1. ENGLISH LITERATURE:
THE HISTORY BOYS
L.O: To Understand the context of the play

2. Starter
 The play is set in the 1980’s. Mind-map everything you know
about this period of time.
Politics
The 1980’s Education

3.  L.O: To Understand the context of the play
Alan Bennett
 Born in 1934 in Leeds to a working class
family (his father was a butcher).
 He attended a state grammar school (like
the one in The History Boys)
 After National Service he got a place
Cambridge but decided instead to try for a
scholarship at Oxford to follow a
boy he had fallen in love with.

4.  L.O: To Understand the context of the play
• Bennett gained a first class degree and remained at Oxford as a
teacher for a number of years.
• After this he began working for television and writing plays.
• His work is famous for focussing with the everyday and the
ordinary; on people with typically British characteristics and
obsessions.

5.  L.O: To Understand the context of the play
Context task 1.
 Read the context sheet carefully then
discuss and write a answer to the following
questions.
 Be prepared to share your ideas with the
rest of the class.