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Year 11 - English

In what ways is 'Leave Taking' a social commentary on 1980s Britain?

Leave Taking: an intersectional analysis

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupls complete an intersectional analysis of 'Leave Taking'. They first learn about intersectionality, and then apply it to 'Leave Taking'. They look at 1980s Britian, matriarchy, male characters and Black British experiences before writing an essay about coming of age in the play.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain the ways in which 'Leave Taking' is a social commentary on aspects of 1980s Britain.

Key Notes

  • 'Leave Taking' could be interpreted as social commentary on 1980s Britain, particularly racist and classist attitudes.
  • It could be argued that difficulties the characters face are based on the colour of their skin and their social class.
  • Arguably, Enid places so much value on education as she believes it is a way of escaping their social class
  • Pinnock includes two minor, off stage characters to develop her social commentary.
  • Pinnock's exploration of racism could reference racial tensions felt in Britain after increased migration following WW2.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • intersectionality: a term describing how certain social categories (for example ethnicity, class, gender) can combine to create unique combinations of disadvantage or advantage
  • social commentary: a text which explores and critiques particular problems in society
  • racism: the unjust treatment of people based on the colour of their skin
  • classism: unjust treatment of people based on their social class
  • ethnicity: a way of grouping people who share certain attributes for example ancestry or language

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • There is no point talking about the minor characters in a play - they are not important.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

'Leave Taking' could be interpreted as social commentary on 1980s Britain, particularly racist and classist attitudes. It could be argued that difficulties the characters face are based on the colour of their skin and their social class.

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

a term describing how certain social categories (for example ethnicity, class, gender) can combine to create unique combinations of disadvantage or advantage.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: There is no point talking about the minor characters in a play - they are not important. Correction: Each character, no matter how seemingly insignificant, is crafted by the writer and placed in the text for a specific purpose. It is your job to consider what their purpose is.

More Lessons In This Unit

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