Tally's Blood: Key Quotations (SQA National 5 English): Revision Note
Exam code: X824 75
Examiners reward a thorough understanding of the text and how ideas are conveyed. The exam questions may ask you about a particular theme, or aspect of character or setting. Even if the focus is on a character, it’s useful to remember that characters represent themes anyway. So, it’s best to revise for this exam by grouping evidence (or key quotes) by theme.
Below you will find definitions and analysis of the best quotations, arranged by the following themes:
War and nationalism
Love and marriage
Cultural identity
War and nationalism
In Di Mambro’s naturalistic play depicting events of World War II, and through her portrayal of integrated and hard-working Italian immigrants in Scotland, Di Mambro depicts injustices resulting from nationalism.
“I’m a…Tally”– Massimo Pedreschi, Act 1, Scene 12
Meaning and context
When Massimo is arrested, Rosinella asks him why
He replies that it is because he is Italian, repeating the derogatory name the mob called him
Analysis
The broken line demonstrates Massimo’s sadness as he realises he has been judged an enemy because he is Italian
This poignant line builds sympathy for Massimo to highlight the effects of nationalistic prejudice
“I kept asking for news of ma faither but nobody would tell us anything" – Massimo Pedreschi, Act 1, Scene 14
Meaning and context
When Massimo returns from internment, he tells the family about his experiences
He describes how frightened he was when he was arrested and put in the cell with the other Italians
He explains the worry he felt when the guards refused to tell him about his father
Analysis
In his monologue, Massimo repeats that his main concern upon arrest was that the guards refused to tell him news about his father
Hyperbole in “kept asking” and “nobody would tell us anything” is repeated throughout the monologue, which brings to life Massimo’s fearful experience
The line presents Massimo as a kind family-man, building sympathy for his character:
This helps Di Mambro present the damaging effects of war on the family
Paired quotations:
“We just live here. We’re just ordinary working people” – Rosinella Pedreschi, Act 1, Scene 10
“Italians have got to stick together” – Rosinella Pedreschi, Act 2, Scene 2
Meaning and context
When Italy joins the war, Massimo expresses his concerns about their safety:
Rosinella urges Massimo that they have nothing to worry about as they do not represent the opposing side in the war (Italy)
However, after the war, Rosinella tells Massimo that she will never forget what they have lost:
She says that Italians must remain a close community
Analysis
While Rosinella is fiercely proud of her Italian heritage, when war breaks out she quickly suggests she does not represent Italy’s part in the war:
Her use of the repeated “just” emphasises they are simply working residents and diminishes her Italian nationality
Di Mambro presents the Pedreschi’s fear that their nationality will put them in danger:
This foreshadows the attack on the shop, Massimo’s arrest, and Franco and their father’s death
Di Mambro illustrates how Rosinella’s suffering as a result of war manifests in her need to hold on to her Italian nationality
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Examiners are looking for the skill of analysis. They reward answers that do not rely on a narrative summary of the play and, instead, use supporting evidence when making comments on the presentation of a character or theme. At the same time, writing a list of quotes learned that do not address the question is not advisable. Well-chosen references to the text are just as valid as quotations.
Love and marriage
Tally’s Blood depicts conflicted love and pure, steadfast love. Di Mambro shows how discrimination is a powerful external force that tries to prevent romances that defy cultural traditions. The play’s denouement draws romantic elements from Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet, due to the shared theme of a love that defies prejudice.
