billy elliot hsc essay questions

The Ultimate Guide to Analysing ‘Billy Elliot’ for English: Summary, Context, Themes & Characters

Stephen Daldry’s 2000 film,  Billy Elliot,  follows a young boy living in Northern England who pursues his passion for ballet amidst societal expectations. We’ve compiled our Billy Elliot analysis here, with a summary, context, key themes, TEE tables, and a Band 6 exemplar response!

Studying this text for the HSC English Common Module  right now? We’ve got you covered.

It’s time to ace your analysis of Billy Elliot — let’s go!

Plot Summary of Billy Elliot Historical Context Key Themes in Billy Elliot Connection to Texts and Human Experiences Writing Billy Elliot HSC Analysis in 3 Steps  Sample Band 6 Paragraph and TEE Tables 

Plot Summary of Billy Elliot

Billy Elliot is a film set in a mining town in northern England during the 1984-85 miners’ strike. The story revolves around eleven-year-old Billy Elliot, whose life takes an unexpected turn when he discovers a passion for ballet.

Billy stumbles into a boxing class one day, but instead finds himself captivated by the ballet lessons happening in the same building. Encouraged by his dance teacher, Mrs. Wilkinson, Billy starts taking secret ballet lessons, hiding it from his traditional and struggling family, especially his father and older brother, who are deeply involved in the ongoing miners’ strike.

Despite facing opposition and ridicule from his family and the community, Billy’s talent becomes evident as he pours his heart into dancing. Mrs. Wilkinson recognizes his potential and encourages him to audition for the prestigious Royal Ballet School in London. However, Billy’s father, Jackie, initially disapproves, associating ballet with a lack of masculinity.

As the strike intensifies and tensions rise within the town, Jackie and the other miners struggle against the government’s policies, while Billy faces his own internal conflict between his passion for ballet and his family’s expectations. Eventually, Jackie witnesses Billy’s talent firsthand and realizes the importance of supporting his son’s dreams, giving him his blessing to pursue ballet.

In an emotionally charged climax, Billy auditions for the Royal Ballet School, delivering a breathtaking performance that moves the audition panel. The film culminates with a poignant acceptance letter from the school, signifying Billy’s triumph over adversity and the beginning of a new chapter in his life.

Access ‘Billy Elliot’ Downloadable Sample Band 6 Paragraph and Analysed Examples Here!

Context of billy elliot.

The story of Billy Elliot is set against the backdrop of the 1984 miners’ strike in England. In an attempt to boost the economy, Margaret Thatcher shut down a number of collieries and in response trade unions fought back, going on strike.

This meant that almost all coal miners from South Wales, Yorkshire, Scotland, North East England and Kent stopped working, and picketed to stop other coal miners from going to work.

Those who did still choose to work in the mines were known as “scabs.” The strike left many families very poor, as they had no income, which is the situation Billy’s family finds themselves in during the film. There was a long war between the trade unions and Margaret Thatcher, who did all she could to quell their power.

On the 3 March 1985 the NUM’s national executive voted 98-91 in favour of an organised return to work. It was a bitter failure for the Miners, and also for organised industrial action, which would come to suffer further during the Thatcher years.

Key Themes in Billy Elliot

1. gender expectations .

The film highlights the clash between Billy’s love for dance, a traditionally feminine art form, and his family’s expectations of him conforming to masculine ideals, particularly his father’s insistence on boxing as a suitable activity.

Billy’s pursuit of ballet not only defies these gender stereotypes but also showcases the importance of breaking free from societal constraints to embrace individuality and personal fulfilment;  this is arguably the most prominent of the themes in Billy Elliot.

Looking for quotes? Here are the Top 50 Billy Elliot Quotes for each theme.

2. Rebellion 

Billy’s rebellion against the traditional gender roles and expectations imposed upon him by his mining town community reflects a deeper desire to follow his passion for ballet, a pursuit considered unconventional and unsuitable for boys in that environment.

Billy’s defiance against the rigid norms of his society not only highlights the struggle of an individual against prevailing conventions but also emphasises the power of rebellion in challenging established norms to pave the way for personal growth and authenticity.

3. Determination 

Despite facing numerous obstacles (family expectations, societal stereotypes, and economic hardships), Billy remains resolute in pursuing his dream.

