Blasted by Sarah Kane - Comprehension Test & Activities

Blasted
by Sarah Kane
About_
Blasted by Sarah Kane is a landmark work of 1990s in-yer-face theatre that begins as an intense domestic drama
between a dying journalist, Ian, and a young woman, Cate, before violently expanding into a depiction of war’s
atrocities with the arrival of a Soldier. The play is known for its unflinching confrontation of violence, prejudice, and
human suffering, using a fractured structure to link private cruelty with global conflict. This study guide is designed
for mature, advanced students and covers close textual analysis, thematic discussion, and character study
appropriate to upper-level literature or drama courses. This study guide contains 78 questions across 6 chapter
sections (60 Factual + 18 Critical), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity.
What’s Included_
This study guide features 6 sets of 10 Factual Questions with an answer key (60 total), 6 sets of 3 Critical Analysis
Questions (18 total), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity (8 traits + evidence prompt +
critical thinking question).
Target Grades_
Grades 11-12 / Advanced A-Level / Introductory University
Teacher Note_
Note: Blasted contains extremely graphic and disturbing content, including depictions of sexual violence, torture,
and war atrocities. This guide is intended only for mature, advanced students in appropriately supervised academic
settings (e.g., A-Level Theatre Studies or university drama courses) and should be paired with careful classroom
framing and content warnings. Used thoughtfully, it can support rich discussion of trauma, power, and
representation in contemporary drama.