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While war is the overarching theme of the play, Sherriff uses World War One to explore a variety of other themes.

Knowing some information about the context the play was written in helps our understanding of what the playwright was trying to say and why he made certain choices.

Context refers to aspects of a person’s situation, culture and environment that may have a significant effect on their writings.

Robert Cedric Sherriff was born in 1896 to a middle class family who lived in a village close to London. He went to Kingston Grammar School. In 1914 he began work as an insurance clerk.

On 4th August of that same year Britain declared war on Germany.

In 1915, Sherriff volunteered as a new recruit and by 1918 he had risen to the rank of captain.

In 1917 he almost died, suffering severe injuries in a now famously terrible battle near the town of Passchendaele in southern Belgium. He spent over a month in hospital before returning to the front.

Even this small amount of information gives us clues as to what Sherriff might have wanted to explore about themes such as heroism, social class and fear in the context of war.

Sherriff originally wrote Journey’s End hoping to raise funds for his village rowing club. He did not intend it to be the strong anti-war play that it became. However, it resonated with audiences and was such a success that in 1930 it was made into a film.

The play was written in 1928 - ten years after the end of World War One - so its first audiences would have either fought in the war or lost someone close.

Their interpretation of the play would therefore be quite different from our own.

Keep this is in mind as you explore the themes.