to use language or act in a way that disrespects God

xan refer to the country you are born in or a country you are emotionally attached to; in colonial countries Britain is often referred to in this way

an instruction in the play script that explains how it should be performed and presented

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

English

Exploring 'Small Island' and the Windrush context

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': 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'

Depiction or discussion of famine, disease, natural disasters.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

a disrespectful use of language or behaviour towards God

What is the correct definition of blasphemy?

In 'Small Island', which of these do **not** appear in the stage directions that describe Michael?

In 'Small Island', which word does Miss Ma use to describe Michael's affair?

In 'Small Island', where does Michael say he is going?

In reference to Freytag's pyramid and 'Small Island', Michael leaving and joining the RAF could be considered the...

In 'Small Island', Michael tells Hortense to "get away from this...

1939; Pathé-style news footage of Jamaica preparing for a hurricane

In the opening stage directions of 'Small Island,' what year is mentioned, and what event is highlighted?

In 'Small Island', what is Hortense's role in the schoolhouse?

In 'Small Island', what significant term does Hortense use to describe Mrs Ryder?

instructions that direct how the play should be performed and presented

In 'Small Island', which character says "You a lucky, lucky chile. This skin is a golden life."

Exit Quiz

What is the correct definition of blasphemy?