Study Hub

Study Guides

This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.

Back to Study HubBrowse Year 11 English Guides

Year 11 - English

The presentation of Black British experiences in Pinnock's 'Leave Taking'

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 how 'Leave Taking' is a social commentary on Black British experiences.

Key Notes

  • Pinnock wrote 'Leave Taking' to share the "distinct" Black British experience.
  • The character of Enid speaks to the complex history and relationship Jamaica and Britain share.
  • Arguably, both Viv and Del struggle in different ways with being a second generation Black British immigrant.
  • Arguably, both Viv and Del struggle with being second generation immigrants and Black British citizens.
  • Arguably, the ending of the play is ambiguous but hopeful for both the Del and Viv.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • social commentary: a text which explores and critiques particular problems in society
  • colonisation: when a country establishes control over another country, exploiting it for economic gain
  • Commonwealth: an international association of 56 independent countries many of which used to be British colonies
  • transatlantic slave trade: whereby slave traders enslaved African people and transported them, often to America
  • crown colony: a colony which was controlled by the British Crown with a governor representing the Crown in the colony

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Viv, Del and Enid are not British citizens.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

Pinnock wrote 'Leave Taking' to share the "distinct" Black British experience. The character of Enid speaks to the complex history and relationship Jamaica and Britain share.

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

a text which explores and critiques particular problems in society.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Viv, Del and Enid are not British citizens. Correction: All three women are British citizens. Enid relocated from one part of the Commonwealth to another. During this post war period, this ensured legal status in Britain. Viv and Del were born in Britain.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 11 English guide library.