Welcome to the Classroom! Introduction to Alan Bennett's The History Boys
Welcome! Today we are diving into one of the most famous British plays of the 21st century: The History Boys by Alan Bennett. This play is part of your Drama post-1900 section. Don't worry if this seems tricky at first—at its heart, this is a play about school, something you know a lot about! We will look at how different teachers think you should learn, how we view history, and what it’s like to grow up. By the end of these notes, you’ll be ready to tackle those exam questions with confidence.
Did you know? Alan Bennett actually went to Oxford himself! He was a medieval historian before he became a world-famous writer, so he knows exactly what it feels like to be in the "History Boys" shoes.
1. The Big Picture: What is the Play About?
The play is set in a grammar school in Sheffield during the 1980s. A group of eight bright, funny, and clever boys are staying on for an extra term to take the entrance exams for Oxford and Cambridge (often called "Oxbridge").
The main conflict isn't between the boys, but between the teaching styles of their instructors. It’s like a battle for the boys' minds. Imagine you have one teacher who wants you to love the subject for its own sake, and another who just wants to give you "tips and tricks" to pass the exam. That is exactly what is happening here!
Key takeaway:
The play explores the purpose of education: Is it to make you a better person, or just to get you a high-paying job?
2. The Teachers: Three Ways of Looking at History
To understand this play, you need to understand the three main teachers. Think of them as three different "flavors" of education.
Hector: The Heart (Holistic Education)
Hector believes that education is for "life," not for exams. He makes the boys memorize poetry and old movie scenes. He calls these "gobbets"—little pieces of literature that the boys can use later in life when they are sad or lonely.
Memory Aid: Think of Hector as Heart. He wants them to feel the history, not just pass it.
Irwin: The Method (Tactical Education)
Irwin is hired by the Headmaster to get the boys into Oxbridge. He tells them that "the truth" doesn't matter in an exam. Instead, they need to be provocative and original. He teaches them to "turn the question on its head."
Analogy: If history is a boring sandwich, Irwin wants the boys to add "spicy mayo" to make it stand out to the examiners.
Mrs. Lintott: The Facts (Traditional Education)
Mrs. Lintott teaches the "plain, cold facts." She is the most realistic. She also provides a vital feminist perspective, famously pointing out that history is mostly just "five hundred years of masculine preoccupation."
Quick Review: The Teaching Styles
Hector: Knowledge as armor for the soul.
Irwin: Knowledge as a performance or a trick.
Mrs. Lintott: Knowledge as a record of (mostly male) facts.
3. Key Themes to Watch For
History and Truth
The play asks: What is history? Is it what actually happened, or is it just the story we tell to win an argument? Irwin teaches the boys that history is a performance. Hector thinks that treating history as a "trick" is an insult to the people who lived through it (especially when discussing the Holocaust).
The "Bennett Voice" and Wit
Alan Bennett is famous for his witty, fast-paced dialogue. The boys often speak like middle-aged intellectuals. This is a dramatic effect—it shows how "educated" they have become, but also how they use language to hide their real feelings.
Context: The 1980s and Thatcherism
The play is set in the 80s when the UK government (under Margaret Thatcher) was pushing for schools to be more like businesses—focused on results, league tables, and efficiency. The Headmaster represents this view. He doesn't care if the boys like poetry; he just wants them to get into Oxford so the school looks good.
4. Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Thinking Hector is a perfect hero: While we might like Hector’s love for poetry, remember he also behaves inappropriately with the boys (fondling them on his motorbike). Bennett makes him a flawed character to challenge the audience.
2. Thinking Irwin is a villain: Irwin’s methods actually work! The boys do get into Oxford. He isn't "evil"; he is just modern and cynical.
3. Ignoring the Boys: Don't just talk about the teachers. Characters like Posner (the outsider) and Dakin (the confident one) show how these teaching styles affect real young people.
5. Analyzing a Scene: Step-by-Step
When you get an extract in the exam, follow these steps to get top marks:
Step 1: Identify the "Vibe." Is the scene funny, serious, or an argument? Bennett often mixes comedy with sadness (tragicomedy).
Step 2: Look for "Gobbets." Is a character quoting poetry or a movie? Why? Are they using it to express a feeling they can't say in their own words?
Step 3: Connect to Context. Is the Headmaster talking about "results"? That’s 1980s Thatcherism. Is Hector talking about the "heart"? That’s the Romantic tradition of education.
Step 4: Check the Power Balance. Who is winning the argument? Usually, the person with the cleverest "line" or the sharpest wit is in control of the stage.
Key Takeaway for the Exam:
Always talk about dramatic effects. This is a play, not a book! Imagine the boys acting out the scenes or the silences between the teachers.
6. Summary "Cheat Sheet"
The Setting: 1980s Sheffield Grammar School.
The Goal: Getting into Oxford/Cambridge.
The Conflict: Hector (Life/Art) vs. Irwin (Exams/Performance).
The Style: Witty, intellectual, and funny, but with a sad ending.
Key Term - "Pass it on": This is Hector's final message. Education isn't about keeping knowledge; it's about passing it on to the next generation.
Final Encouragement: You've got this! Like the boys in the play, you are learning how to handle complex ideas. Just remember to look for the contrast between the characters, and you’ll be an expert on Bennett in no time!