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Year 9 - English

Watching and discussing 'Small Island' Act 1 Scene 1 with director Rufus Norris

'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 use Rufus Norris's ideas to help you watch Act 1 Scene 1.

Key Notes

  • Norris explains the importance of the Pathé news clips in positioning the audience in a specific time and place.
  • Direct address establishes Hortense as a confident character and fades as her heart is broken.
  • Norris describes the audience's "agreement" that allows imagination and make-believe in theatre staging.
  • Act 1 Scene 1 begins with a hurricane and introduces the character Hortense.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • Pathé news clips: short, old-fashioned news videos shown in cinemas before TV was common and made by the film company Pathé
  • ex-communicated: officially removed or cut off from a church or group
  • discrepancy: a clear difference between two things that should match
  • communal: shared by a group of people or used together

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • The Pathé news clips are just old videos used as a backdrop and don't add meaning to the play.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

Norris explains the importance of the Pathé news clips in positioning the audience in a specific time and place. Direct address establishes Hortense as a confident character and fades as her heart is broken.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'Pathé news clips'

short, old-fashioned news videos shown in cinemas before TV was common and made by the film company Pathé.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: The Pathé news clips are just old videos used as a backdrop and don't add meaning to the play. Correction: The Pathé clips set the historical context and show a biased view of the British Empire. They contrast with the characters' real experiences, deepening our understanding of the story's themes.

More Lessons In This Unit

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