The control by one country over another. At various points the British Empire controlled 56 countries.

The people who emigrated on the HMT Windrush between 1948 and 1971.

Where a text, for example a novel or a film, is made into a theatrical production for the stage.

The spread of people from their original homeland.

In relation to context, when you embed into paragraphs rather than including as isolated facts.

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

English

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.  

'Small Island'

Discriminatory behaviour or images, whether on the grounds of race, gender, disability, religion or belief or sexual orientation, or otherwise.

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Historic or outdated representations of people that may portray inequality or injustice.

What is the term used to describe the spread of people from their original homeland?

What is the term for the control by one country over another?

'Small Island' is a stage adaption of a novel by Andrea Levy. What type of context is this?

Andrea Levy, author of the novel 'Small Island', was a second generation migrant to Jamaican parents. What type of context is this?

2008 alongside the British Banking crisis

1962 when Jamaica gained its independence

In which year was 'Small Island' first performed on stage and what is the significance of this date?

What was happening when the text was written?

What are the life experiences of the author?

What were the shared values and ideas of the time period?

What influenced the text's style or genre?

In every literature essay, you should include context. Match the type of context to its definition.

Between which years is the play 'Small Island' set?

What year was the novel 'Small Island' first adapted for stage and performed?

The belief in the superiority of certain races over others.

Discrimination based on skin colour, favoring lighter skin over darker skin.

The division of society based on wealth and education.

The exclusion of individuals from a group or society.

It emphasises the idea of darkness and obscurity.

 It reinforces the colonial ideals of privilege associated with lighter skin.

It represents the concept of gender hierarchy.

 It highlights the importance of education in societal hierarchies.

In 'Small Island', what connotations does the description "golden life" carry in the context of Little Hortense and colourism?

Hortense hurries to prepare the classroom. Mrs Ryder is standing by the door.

Hortense begins to tell the story of her childhood. 

The hurricane intensifies and Hortense reveals it is Michael she is waiting for.

Michael rushes into the schoolhouse to Mrs Ryder .

Hortense witnesses Mrs Ryder and Michael kissing.

Hortense runs out into the hurricane and reveals what she has seen.

Starting with the first, put these plot points from Act 1 Scene 1 in 'Small Island' in chronological order.

In 'Small Island' which character says: "There is a whole world out there where real things are happening and people are really living their lives."

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Adult supervision recommended

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

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

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

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