His determination is evident in his relentless practice, his defiance of societal norms, and his willingness to endure ridicule and criticism. Billy’s unwavering dedication showcases the resilience of the human spirit, emphasising the transformative power of determination in overcoming adversities.

4. The Power of Art 

Billy’s discovery and pursuit of ballet serve as a testament to the profound impact of art on individual growth and self-expression. In a town entrenched in the turmoil of a miners’ strike, ballet becomes Billy’s refuge , a means of escape from the harsh realities surrounding him.

Through dance, Billy not only discovers his innate talent but also finds a channel to express his emotions, dreams, and inner turmoil. The film beautifully illustrates how art possesses the ability to empower individuals, offering solace and a sense of purpose in the midst of adversity.

While the Elliot family grapples with the harsh realities of the miners’ strike, Billy’s unconventional pursuit of ballet, contrary to their working-class values, also creates tension. However, Billy’s father, Jackie, ultimately undergoes a transformative journey, realising the importance of supporting Billy’s dreams.

Their bond strengthens as Jackie learns to embrace and celebrate Billy’s talent, symbolising the power of acceptance and unconditional love within a family navigating societal expectations and personal aspirations.

Need to find a related text for Billy Elliot that works with the HSC Common Module rubric?

Billy grapples with the loss of his mother, whose absence leaves a significant emotional void in his life, the town’s miners face the loss of their livelihoods due to the ongoing strike, and societal expectations impose constraints on Billy’s pursuit of ballet, highlighting the loss of personal expression and freedom.

Whether it’s the loss of loved ones, opportunities, or personal freedoms, the film showcases the human potential for resilience in the face of adversity and the complexities of grief while striving for personal fulfilment

7. Poverty 

Poverty is a pervasive another of the themes in Billy Elliot, deeply ingrained in the film’s struggling working-class community during the 1984-85 miners’ strike. Billy’s father and brother are deeply involved in this strike, fighting against job losses and wage cuts.

This backdrop of poverty creates conflict within the family, with Billy’s pursuit of ballet seen as an extravagance in the face of their dire circumstances.

The film sensitively showcases how poverty impacts aspirations and choices, illustrating the stark contrast between dreams and the harshness of reality in a community struggling to make ends meet.

Remember that when we are writing about ideas in a text, we always need to go beyond a mere theme. Instead of writing a paragraph about “Family”, you should make an argument.

Connection to Texts and Human Experiences

Link #1: anomalies, paradoxes and inconsistencies in human behaviour and motivations..

Billy Elliot himself is an anomaly as he goes against social expectations by pursuing ballet. However, his struggle to realise his dream demonstrates human inconsistency.

Billy does not consistently defy social conventions; in one scene, he hesitates to embrace dance by openly — and hypocritically — asking a friend, “What boys do ballet?” and collectively referring to dancers as “Poofs!”

Jackie (Billy’s father), also reveals the inconsistencies and paradoxes of human behaviour. He initially gives everything up for the miners’ strike and punishes his son for his love of ballet. However, he ultimately breaks his strike to support Billy’s dream.

Link #2:  Individual and collective human experiences.

In the film, Billy’s individual pursuit of dancing contrasts against the collective experience of strict gender roles and toxic masculinity.

It is also useful to consider how Billy’s individual experience of rebelling against his society is somewhat similar to the collective experience of the strike rebellion. Perhaps these similarities are what allow Billy and his society to understand each other at the end of the film. 

Writing Billy Elliot HSC Analysis in 3 Steps 

Before we start writing analysis, we need to look at our two rules.

The first rule is “link the technique to the idea.”

This means when you are doing your analysis, you are not merely labelling a technique, but you are showing how its effect is relevant to your overall idea. It is more important that you link your technique to the idea, than linking the quote to the idea!

The second rule is “say something new!”

Weak essays often tend to repeat the exact same idea three times within a paragraph. To achieve a Band 6, you should make sure each point says something new and builds up an argument, rather than just repeating the previous point.

Before we get into our analysis, we need an idea, so we have something to link our techniques to! Our idea is: Despite being set in a society which stifles artistic pursuits, Billy Elliot suggests that art has the power to liberate individuals.

Step 1: Choose your example(s)

For our first Billy Elliot example for our analysis, we’ve chosen to compare two moments from the beginning of the film.

Firstly, the moment when Billy is jumping on his bed, and secondly, the moment when Billy is making breakfast for his grandma in the kitchen.

Remember that comparison between multiple moments in your text provides a great opportunity to do some deep analysis of your text.

