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Year 11
Edexcel

Scene Three as a turning point in 'Leave Taking'

I can explore the significance of Mooma’s death as a turning point in Enid’s character development in ‘Leave Taking’.

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New
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Year 11
Edexcel

Scene Three as a turning point in 'Leave Taking'

I can explore the significance of Mooma’s death as a turning point in Enid’s character development in ‘Leave Taking’.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A turning point is a moment in a dramatic work when the plot takes a decisive shift.
  2. Turning points often involve high stakes, character transformation and irreversible consequences.
  3. Scene Three is a turning point that forces Enid to confront her identity and her relationships with her daughters.
  4. The death of Mooma serves as a catalyst for a resolution to some of the generational conflict in the play.

Keywords

  • Turning point - a pivotal moment in the plot where the story takes a significant shift

  • High stakes - a situation where the potential consequences of actions or decisions are significant

  • Irreversibility - the quality of an action or event meaning that it cannot be undone or reversed

  • Catalyst - a person, event, or thing that triggers or accelerates a change or process, often bringing about significant transformation

Common misconception

Pupils might think that a turning point in a play only involves a major event, such as a character's death, without recognising the emotional or relational changes that accompany it.

It’s important to clarify that a turning point not only indicates a significant event but also involves the emotional and relational dynamics of the characters e.g. the emotional aftermath of Mooma's death as well as the event itself.


To help you plan your year 11 english lesson on: Scene Three as a turning point in 'Leave Taking', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

If time allows have pupils create a character map for Enid, illustrating her relationships before and after Mooma's death. They can identify key changes in her beliefs, attitudes, and connections with her daughters, highlighting how the turning point impacts these dynamics.
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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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
If a situation has 'high stakes' then the potential consequences arising from it are...
Correct answer: significant
insignificant
violent
lucky
Q2.
In 'Leave Taking', some characters are spoken about but never seen on stage. Which of the below are examples of this?
Correct answer: Gullyman
Correct answer: Mooma
Correct answer: Pastor Chully Johnson
Brod
Mai
Q3.
Scene Three of 'Leave Taking' ends with...
Correct answer: Enid learning Mooma has died.
Enid slapping Del.
Enid learning Viv has walked out of one of her exams.
Enid kicking Brod out.
Enid preparing for the visit of the pastor.
Q4.
Which of the below are reasonable synonyms of the word 'catalyst'?
Correct answer: trigger
Correct answer: cause
hindrance
block
Q5.
A matriarch is a woman who rules, leads or controls a family. Which of the characters in 'Leave Taking' are presented as matriarchs?
Correct answer: Enid
Viv
Del
Correct answer: Mooma
Correct answer: Mai
Q6.
In Scene Four of 'Leave Taking', Enid tells Viv things about her mother. What do we find out?
she stole some stockings from her uncle's wife
Correct answer: she would sometimes disappear to spend time in secret places alone
Correct answer: she brought up her children in rural poverty
Enid used to have nicknames for her
Correct answer: she completed hard manual labour every day of her life

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What defines a turning point in drama?
a minor event that has no impact on the plot
Correct answer: a decisive moment that shifts the plot and characters’ journeys
a situation that can be easily reversed
a scene that resolves all conflicts
Q2.
Which of the following elements is most crucial for a successful turning point in drama?
the ability to reverse consequences
Correct answer: high stakes that drive character decisions
a minor challenge with no lasting effects
characters staying unchanged by the event
Q3.
Which statement best describes 'irreversibility' in the context of a turning point?
characters can undo their actions later in the plot
the plot can revert back to its earlier state
Correct answer: once the turning point occurs, the consequences are final and cannot be undone
it has no lasting impact on the story’s resolution
Q4.
Whose death at the end of Scene Three of 'Leave Taking' can be considered a turning point in the play?
Correct Answer: Mooma, Enid's mum, Enids mum, Enid's mother, Enids mother
Q5.
Why is Mooma’s death a catalyst for Enid’s transformation in 'Leave Taking'?
it allows Enid to fully embrace British culture, abandoning her roots
Correct answer: it forces Enid to face unresolved issues with identity and her daughters
it has little impact, and Enid raises her daughters the same way
it encourages Enid to return to Jamaica and reconnect with her heritage
Q6.
How do 'high stakes' manifest in Enid’s decisions after Mooma’s death in 'Leave Taking'?
Enid’s only challenge is accepting her daughters’ life choices
Enid’s stakes are low as she’s detached from her cultural heritage
Correct answer: Enid risks losing both her cultural roots and her daughters’ relationships
Mooma’s death brings no significant consequences for Enid