hates Catholics
Ian Ian's function in the play is to provide a contrast to Alec He is a simple character who knows what he likes and sticks to it The boys share an interest in Rangers Football Club, but Ian's views are sectarian Ian winds Alec up a lot.
Pages 30-32 (End of Act 1) 1. How does Alan Spence demonstrate the boys imagination as they play football? (4) 2. How does Alan Spence s use of language show us Davie s disappointment as losing his job ( Try tellin Nothin. )? (4) 3. How does Billy try to support Davie? (2) 4. How does Davie rationalise his disappointment when he speaks to Alec? (2) 5. Poverty is a major theme in Sailmaker. Referring briefly to the extract and in detail to the rest of the play, explain how Spence explores this theme. (8)
P21-23 (Billy: Hey - Comes forward ) 1. What was Billy and Davie s relationship like as children and how does Spence show this on page 21? (3) How does Spence convey Davie s grief over his wife s death (Naw ye don t - If ah ever dae.)? (3) How does the discussion about the yacht show the difference between Davie and Billy? (3) What does Davie s language tell us about the two sides of Billy (Ach aye - Solid.)? (3) The relationship between Billy and Davie is an important one in Sailmaker. Referring briefly to the extract and in detail to the rest of the play, explain how Spence explores the relationship and its relevance to the ideas of the play. (8) 2. 3. 4. 5.
