'Small Island': reading Act 2, Scenes 2 to 4
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain and discuss the events of Act 2, Scenes 2 to 4.
Key learning points
- Miss Todd, much like Bernard, represents the racist and outdated attitudes present in society.
- Edmundson includes brutal dialogue, to show the racial slurs and abuse endured by Gilbert and Hortense.
- Hortense and Gilbert see important characters from their lives which allows the audience to see their internal thoughts.
- Edmundson explores the concept of home and belonging.
- Edmundson foregrounds the emotional experiences of the Caribbean diaspora.
Keywords
Facetious - using humour to comment or remark on a serious issue
Mind's eye - what you see in your imagination
Genteel - associated with a high social class and meant to show exaggerated politeness and respectability
Depersonalise - to remove from a person the qualities that make them; to take away someone's identity
Turmoil - a state of confusion or uncertainty
Common misconception
The Windrush generation entered Britain illegally.
Those coming from the British Commonwealth were considered citizens. Migrants like Hortense and Gilbert were actively encouraged to believe that Britain was their 'home'.
Teacher tip
Scenes 3 and 4 contains explicit racist language and other swear words. It is important to consider how this scene is read and discussed. You may wish to skip the scenes all together and Task A Q2.
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
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In 'Small Island' Act 2 Scene 1, Hortense is wearing "the white hat and gloves she wore for her wedding" - what does this suggest about her feelings towards coming to England?
Q2.In 'Small Island', what does Gilbert's dilapidated room symbolise in the text?
Q3.Starting wth the first, put these events from 'Small Island' Act 2 Scene 1 in to chronological order.
Q4.In 'Small Island' Act 2 Scene 1, what does Hortense suggest Gilbert sleeps on?
Q5.In 'Small Island', how does Act 2 Scene 1 contrast with Act 1 regarding the characters' expectations and reality?
Q6.In 'Small Island' Act 2 Scene 1, what does the euphemism "there are children" actually imply?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What does the term "facetious" mean?
Q2.In 'Small Island', what does Miss Todd's language reveal about her attitude towards Queenie's lodgers?
Q3.In 'Small Island', Act 2 Scene 3 who does Gilbert see in his "mind's eye"?
Q4.In 'Small Island', Act 2 Scene 4 who does Hortense see in her "mind's eye"?
Q5.In 'Small Island' Act 2 Scene 4, what does the inclusion of Wordsworth's poem "Daffodils" represent?
Q6.Which word beginning with 'g', is used to describe Miss Todd in 'Small Island'?
To help you plan your 9 English lesson on: 'Small Island': reading Act 2, Scenes 2 to 4, 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 Act 2, Scenes 2 to 4, 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.