an exchange between people, often with something expected in return

understanding and sharing someone else’s feelings

true or relevant for everyone, everywhere

the general mood, ideas, and beliefs of a particular time in history

having a narrow or limited view of the world; isolated or inward-looking

What do you think the title Small Island refers to?

British English CC

What story does Small Island tell us about the windrush generation?

How are Queenie and Bernard different, and why is their dynamic important?

How does the play explore the gap between dreams and reality?

To what extent do you think Small Island is a hopeful play?

What themes, ideas or questions would you like pupils to pay attention to?

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

English

An introduction to the play 'Small Island'

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'

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

Depiction or discussion of abortion, euthanasia, organ donation.

Just the geographical size of Jamaica and Britain.

An insular mindset that is resistant to outsiders.

What does Edmundson suggest the title 'Small Island' reflects?

Is the statement true or false? Helen Edmundson says that the Windrush scandal was well-known long before the play 'Small Island' was written.

Which character from 'Small Island' does Edmundson describe as feeling “abandoned and unloved”?

According to Edmundson, Gilbert can be described as being  “at ease in his own skin” and emotionally grounded

It ends with the characters returning to Jamaica.

There is a sense of connection and growth.

According to Edmundson, why is 'Small Island' a hopeful play?

Which theme does Edmundson highlight as central to 'Small Island'?

Which historical event forms the backdrop to 'Small Island'?

What is one major theme in 'Small Island'?

In 'Small Island', who is Queenie married to?

Is the statement true or false? Hortense and Gilbert are in love at the beginning of the play.

In 'Small Island', who is Michael in relation to Hortense?

He is treated kindly by Queenie but faces racism from others.

In 'Small Island', what happens when Gilbert first arrives at Queenie’s house in Britain?

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

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

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

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