Step 2: Identify techniques(s)

For these examples, we are going to use the technique of contrast.

The great thing about using contrast as a technique, is it means we can use 3 techniques in one piece of analysis as there is an extra technique on each side of the contrast.

For our examples we have a long shot for the first part of the contrast and Mis en scène for the second part of the contrast.

Step 3: Carry out your analysis  

Remember that it’s  all about linking to a specific question and making sure to analyse techniques, not the examples.  We have written:

In the opening scene of the film, Billy is jumping on his bed — a prototype of his later dancing. The long shot set against the unrealistically vast backdrop of his wallpaper emphasises the surreal nature of this experience. In contrast, the overcrowded mis en scène of Billy’s kitchen elucidates the realities of his life: his poverty and his responsibility for his sick grandma.

Step 4: Organise your analysis

The way we recommend organising your analysis is through a TEE table. The TEE in TEE table stands for Technique, Example and Effect.

They’re a great tool you can use to analyse your text. All you have to do is include your pieces of evidence under ‘example’ then identify the technique in the ‘technique’ column and carry out your analysis like below:

If you’re analysing a few themes, it’s a good idea to have a separate TEE table per theme. For your Billy Elliot analysis for example, keep all pieces of evidence that relate to family in one table.

Want more examples of how to use a  TEE Table  to write really, really good HSC essays?

Sample Band 6 Paragraph and TEE Tables 

We’ve analysed another two examples using TEE tables that relate to the theme of individuality and a sample Band 6 paragraph that you can access below!

Looking for some extra help with HSC English for your Billy Elliot analysis?

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Brooklyn Arnot has a Bachelor of Arts majoring in English Literature with Honours at the University of Sydney. She scored an HD average and has even received the Dean’s award for excellence! Brooklyn teaches our English classes at Art of Smart and has over 5 years of experience supporting Year 11 and 12 students throughout their HSC. She’s also a new Syllabus expert and studied 4U English in high school.

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Paper 1 - Section I - 10 Full-Length Reading Tasks

Paper 1 - Section II - 60 Practice Essay Questions

This article contains several sample HSC questions for all modules of the year 12 Advanced English Course.

5 minute read

Last updated 

October 8, 2021

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Six Second Summary

Introduction.

As regular practice is essential to effective study regimes, students should utilise these questions in the lead up to trial and HSC exams. Questions are best practised under timed conditions to best prepare for the exams in an authentic environment.

These questions have been prepared by top state-ranking tutors at Premier Tutors with several years of experience teaching the new syllabus, including three tutors who have placed 1st in NSW for English Advanced.

Common Questions

“Through the language of emotion, texts may provide timeless and universal portraits of humanity.”

To what extent does this statement relate to your own understanding of your prescribed text? In your response, refer to the quotation and your prescribed text.

“Literature always anticipates life. It does not copy it but moulds it to its purpose.” – Oscar Wilde

Assess the effectiveness of your prescribed text in providing an authentic image of reality. In your response, refer to the quotation and your prescribed text.

“It is difficult to maintain individual identity in the face of homogenous collectives.”

To what extent does this statement relate to your own understanding of your prescribed text?

How does your text represent the paradoxical nature of human behaviours and motivations?

Literature’s power comes from its ability to confront the reader’s assumptions by representing new perspectives on the human experience. How does your understanding of your prescribed text reflect this statement?

“One’s identity is a culmination of their individual and collective human experiences.”

To what extent does this statement align with your understanding of your prescribed text? In your response, refer to the quotation and your prescribed text.

How does your text represent the inconsistencies between morality and human behaviours?

“The medium is the message” – Marshall McLuhan

How does the composer of your prescribed text communicate their perspective on the human experience through their form choices? In your response, refer to your prescribed text and the above statement.

“Despite our different behaviours, human motivations are all the same.”

How does your composer respond to their context to represent enduring ideas about the human experience? In your response, make close reference to the given statement and the prescribed text.

Question 10

“If the world were clear, art would not exist.” – Albert Camus

How does your prescribed text use storytelling to clarify the uncertainties and inconsistencies of the human experience? In your response, refer to the given statement and your prescribed text.

Question 11

How does the composer of your prescribed text experiment with form to challenge readers’ perspectives about the human experience?

Question 12

“The only constant within the human experience is change.”

To what extent does this paradoxical statement reflect your understanding of your prescribed text?

