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Year 10 - English

Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking': the character of Brod

Leave Taking: a sense of belonging

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 Brod's dramatic function in Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking'.

Key Notes

  • A dramatic function is the purpose of the character: how they help the playwright develop ideas they want to explore.
  • Pinnock could have cut the character of Brod, but chose not to.
  • Brod offers insight into Enid's past.
  • Brod voices political and social criticisms.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • dramatic function: The purpose of a particular character or prop in a play. What they, or it, help us understand further about the playwright's messages.
  • social criticism: Work that explores issues in society, especially issues of injustice.
  • political criticism: Work that explores political issues and policies in society.
  • belonging: The feeling that you are accepted in a group, community or society.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Brod contrasts Enid in every way.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.

A dramatic function is the purpose of the character: how they help the playwright develop ideas they want to explore. Pinnock could have cut the character of Brod, but chose not to.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'dramatic function'

The purpose of a particular character or prop in a play. What they, or it, help us understand further about the playwright's messages.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Brod contrasts Enid in every way. Correction: Brod and Enid clash over education, Jamaica and England, but they also have many commonalities: their past and their migration.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 10 English guide library.