Paired quotations:
“OK, so the Scotch people let their lassies go anywhere, do anything they like because they don’t care as much” – Rosinella Pedreschi, Act 2, Scene 2
“Write her a letter, tell her how you feel” – Bridget Devlin, Act 2, Scene 4
Meaning and context
Lucia asks Rosinella if she can go to Hughie’s brother’s wedding with him, but Rosinella refuses to allow it:
She explains that she is protecting Lucia because she loves her, unlike neglectful Scottish parents who give their daughters more freedom
In contrast to Rosinella’s controlling and discriminatory attitude to Hughie and Lucia’s relationship, Bridget Devlin encourages Hughie to express his love to Lucia
Analysis
Rosinella uses hyperbole as she tries to persuade Lucia her protectiveness is out of love: he insults Scottish parenting in a sweeping statement:
She creates division between Italians and the Scots, using the pronoun “they”
Di Mambro juxtaposes Rosinella’s reaction to Hughie and Lucia’s relationship against Bridget’s a few scenes later to present love as a force for good
Bridget’s imperative verbs (“Write” and “tell”) urges Hughie to fight for love
Paired quotations:
“I thought I was your ginger-sister” – Lucia Ianelli, Act 2, Scene 6
“Oh yes… Lots of ginger” – Hughie Devlin, Act 2, Scene 13
Meaning and context
Just before Lucia leaves for Italy, she drinks from Hughie’s ginger bottle:
When he asks for it back, she reminds him of their bond over ginger
Later, when Hughie goes to rescue Lucia from her father’s house, Lucia asks if he has brought ginger, and he replies confidently that he has
Analysis
The shared joke over the symbolic ginger bonds Hughie and Lucia as “blood-brothers, presents their love as steadfast
The dramatic irony of the scene accentuates their frustrated romance:
The audience knows that Hughie wants to tell Lucia about his love before she leaves for Italy
Di Mambro subverts Shakespeare’s tragic play, Romeo and Juliet:
She ends her play with a happy marriage that defies cultural conventions
This line appears in a humorous scene in which Hughie declares his love to Lucia and carries out a fumbled rescue:
This illustrates Di Mambro’s presentation of their love as innocent and funny, yet powerful enough to bring the Italian and Scottish families together
Examiner Tips and Tricks
It is better to closely connect your evidence to the theme or idea you’re asked about, rather than make several brief and unfocused points.
Cultural identity
Tally’s Blood explores the experiences of an Italian family living in Scotland at a time of unrest and global conflict. This way she is able to highlight the difficulties of belonging to two countries.
Paired quotations:
“But I’m not. I was born here. That makes me British” – Franco Pedreschi, Act 1, Scene 8
“I went to school here, my brother was born here, my mammy’s buried here” – Massimo Pedreschi, Act 1, Scene 10
Meaning and context
When Massimo tells Franco he should not fight for the British army, he reminds him that he is Italian, but Franco disagrees: he says Britain is his birthplace
Massimo expresses concerns about his safety once Italy joins the war: he reminds Rosinella of his long history in Britain
Analysis
The play shows tensions between Massimo and Franco over cultural identity:
Franco’s emphatic sentences convey his strong feelings about being British
Di Mambro portrays Massimo’s struggles to belong to both Italy and Scotland:
While Massimo tries to hold on to his Italian heritage, he is also keen to consider Britain his home, too
He lists the ways he is bonded to Britain, hoping to convince Rosinella (and himself) that he should not be considered an enemy if Italy declares war
“We stick together, pay our own way, stick to the laws” – Rosinella Pedreschi, Act 1, Scene 10
Meaning and context
Rosinella believes she behaves appropriately as an immigrant living in Britain
She says the Italian community keeps to themselves, they contribute to the society, and obey the laws
Analysis
Rosinella uses a tricolon to sound persuasive as she lists the reasons she should be considered an immigrant who respects their new home
Di Mambro portrays Rosinella as indignant as she tries to defend her place in society, illustrating the struggles of the immigrant experience in Scotland
“Now you find yourself a nice Scotch boyfriend, you hear?” – Rosinella Pedreschi, Act 1, Scene 11
Meaning and context
Rosinella tells Bridget to forget about Franco and, instead, find a Scottish boyfriend
Analysis
Rosinella’s cultural prejudices cause much of the family conflict in the play
She is persistent and deceitful when she tries to split up Bridget and Franco
She has a strong reaction to Franco’s relationship with Bridget, and to Lucia’s with Hughie, which illustrates how her prejudice attempts to prevent love
Sources:
Di Mambro, Ann Marie. “Tally's Blood” Association for Scottish Literature (opens in a new tab). (Accessed 12 November 2025)
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