An exploration of Scene Six of Winsome Pinnock’s ‘Leave Taking’
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain what happens in Scene Six of 'Leave Taking' and how Pinnock explores ideas of home.
Key learning points
- Enid comes to visit Mai.
- Enid has not seen Del for weeks and is very worried about her.
- Enid expresses how she feels about Del, and her mother, through a ‘howl of pain’.
- Mai believes many Jamaicans feel a sense of dislocation owing to the history of the transatlantic slave trade.
- Mai describes home as a feeling of "peace" with yourself.
Keywords
Home - A place where you live. The word home is often connected to ideas of belonging, and security.
Dislocation - A feeling of being out of place, or in the wrong place.
Talking in tongues - When you speak in an unknown language during a religious service; considered communication from God.
Migrate - When you relocate from one country to another.
Identity - Who you are; the qualities that make you. Understanding, finding and accepting your identity can be a life’s work.
Common misconception
Mai's son emigrated with her.
Mai's son was born in Britain, but his cultural identity is important to him and he doesn't feel at home in Britain.
Teacher tip
Consider how to set up the practice task in LC2 so that student annotations are detailed enough (i.e. referring to other moments and characters in the play, and including historical context where appropriate). You may want to model this on the board.
Equipment
You need access to a copy of Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking' published by Nick Hern Books.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of mental health issues
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In Scene One of 'Leave Taking', we learn that Enid's sister in Jamaica has asked her for money to help support their sick mother. Why doesn't Enid send her the money?
Q2.In Scene Two of 'Leave Taking', Brod recalls a letter the British government sent him. What did the letter say?
Q3.In Scene Three of 'Leave Taking', Brod and Enid recall a church service in Jamaica. What do they say about it?
Q4.In Scene One of 'Leave Taking', Viv says she wants to visit the West Indies so that she can explore her cultural identity. Del says she doesn't, claiming, 'I already who I am.'
Q5.In Scene Two of 'Leave Taking', Enid calls Viv and Del 'my English girls'. Brod disagrees, saying 'These girls got souls.'
Q6.In the introduction to 'Leave Taking', Pinnock says that her mother retained an 'interest in obeah, consulting obeah men and women in times of for advice and healing.'
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In Scene Six of 'Leave Taking', why does Enid visit Mai?
Q2.In 'Leave Taking', what are some of the differences between the characters of Mai and Enid?
Q3.In Scene Six, Mai suggests Enid sees a doctor. Enid says she won't, asking, 'What they know about a black woman ?'
Q4.In Scene Six of 'Leave Taking', Enid seems to find some release for her grief via a ' of pain'.
Q5.In Scene Six of 'Leave Taking', Mai gives her own definition of what it means to be home. She says, 'You at with yourself, you at home anywhere.'
Q6.In Scene Six of 'Leave Taking', Mai, in response to Del's restlessness, says, 'It must be some kinda curse that condemn our people to the earth like ghosts who can't find rest.'
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: An exploration of Scene Six of Winsome Pinnock’s ‘Leave Taking’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: An exploration of Scene Six of Winsome Pinnock’s ‘Leave Taking’, 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 4 English lessons from the Leave Taking: a sense of belonging unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.