a warning or indication about events to come

a theme, image, character or plot element that is used across many texts

the opinion people have about someone or something

'Small Island': the significance of the hurricane

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': tracking the events of Act 1 Scene 1

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

Depiction or discussion of famine, disease, natural disasters.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

What word beginning with 'f' describes the atmosphere created by Edmundson's use of the hurricane at the start of 'Small Island'?

Which answer best describes the word 'foreshadowing'?

it mirrors the rising tensions between characters

 it has no correlation with the narrative

How does the hurricane's progression parallel the events in Scene 1 of 'Small Island'?

Michael leaves at the end of Scene 1 in 'Small Island', what historical event could the hurricane be foreshadowing?

In 'Small Island', the morning after the storm, Miss Jewel is described as "sitting at the table, __________"

In 'Small Island', Mr Philip states that Michael has brought what on the family house and name?

In 'Small Island', who is caught kissing "passionately" in the schoolhouse?

In 'Small Island', the stage directions describe "Jamaica bracing itself for a strong hurricane". What is this an example of?

At the start of 'Small Island', Mrs Ryder is describing the effects of the hurricane. Complete the quote: "Oh, look how the trees are starting to sway! Why it's as if they are {{}}!"

In 'Small Island', Michael says he is leaving for England to join what?

He witnesses Michael and Mrs Ryder kissing.

He is injured in the hurricane looking for Mrs Ryder.

In 'Small Island', what happens to Mr Ryder in Act 1 Scene 1?

"get away from this house, from this small, small town."

"He has brought shame on my name. Shame on this family. Let him go."

"They are saying that my son was caught in an unholy embrace."

"The boy he done a bad ting. A bad ting."

"Oh where is he? I want him. I want him!"

Match the character from 'Small Island' to the quotes from Act 1 Scene 1.

'Small Island': the significance of the hurricane

Lesson outcome

Content guidance