Question 13

How does your text use storytelling to deepen the responder’s understanding of the power of human relationships?

Question 14

How does your text develop a strong voice to shape the reader’s perspectives about the nature of individual experiences?

Question 15

“The most powerful and transcendental human experience is love.”

Love can come in many different forms. How does your text represent the impact of this emotion on individual and collective human experiences? In your response, make close reference to the above statement and your prescribed text.

Form Questions

Question 16 - prose fiction.

“The primary purpose of prose to create an authentic representation of the human experience.”

To what extent does the given statement align with your understanding of your prescribed text? In your response, discuss how narrative voice and structure help create this authenticity.

Question 17 - Poetry

“The power of poetry is not so much in the literal meaning of the words, but in the feelings that it evokes through imagery and other creative choices. It is through those feelings that we learn about the human experience.”

To what extent does this statement align with your understanding of your prescribed text?

Question 18 - Drama/ Shakespearean Drama

Analyse your prescribed text’s use of performance devices in representing human emotions.

Question 19 - Nonfiction

Analyse how the narrative voice of your prescribed text deepens your understanding of the individual experience represented.

Question 20 - Film & Media

Analyse how visual techniques work in conjunction with dialogue to accurately portray the interaction between individual and collective human experiences.

The following are all text-specific questions:

All the Light We Cannot See (Doerr, Anthony):

Question 21.

How does Doer represent the impact of adversity on the individual and collective behaviours?

Question 22

“So how, children, does the brain, which lives without a spark of light, build for us a world full of light?”

How has Doer’s representation of hope deepened your understanding of the human experience? In your response, make close reference to the given quotation and your prescribed text.

Question 23

How does Doer’s complicated portrayal of heroes and villains reveal the universality of our underlying humanity?

Vertigo (Lohrey, Amanda):

Question 24.

How does Lohrey represent the importance of connection with place in shaping the individual human experience?

Question 25

“To awaken human emotion is the highest level of art.” – Isadora Duncan

Discuss how Lohrey’s representation of the range of human emotions has enhanced your understanding of the human experience. In your response, make close reference to the given quote and your prescribed text.

Question 26

How does Lohrey represent the impact of loss and grief on individual human experiences?

Nineteen Eighty-Four (Orwell, George):

Question 27.

“Don’t let it happen. It depends on you.” – George Orwell

How does the above quotation resonate with your understanding of Orwell’s authorial intent?

Question 28

How does Orwell represent the power of collective narratives to homogenise individual human experiences?

Question 29

How does Orwell represent the nature of human emotions within a totalitarian regime, and how does this representation help support his authorial purpose?

Past the Shallows (Parrett, Favel):

Question 30.

“No man is an island entire of itself.” – John Donne

Does the above quotation affirm or challenge Parrett’s representation of isolation in Past the Shallows?

Question 31

Analyse how Parrett’s representation of fear shapes your understanding of human behaviours and motivations.

Question 32

How does Parrett represent the influence of setting on individual and collective human experiences?

Rosemary Dobson Collect Poems

‘Young Girl at a Window’, ‘Over the Hill’, ‘Summer’s End’, ‘The Conversation’, ‘Cock Crow’, ‘Amy Caroline’, ‘Canberra Morning’

Question 33

How does Dobson experiment with form to examine the impact of internal conflict on the individual human experience? In your response, refer to AT LEAST TWO of Dobson’s prescribed poems.

Question 34

“His eyes lit windows facing west / to the lemon-coloured light.” - Over the Hill, Rosemary Dobson

How does Dobson’s poetry engage with the different human reactions to change? In your response, refer to the above quotation and TWO OR MORE of Dobson’s prescribed poems.

Question 35

How does Dobson use her poetic form to explore the depth of human emotions? In your response, make clear reference to specific FORM choices made by Dobson in NO MORE THAN TWO of her poems.

Kenneth Slessor Selected Poems

‘Wild Grapes’, ‘Gulliver’, ‘Out of Time’, ‘Vesper-Song of the Reverend Samuel Marsden’, ‘William Street’, ‘Beach Burial’

Question 36

How does Slessor use imagery to evoke confronting emotions and experiences? In your response, refer to AT LEAST TWO of Slessor’s prescribed poems.

Question 37

How does Slessor highlight the paradoxes and anomalies inherent within the human experience? In your response, refer to NO MORE THAN TWO of Slessor’s prescribed poems.

