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Year 9 - English

'Small Island': the significance of the hurricane

'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 significance of the hurricane.

Key Notes

  • Edmundson uses the literary trope of the storm to create a dramatic setting.
  • The hurricane establishes a foreboding atmosphere and foreshadows the dramatic events to come.
  • The hurricane parallels the rising tensions between the characters.
  • The hurricane is a powerful natural force that exposes truths about the human relations between characters.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • Foreboding: a feeling that something bad will happen
  • Irrepressible: unable to be controlled or restrained
  • Foreshadowing: a warning or indication about events to come
  • Literary trope: a theme, image, character or plot element that is used across many texts
  • Reputation: the opinion people have about someone or something

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • That all writers use only original ideas and if they don't they are bad writers.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

Edmundson uses the literary trope of the storm to create a dramatic setting. The hurricane establishes a foreboding atmosphere and foreshadows the dramatic events to come.

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

a feeling that something bad will happen.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: That all writers use only original ideas and if they don't they are bad writers. Correction: Explore the idea of a literary trope and how writer's use these to elicit specific responses from readers. How do recognisable conventions work to appeal to us as readers?

More Lessons In This Unit

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