New
New
Year 11
AQA

Exploring Pinnock's use of temporal ellipsis in 'Leave Taking'

I can evaluate how Winsome Pinnock’s use of off-stage events contributes to the play’s drama.

New
New
Year 11
AQA

Exploring Pinnock's use of temporal ellipsis in 'Leave Taking'

I can evaluate how Winsome Pinnock’s use of off-stage events contributes to the play’s drama.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Temporal ellipsis emphasises the aftermath of key events in drama.
  2. Off-stage events can influence character emotions and relationships significantly.
  3. The audience engages more deeply by imagining missing moments.
  4. Pinnock uses ellipsis to enhance themes of grief and conflict.
  5. Both surface level understanding and deeper analysis can be used when analysing temporal ellipsis

Keywords

  • Temporal ellipsis - the deliberate omission of certain events in a narrative, focusing on the aftermath rather than the events themselves

  • Omission - the act of leaving out or excluding something

  • Nuanced - having subtle or slight differences that add complexity and depth to something

  • Profound - having deep meaning or significance

  • Aftermath - the results that follow a significant event, often one that is destructive or disruptive

Common misconception

Pupils may think that temporal ellipsis is used solely because the playwright wants to avoid showing certain events on stage due to logistical constraints or a desire to avoid graphic scenes.

While practical concerns can influence a playwright’s decision, temporal ellipsis is primarily a deliberate artistic choice to emphasise emotional or psychological consequences over the event itself.


To help you plan your year 11 english lesson on: Exploring Pinnock's use of temporal ellipsis in 'Leave Taking', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Before the lesson, have a quick discussion with pupils about popular films or TV shows they've seen where key events happen off-screen. Ask them why they think the director chose not to show those events and how it affected their engagement.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need access to a copy of Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking' published by Nick Hern Books.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is being described here: 'the act of leaving out or excluding something'?
Correct answer: omission
addition
augmentation
inclusion
Q2.
Which sentence best shows something nuanced?
The answer was simple and clear
Correct answer: The opinion had subtle layers to it
A quickly written idea without much thinking
An idea that showed one interpretation of the text.
Q3.
In 'Leave Taking', Mooma's death takes place...
on-stage
Correct answer: off-stage
in a flashback
Q4.
Why does Viv skip one of her A-level exams in Scene Five of 'Leave Taking'?
she wants to impress Del
Brod tells her to
Enid has agreed that she can take a gap year
she wants to become an obeah woman rather than go to university
Correct answer: she wants to rebel against the formal education system
Q5.
Viv appears in five scenes of 'Leave Taking'. Match her scenes to their plot points.
Correct Answer:Scene One,is taken to an obeah reading; wants to ask about her exam results

is taken to an obeah reading; wants to ask about her exam results

Correct Answer:Scene Two,studies whilst Enid cleans the house

studies whilst Enid cleans the house

Correct Answer:Scene Three,expresses that she wants to take a gap year

expresses that she wants to take a gap year

Correct Answer:Scene Four,Enid gives her money for university

Enid gives her money for university

Correct Answer:Scene Five,skips one of her A-level exams

skips one of her A-level exams

Q6.
In 'Leave Taking', which character suggests that Viv should question what she is being taught at school?
Correct answer: Brod
Mai
Enid
Del

6 Questions

Q1.
What is being described here: 'the omission of certain events or actions in the timeline of a play'?
Correct Answer: temporal ellipsis
Q2.
Which of the below are true of temporal ellipses?
Correct answer: they happen off-stage
they happen on stage
Correct answer: they are usually skipped
the audience witnesses them directly
they are glimpses of the future
Q3.
Which of these are examples of temporal ellipses?
Correct answer: a character entering the stage describing a battle that has just happened
a character dying in front of the audience
a soliloquy explaining an inner conflict
Correct answer: a conversation where characters discuss a recent wedding that has taken place
Q4.
What effect does temporal ellipsis have on audience engagement?
it gives the audience more details about the events
Correct answer: it allows the audience to speculate and infer about the missing events
it creates a less immersive experience for the audience
it removes tension from the narrative
Q5.
How might showing an event on stage instead of using ellipsis change the impact on the play and audience?
Correct answer: it would shift focus to physical actions
it would create more tension
it would increase mystery
it would deepen the emotional aftermath
Q6.
In 'Leave Taking', what might be lost if Viv walking out of her exam was shown on-stage rather than omitted?
Correct answer: the focus on the consequences and emotional impact
the tension between Viv and her friends
the mystery behind Viv’s exam results
the clarity of Viv’s actions and motivations