Question 38

How does Slessor’s use of poetic personas allow him to shine light on complex aspects of the human experience? In your response, refer to AT LEAST TWO of Slessor’s prescribed poems.

The Crucible (Miller, Arthur)

Question 39.

“Whilst The Crucible is clearly a response to Miller’s context, it also contains enduring messages about human behaviours and motivations.”

How does the above statement reflect your understanding of the human experience represented in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible?

Question 40

How does Miller represent the power of institutional narratives to overwhelm and shape individual and collective human experiences?

Question 41

“Fear is the primary motivator within the human experience.”

To what extent does this statement reflect your understanding of the human experiences represented in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible?

The Merchant of Venice (Shakespeare, William)

Question 42.

How does Shakespeare represent differing motivations and their impact on human behaviours?

Question 43

“Life itself, my wife and all the world / Are not with me esteemed above thy life.” (Bassiano to Antonio, IV.i.275-276, The Merchant of Venice, William Shakespeare)

How does Shakespeare represent the importance of connection with others in providing value to human experiences?

Question 44

How does Shakespeare in The Merchant of Venice represent the influence of social laws and norms on both individual and collective human experiences?

The Boy Behind the Curtain (Winton, Tim)

Question 45.

How does Winton’s memoir form invite the reader to reflect upon the impact of past experiences in shaping individual identity? In your response, refer to AT LEAST TWO of Winton’s stories prescribed for study.

Question 46

To what extent does Winton engage with the tensions between individual motivations and collective expectations? In your response, refer to NO MORE THAN TWO of Winton’s stories prescribed for study.

Question 47

“For many, certainty has become the new normal, but it’s an illusion…We’ll forever be vulnerable to havoc.” – Havoc, Tim Winton

How does Winton represent the illusions within the human experience? In your response, make specific reference to above quotation and AT LEAST TWO of Winton’s stories prescribed for study.

I Am Malala (Yousafzai, Malala & Lamb)

Question 48.

“We realise the importance of our voices only when we are silenced.” – I am Malala, Malala Yousafzai

How does Yousafzai represent the importance of storytelling to empower individuals and collectives? In your response, make close reference to the above quotation and your prescribed text.

Question 49

How does Yousafzai represent the importance of maintaining individual values in the face of challenging individual and collective human experiences?

Question 50

How does Yousafzai in I am Malala represent the emotions and behaviours associated with experiences of inequality?

Question 51

How does Yousafzai in I am Malala represent our underlying, universal humanity despite our different beliefs and backgrounds?

Billy Elliot (Daldry, Stephen)

Question 52.

“We cannot change who we are, no more than we can change the rising of the sun or the coming of the tides.”

Does the above statement affirm or challenge your understanding of the representation of individual identity in Daldry’s Billy Elliot?

Question 53

How does Billy Elliot use visual techniques to engage with the difficulty of overcoming social expectations?

Question 54

How does Daldry in Billy Elliot represent the importance of acceptance to the human experience?

Go Back to Where You Came From (O’Mahony, Ivan)

Question 55.

How does Go Back to Where You Came From use documentary techniques which confront the viewer’s expectations to reveal the range of human experiences?

Question 56

How does Go Back to Where You Came From represent the power of new experiences to change existing perspectives?

Question 57

How does Go Back to Where You Came From represent our underlying, universal humanity despite our different beliefs and backgrounds?

Waste Land (Walker, Lucy)

Question 58.

“A powerful artistic vision is undeniable.”

Does the above quote affirm or challenge your understanding of Waste Land’s representation of the importance of artistic purpose for individual identity?

Question 59

How has your study of Waste Land enhanced your understanding of the power of creative expression to unite communities?

Question 60

How does Waste Land use visual techniques to shape our understanding of the timelessness and universality of human concerns and challenges?

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About the Author

Fionn is a humanities tutor at Premier Tutors. Fionn attended Cranbrook School on a full academic Academic Scholarship and graduated as Dux with a perfect ATAR of 99.95.

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HSC Common Module: Billy Elliot Essay AND Talking points

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Description.

TALKING POINTS: Memorized essays betray a lack of confidence and an unwillingness to commit to authentic answers. Examiners have always advised students to prepare 'talking points' instead - a selection of ideas that they can draw on and which convey solid analysis and interpretation of the text.

