Introduction to the Non-African Drama Look back in Anger by John Osborne - SS1 Literature Lesson Note

Introduction to Look Back in Anger

Look Back in Anger is a realist play by John Osborne, first performed in 1956.
It was a landmark play in British theater, and is credited with launching the movement of Angry Young Men.
The play follows the lives of Jimmy Porter, an intelligent and angry young man of working-class origin, and his upper-middle-class wife Alison.
The play is set in a cramped attic flat in the English Midlands in the 1950s.

Background of the Novelist

John Osborne was born in London in 1929. He grew up in poverty, and his father, Thomas, died when he was young.
After leaving school, Osborne worked in a variety of jobs, including as a porter, a waiter, and a journalist.
He began writing plays in the early 1950s, and Look Back in Anger was his first successful play.
Osborne died in 1994. He is considered one of the most important British playwrights of the 20th century.

Background and Setting of the Novel

Look Back in Anger is set in the English Midlands in the 1950s.
The play is set in a single room flat, which is shared by Jimmy Porter, his wife Alison, and their friend Cliff Lewis.
The flat is cramped and cluttered, and reflects the characters' difficult circumstances.

Plot and Summary

The play follows the lives of Jimmy Porter and his wife Alison.
Jimmy is an intelligent and angry young man of working-class origin. He is frustrated with his life and with the state of the world.
Alison is from a more privileged background. She is quieter and more reserved than Jimmy.
The play explores the themes of class, social change, and personal relationships.
Themes and Style

The play explores a number of themes, including:

1. Class conflict
2. Social change
3. Personal relationships
4. Anger
5. Disillusionment

The play is written in a realistic style. The dialogue is natural and colloquial. The characters are complex and well-developed.

Examination of the Themes and Style

The play's themes are still relevant today. The characters' struggles with class, social change, and personal relationships are still relatable to audiences today.
The play's style is also still effective today. The dialogue is natural and engaging, and the characters are complex and well-developed.

Analysis of the Themes and Style

The play's themes are explored through the characters' relationships and interactions.
For example, Jimmy's anger and disillusionment are explored through his relationship with his wife Alison.
Alison's struggle to reconcile her working-class background with her upper-middle-class upbringing is explored through her relationships with Jimmy and her friend Helena Charles.
The play's style is used to create a sense of realism.
The dialogue is natural and colloquial, and the characters are complex and well-developed.

Relating the Themes to Personal Life Encounters

The themes of Look Back in Anger can be related to a number of personal life encounters.
For example, the theme of class conflict can be related to experiences of discrimination or prejudice.
The theme of social change can be related to experiences of upheaval or transition.
The theme of personal relationships can be related to experiences of love, loss, or conflict.