Myths about teaching can hold you back
- Year 9
Helen Edmundson on the context, characters and themes of 'Small Island'
I can use Helen Edmundson’s comments on context, characters and themes to deepen my personal response.
- Year 9
Helen Edmundson on the context, characters and themes of 'Small Island'
I can use Helen Edmundson’s comments on context, characters and themes to deepen my personal response.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Edmundson notes the Windrush scandal emerged during production, powerfully deepening the play’s relevance.
- Edmundson suggests that Hortense experiences deep feelings of abandonment that influence her actions.
- Edmundson highlights the stark contrast in Michael and Gilbert’s upbringings and how it shapes their identities.
- Edmundson suggests hope and progress come through compromise and by honestly addressing reality.
- Edmundson describes 'Small Island' as a hopeful, but realistic play.
Keywords
Transactional - an exchange between people, often with something expected in return
Empathy - understanding and sharing someone else’s feelings
Universal - true or relevant for everyone, everywhere
Zeitgeist - the general mood, ideas, and beliefs of a particular time in history
Insular - having a narrow or limited view of the world; isolated or inward-looking
Common misconception
The ending is happy because everything works out perfectly and offers hope for the future.
Edmundson says the ending is hopeful, but not perfect. There’s pain, loss, and compromise (Queenie gives up her baby), but real progress comes from facing reality with care and honesty.
To help you plan your year 9 English lesson on: Helen Edmundson on the context, characters and themes of 'Small Island', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 9 English lesson on: Helen Edmundson on the context, characters and themes of 'Small Island', 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.
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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.
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Adult supervision recommended
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