These talking points can be used by teachers, to focus discussion on higher-level or less-noticed features of the text and context. They also form effective student revision materials for formal assessment. Each point is supported by a piece of evidence from the text, and there are sufficient points to generate solid responses to almost any essay question. The Talking Points also model how students can articulate more complex thoughts about the text, and adduce evidence in natural and well-integrated writing.

ESSAY: This is a three-part resource for students undertaking the NSW HSC Common Module Texts and Human Experience.

1. A generic essay plan shows students how to compose an essay suitable for Stage 6, progressing them from the simpler PEEL/TEAL models of Stage 4 and 5.

2. A sample essay for the prescribed text, Stephen Daldry's film Billy Elliot , answers the 2019 HSC question: To what extent does the exploration of human experience in Daldry's film invite you to reconsider your understanding of commitment?

3. There is also a second copy of the essay, marked up to show how it follows the plan, and with five short questions which require students to engage critically with the essay and its form.

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Billy Elliot Text and Human Experiences Essay

Subject: English

Age range: 16+

Resource type: Assessment and revision

Last updated

2 August 2019

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Billy Elliot Essay for Texts and Human Experiences - New NSW HSC Course

Written response to the following question.

Composers draw us into the world of the text inviting us to share a representation of human experiences. Critically analyse how your prescribed text shares it’s representation.

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Billy Elliot

By stephen daldry, billy elliot themes.

One of the major themes in the film is family. Throughout the film we see Billy and his family members having trouble connecting to one another, and having to find allegiance to one another in spite of their huge differences. After the loss of his wife, Jackie is determined to keep his family together, but he often has trouble understanding and accepting his sons, providing the nurturance that their mother did. Throughout much of the film, he hates the idea of Billy becoming a dancer and actively tries to thwart Billy's dream, but he ultimately realizes that his son has an amazing talent and eventually works hard to give him the opportunity to go to ballet school. Tony, too, becomes supportive of Billy's passion, and they work hard to help give Billy the opportunity to escape their small town. While the beginning of the film paints a portrait of a fragmented family, one whose members do not support or understand one another, eventually it becomes a film about the power of love in a family, and how even in turmoil, family can come together.

Throughout the film, we see Billy dancing almost in spite of himself, and at times, he cannot help but kick his feet in the air and do a dance. All of these instances demonstrate his passion for dancing, the fact that it is an insistent urge throughout his life. In moments when life seems hard to bear, Billy turns to dance, and movement bubbles up in his body at key moments in his life.

Later in the film, when it seems that he has almost ruined his chances of going to ballet school, he answers a question posed by the judges by saying that dancing is a sensation of having electricity running through his body. His description, so visceral and passionate, catches the attention of the judges. While he is not the typically polished or posh student of the ballet school, he demonstrates a passion that is unique and special.

Ballet dancers don't typically come from little mining villages in the north of England. Class is a major theme of Billy Elliot , as part of what makes Billy's interest in ballet so disruptive to his family and his community is not only that he is a boy in a girl's discipline, but that he is a poor boy in a rich boy's discipline. His father is a simple miner, fighting for the rights of the worker, but Billy just wants to dance, a pastime that is perceived as frivolous. Billy's mismatch with ballet is put into contrast when he goes to audition for ballet school and finds himself surrounded by much wealthier applicants, even punching one of them that is too friendly to him. The theme of class is not directly addressed, but it informs Billy's narrative in the film.

The film is set against the backdrop of the miners' strike in Northern England that occurred in the 1980s, a battle between the unions and the government under Margaret Thatcher. Jackie and Tony are both miners who are on strike for their beliefs. While they share many of the same beliefs, we see them come into conflict about certain details of the movement. Jackie doesn't like how violent and radical Tony has become, while Tony sees his father as passive and not fighting hard enough. On the occasion of Billy's first audition for ballet school, Tony gets arrested and Billy has to miss his audition. Thus political conflict is a major theme in the film, as we see that Billy's interest in ballet is set in stark contrast to the heated political issues of the times.

Gender is at the center of Billy's problems, even though he sees no issue with his interest in ballet. In the town where he is from, boxing is for boys and ballet for girls, yet Billy's deep love for dance draws him towards ballet nonetheless. At first, he himself is confused about whether his interest in ballet belies some kind of effeminacy, but soon learns that male ballet dancers are some of the most athletic men in the world, which reassures him.

