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Year 9 - English

'Small Island': from page to stage

'Small Island'

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils explore the playtext adaptation of Andrea Levy's novel 'Small Island'. They first explore the transition from novel to stage, before reading the playtext in full and exploring key scenes in detail. They then plan and write an essay on the theme of 'hope' in the text.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain in detail how Edmundson adapted 'Small Island' for the stage.

Key Notes

  • Edmundson adapted the novel which means she developed Levy's original ideas to suit the form of a play.
  • Edmundson is responsible for writing stage directions, chronology of events and developing characters through dialogue.
  • Edmundson develops the multiplicity of Levy's original narratives using dramatic techniques.
  • Edmundson uses patois, dialect and colloquial language to develop Levy's realistic characters.
  • The use of direct address in the play mirrors the first person narratives in the novel, giving characters unique voices.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • Multiplicity: a large number of, or a variety of things
  • Dialogue: conversation and spoken interactions written for a play, book or film
  • Dialect: a variation of a language spoken in a particular part of the country or by a particular group
  • Jamaican patois: variation of English, or dialect, specific to Jamaican speakers

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Edmundson did not write 'Small Island'.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

Edmundson adapted the novel which means she developed Levy's original ideas to suit the form of a play. Edmundson is responsible for writing stage directions, chronology of events and developing characters through dialogue.

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

a large number of, or a variety of things.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Edmundson did not write 'Small Island'. Correction: Explore the conventions of a play. What would Edmundson have to have added to re-imagine the novel?

More Lessons In This Unit

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