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Year 9 - English

'Small Island': reading Act 1, Scenes 4-6

'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 the events of Act 1, Scenes 4-6 and use fronted adverbials to develop your comments.

Key Notes

  • Scene 4 marks the end of the war and the hopeful, celebratory atmosphere post WWII.
  • Edmundson explores the aftermath of WWII and its impacts on women like Queenie and Hortense.
  • Britain represents opportunities and an aspirational life.
  • Gilbert and Elwood represent oppositional attitudes towards migration.
  • Fronted adverbials can be used to develop comments and introduce evidence.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • aspirational: being ambitious or desiring success, linked to status
  • quintessential: representing the most perfect or typical example of something
  • interconnected: different parts or things being linked or related
  • ominous: suggesting that something bad is going to happen; also threatening and menacing
  • assimilate: to become part of a group, country, society or culture

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • In 'Small Island' England is presented as a bad place and Jamaica as a good place.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

Scene 4 marks the end of the war and the hopeful, celebratory atmosphere post WWII. Edmundson explores the aftermath of WWII and its impacts on women like Queenie and Hortense.

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

being ambitious or desiring success, linked to status.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: In 'Small Island' England is presented as a bad place and Jamaica as a good place. Correction: Look at what is happening at the start of Scene 6, why is the situation volatile? What does the discussion between Gilbert and Elwood reveal about the realities in both Jamaica and England?

More Lessons In This Unit

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