Even though it doesn't take Billy long to learn that ballet doesn't make him less of a man, it takes his brother and father awhile longer to catch up to him. They are convinced that ballet is for women and gay men, and their bigoted attitudes prevent them from seeing Billy's immense talent. Their perceptions of gender prevent them from accepting what is right before their eyes.

Additionally, Billy's best friend Michael is coming to terms with being gay, experimenting with cross-dressing and his own effeminacy. While Billy's discipline of choice, ballet, marks him as subverting gender expectations, Michael grapples with the fact that he isn't like other boys in key ways. Billy, an ever-sympathetic protagonist, accepts Michael and encourages his friend's effeminacy, bringing him up to the gymnasium after hours and putting him in a tutu.

A shadow hanging over Billy's life from the start of the film is the loss of his mother. After his mother died, he has been left in the charge of his confused and overwhelmed father, who struggles to provide the nurturance that Billy's mother no longer can. As we also discover early on, Billy was encouraged by his mother to pursue his artistic interests, but Jackie does not approve of Billy's dreamier sensibilities. Thus, Billy's pursuit of ballet becomes a way for him to keep his mother's memory alive. The film includes a few references to loss. In one scene, Billy goes into the fridge at night and meets a vision of his mother, a memory of how she would have gently reminded him to clean up after himself. He wishfully imagines that his mother is still there, telling him what to do.

The point on which the narrative turns is Jackie (and the mining community at large) coming to accept Billy's unique interest in dance. While Jackie had previously railed against Billy's predisposition and blatantly forbidden him from pursuing dance, he changes his tune after he sees Billy dance defiantly in the gymnasium one night. All it takes is a moment seeing how talented and passionate his son is, and Jackie has a completely different feeling about Billy's interest, going immediately to Sandra's house to ask about their options. The moment is somewhat unbelievable in its abruptness—the stuff of movies—but it marks a seismic shift in the course of Billy's life. With the acceptance of his father and brother—his greatest barriers to pursuing ballet—Billy is closer not only to realizing his own potential, but to connecting with his family.

Billy Elliot Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Billy Elliot is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

“Lads do football…or boxing…or wrestling. Not friggin’ ballet.” How does the film challenge the traditional notions of masculinity and femininity?

This movie takes place a long time before Harry Styles donned a dress and looked "way cool".

Gender is at the center of Billy's problems, even though he sees no issue with his interest in ballet. In the town where he is from, boxing is for boys...

Does Mrs. Wilkinson want Billy to come to boxing class next week?

Chapter please?

How does Billy Elliot portray the theme of being masculine?

Gender and masulinity is are at the center of Billy's problems, even though he sees no issue with his interest in ballet. In the town where he is from, boxing is for boys and ballet for girls, yet Billy's deep love for dance draws him towards...

Study Guide for Billy Elliot

Billy Elliot study guide contains a biography of director Stephen Daldry, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Billy Elliot
• Billy Elliot Summary
• Character List
• Director's Influence

Essays for Billy Elliot

Billy Elliot essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Billy Elliot, directed by Stephen Daldry.

• Young Men and Their Chosen Paths: Stephen Daldry's film Billy Elliot and Seamus Heaney's poem 'Follower'
• Making History Personal in 'Billy Elliot': Social and Cultural Upward Mobility under Thatcher’s Government
• Human Experiences Can Be Difficult but Transformative: Comparing 'Billy Elliot" and ‘Deng Adut University of Western Sydney Advertisement’

Wikipedia Entries for Billy Elliot

• Introduction

Billy Elliot – Human Experiences w/ Quotes, Techniques & Analysis

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Resource Description

Billy Elliot

Written by Stephen Daldry

Key ideas (human experiences)

• struggle with adversity (miners strike, low social class etc)
• Overcoming loss
• Overcoming societal expectations
• The search for identity
• Stereotypes and gender stereotypes 

Different social class – contrast between Billy’s old house and Mrs Wilkinson 

Lower social class – was due to the social class

• effects Billy’s ballet auditions

Challenges gender stereotypes

• ballet dancer
• Doesn’t like boxing, isn’t good at it
• Friends with Michael (is a poof)

Mrs Wilkinson steps in as mother figure

• she shows compassion – supports billy in his dream
• Not judgemental

Billy has little to no connection with family

• is progressive
• Challenges society’s stereotypes (is opinionated outspoken, doesn’t care that billy does ballet
• Middle class, still an outsider

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