Blood Relations
by Sharon Pollock
About_
This study guide covers Sharon Pollock’s play ‘Blood Relations,’ a dramatic reimagining of the infamous Lizzie
Borden murder case. Through a metatheatrical framing device, the play explores themes of female autonomy,
family control, and the ambiguity of guilt. Students will engage with factual comprehension questions, critical
analysis prompts, a crossword puzzle, and a character focus activity designed to deepen understanding of this
complex historical drama. This study guide contains 65 questions across 5 chapter sections (50 Factual + 15
Critical), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity.
What’s Included_
This study guide features 5 sets of 10 Factual Questions with an answer key (50 total), 5 sets of 3 Critical Analysis
Questions (15 total), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity (8 traits + evidence prompt +
critical thinking question).
Target Grades_
Grades 10-12
Teacher Note_
This study guide offers a comprehensive framework for exploring one of Canadian theatre’s most compelling
historical dramas. The layered structure of factual and critical questions builds comprehension while encouraging
students to grapple with complex themes of gender, power, and justice. The metatheatrical nature of Pollock’s
play makes it an excellent text for discussing narrative reliability and perspective. We hope this resource saves you
valuable preparation time while sparking rich classroom discussions about a woman whose story continues to
fascinate more than a century later.