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Year 9 - English

Tracking characters and tension in 'Small Island'

'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 track character development across the play and consider how tension is created.

Key Notes

  • The characters in 'Small Island' have tumultuous journies.
  • The characters are changed as a result of their experiences.
  • Edmundson creates tension through the use of dramatic irony.
  • Edmundson uses a motif in her settings to create tension.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • tension: a feeling of uncertainty or anticipation
  • adversity: is to face difficulties, challenges or hardship in life
  • tumultuous: a situation or feeling or confusion, disorder and chaos
  • motif: a recurring theme, image or idea that contributes to the overall meaning of a text
  • dramatic irony: occurs when the audience knows something that the characters do not, leading to tension or humor as events unfold

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Hortense is the main protagonist.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

The characters in 'Small Island' have tumultuous journies. The characters are changed as a result of their experiences.

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

a feeling of uncertainty or anticipation.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Hortense is the main protagonist. Correction: Look at how many scenes other characters are in and the importance of their journeys. Why might Levy choose to have multiple protagonists? Think back to her original intentions.

More Lessons In This Unit

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