a group of states or countries ruled over by one leader e.g. a monarch

a lack of equality or devoid of similarities

to become part of a group, country, society or culture

referring to colonialism, where a country establishes control over another country

Exploring 'Small Island' and the Windrush context

English

Helen Edmundson on adapting 'Small Island' for the stage

'Small Island': from page to stage

'Small Island': reading the start of Act 1 Scene 1

'Small Island': exploring the theme of power through Little Hortense

'Small Island': tracking the events of Act 1 Scene 1

'Small Island': the significance of the hurricane

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

'Small Island': reading Act 1 Scene 2

Watching and discussing 'Small Island' Act 1 Scene 2 with director Rufus Norris

'Small Island': reading the beginning of Act 1 Scene 3

'Small Island': reading the end of Act 1 Scene 3

Watching 'Small Island' Act 1 Scene 3 with Rufus Norris and Helen Edmundson

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

'Small Island': reading Act 1, Scenes 7 and 8

Watching and discussing 'Small Island' Act 1 Scenes 4-8 with Rufus Norris

'Small Island': exploring Act 1 through the context of Windrush

Exploring and evaluating the importance of Act 1

'Small Island': reading Act 2, Scene 1

Watching and discussing 'Small Island' Act 2 Scene 1 with Helen Edmundson

'Small Island': reading Act 2, Scenes 2 to 4

'Small Island': reading Act 2, Scenes 5 to 6

Watching and discussing 'Small Island' Act 2 Scenes 2 to 6 with Rufus Norris

'Small Island': reading Act 2, Scenes 7 and 8

'Small Island': reading Act 2, Scenes 9 to 11

Watching 'Small Island' Act 2 Scenes 7-11 with Rufus Norris and Helen Edmundson

Rufus Norris on directing and adapting 'Small Island'

Tracking characters and tension in 'Small Island'

Helen Edmundson on the context, characters and themes of 'Small Island'

Understanding questions and writing thesis statements on ‘Small Island’

'Small Island': creating topic sentences and using quotes in essays

Essay writing: using context in responses to ‘Small Island’

Introductions and conclusions in a 'Small Island' essay

Planning and writing a 'Small Island' essay

Refining and improving an essay on 'Small Island'

In 'Small Island', pupils explore the ways in which transferring Levy's novel onto the stage enables both the playwright and the director to powerfully evoke its ideas about race, identity and belonging. In 'Leave Taking', pupils build on their learning about the Windrush Generation to explore the cultural and generational conflicts, that can arise as a result of migration. 

In 'The Tempest', pupils examine the roles of Caliban and Ariel and how they are treated as outsiders, questioning who has a rightful claim to the island. In 'Small Island', pupils look at the play in the context of the Windrush generation and through the lens of key themes, including identity and belonging.  

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.

'Small Island'

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce, poverty, deprivation.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

In what Carribean country were Levy's parents born?

What is the name given to those who arrived in Britain from Caribbean countries between 1948 and 1973?

They found immediate success and acceptance in Britain.

They faced challenges and disparity between expectations and reality.

They were treated as equals upon arrival in Britain.

In her essay "Back to My Own Country", how does Andrea Levy describe her parents' experiences as migrants?

What word beginning with 'A' describes the process of becoming part of a group, country, society or culture.

In her essay 'Back to My Own Country", what word does Andrea Levy use to describe the 'Mother Country'?

She wanted to create a historically accurate account of Carribean history.

She wanted to foreground the voices of those absent from historical narratives.

She wanted to create historical fiction based in Jamaica.

She wanted to reveal the interconnected history between Britain and Jamaica.

She wanted to make an engaging and dramatic narrative.

Levy's novel 'Small Island' spans different years and settings. Why did she make this choice?

What does 'setting' refer to in literature?

What word is given to texts that are based on truth and not invented?

Complete this sentence: Social and historical {{}} can help us have a better understanding of the texts we are reading.

Which term describes the movement of individuals or groups from one place to another, often in search of better living conditions, employment opportunities, or safety?

When considering a writer's purpose, we want to try and understand why they were **compelled** to write. What does the verb **compel** mean?

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Exploring 'Small Island' and the Windrush context

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.