'Small Island': reading the end of Act 1 Scene 3
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the events of the end of Act Scene 3 and explore the importance of the incident in the cinema.
Key learning points
- Pathos is created when Arthur is shot - he is an innocent victim of this incident.
- As a WW1 veteran, Arthur dies in a violent incident at home rather than enjoying the freedom and safety he fought for.
- Arthur is characterised as more open-minded than his son, showing that racism is not just a generational issue.
- Arthur's death shows that racism is deeply damaging to society as a whole.
Keywords
Pathos - a literary device that evokes feelings of pity or sorrow
Futility - total lack of purpose or feeling that something is pointless or useless
Jim Crow laws - laws in the United States from the 19th and 20th centuries that enforced racial segregation
Veteran - a former member of the armed forces
Common misconception
That segregation only happened in the United States.
This in the most part is true and Britain certainly didn't have any segregation laws. However, as we see in the play, some individuals and institutions still upheld these ideas of segregation.
Teacher tip
Scene 3 contains explicit racist language. It is important to consider how this scene is read and discussed. You may wish to skip the scene all together. You may also choose to skip Task A Q3 in light of this.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of the play 'Small Island' written by Andrea Levy and adapted for the stage by Helen Edmundson
Content guidance
Contains strong language
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Who is the character of Arthur in 'Small Island"?
Q2.In 'Small Island' Act 1 Scene 2, Bernard explains that his father was in the 'Great War' and suffers from what?
Q3.In 'Small Island' which three characters enlist in the RAF?
Q4.In 'Small Island' what dramatic event is being described at the start of Act 1 Scene 3?
Q5.Who is the character that expresses cynicism and challenges the idea of the 'mother country' in the play 'Small Island'?
Q6.How does Elwood's view of the war contribute to the broader themes of colonialism in 'Small Island'?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What does the use of the term 'pathos' refer to?
Q2.How does Gilbert perceive Arthur's gaze in Act 1 Scene 3 of 'Small Island'?
Q3.In 'Small Island' how is Arthur killed?
Q4.Complete this quote from 'Small Island'. Gilbert: "How come they know nothing about their own__________?"
Q5.In 'Small Island', Gilbert breaks the fourth wall to the tell the audience about his experiences enlisting in the RAF. This is an example of what dramatic technique?
Q6.In 'Small Island' Act 1 Scene 3, multiple characters are involved in the cinema incident. Which of these offers the most sophisticated and relevant inference?
To help you plan your 9 English lesson on: 'Small Island': reading the end of Act 1 Scene 3, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 English lesson on: 'Small Island': reading the end of Act 1 Scene 3, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 English lessons from the 'Small Island' unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.