Year 10 - English
The relationship between Mai and Del in Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking'
Leave Taking: a sense of belonging
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils start their exploration of Winsome Pinnock's play, 'Leave Taking'. They first learn about the play's context of 1980s Britain and the Windrush generation before then reading and exploring the full play. They finally explore themes and characters before working on essay writing.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain Mai's powerful influence on Del in Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking'.
Key Notes
- Pinnock describes Mai as an "enigmatic" character.
- Pinnock says Mai has a "powerful influence" on all the characters in 'Leave Taking'.
- Arguably, Mai has the most powerful influence on Del.
- Mai argues people need to "invest in their own healing".
- Arguably Mai helps Del "invest" in herself.
Vocabulary To Learn
- invest: To invest in something, means to put time, money or effort into something that you think will go up in value.
- enigmatic: A synonym for mysterious or unknowable.
- second generation immigrant: People who have grown up in a country that at least one of their parents was not born in.
- Pocomania: A Jamaican folk religion combining aspects of surviving African religion with aspects from Protestant religion.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Mai's desire that people "invest" in themselves is just a way for her to make more money.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Pinnock describes Mai as an "enigmatic" character. Pinnock says Mai has a "powerful influence" on all the characters in 'Leave Taking'.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'invest'
To invest in something, means to put time, money or effort into something that you think will go up in value.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Mai's desire that people "invest" in themselves is just a way for her to make more money. Correction: Whilst Mai is determined to be paid for her services, she takes her calling seriously.
More Lessons In This Unit
- 'Leave Taking': an exploration of shame and guilt through the character of Enid Study Guide
- 'Leave Taking': annotating essay questions and writing thesis statements Study Guide
- An exploration of Scene Eight of Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking' Study Guide
- An exploration of Scene Five of Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking' Study Guide
- An exploration of Scene Four of Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking' Study Guide
- An exploration of Scene Seven of Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking' Study Guide
- An exploration of Scene Six of Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking' Study Guide
- An exploration of Scene Three of Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking' Study Guide
- An introduction to Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking' Study Guide
- Exploring model responses to an essay about Viv and belonging in 'Leave Taking' Study Guide
- Exploring the character of Del across the eight scenes of 'Leave Taking' Study Guide
- Exploring the presentation of 1980s Britain in Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking' Study Guide
- Introductions and conclusions in a 'Leave Taking' essay on the character of Mai Study Guide
- Model responses for a 'Leave Taking' essay about identity and belonging Study Guide
- Planning an essay about the character of Brod in 'Leave Taking' Study Guide
- Planning an essay on the theme of belonging in Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking' Study Guide
- Scene Five of Pinnock's 'Leave Taking': the relationship between Viv and Del Study Guide
- The significance of Windrush to Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking' Study Guide
- Using context effectively in 'Leave Taking' essays Study Guide
- Why did Winsome Pinnock write 'Leave Taking' and how do audiences respond to it? Study Guide
- Winsome Pinnock introduces 'Leave Taking' Study Guide
- Winsome Pinnock on the characters in 'Leave Taking' Study Guide
- Winsome Pinnock on writing 'Leave Taking' Study Guide
- Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking': Enid's relationships with Jamaica and England Study Guide
- Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking': the character of Brod Study Guide
- Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking': the character of Del Study Guide
- Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking': the character of Enid Study Guide
- Writing a 'Leave Taking' essay on the character of Viv and ideas of belonging Study Guide
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