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Exploring Mai's Bedsit in 'Leave Taking'

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Lesson details

Learning outcome

I can explain how Winsome Pinnock presents Mai as a character caught between two worlds through the description of her bedsit.

Key learning points

  1. Mai’s bedsit represents her struggle between Jamaican heritage and British life.
  2. The cluttered state of the bedsit reflects Mai’s transient lifestyle and emotional turmoil.
  3. Pinnock uses objects like obeah artefacts to symbolise Mai’s connection to her Caribbean roots.
  4. The bedsit serves as a place of stability for other characters, despite Mai’s own sense of impermanence.
  5. Pinnock uses the bedsit to explore themes of belonging and identity for Windrush migrants.

Keywords

  • Bedsit - a small, one-room apartment where all living facilities (like sleeping, cooking, and living space) are in one room

  • Obeah - a spiritual practice from the Caribbean that involves folk magic, healing, and rituals, often linked to African traditions

  • Transience - the state of being temporary or not permanently settled, often reflecting instability or uncertainty

  • Windrush generation - Caribbean migrants who moved to Britain between 1948 and 1971, facing challenges of identity, belonging, and cultural adjustment

Common misconception

Pupils may assume Mai’s bedsit is only a negative symbol of her failure to integrate into British society.

Highlight that while the bedsit represents her struggles, it also serves as a place of support and stability for other characters, symbolising her resilience and strength.

Teacher tip

Before the lesson, you could show pupils images or examples of bedsits from the 1980s to help them visualise the space, which will aid in understanding its significance in the play.

Equipment

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

Content guidance

Contains strong language

Depiction or discussion of mental health issues

Supervision

Adult supervision required

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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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the name given to the African spell-casting and healing traditions practiced by Mai in 'Leave Taking'?

Correct Answer: Obeah

Q2.
In 'Leave Taking', which of these are true about Mai's bedsit?

Correct answer: It is Mai's place of work.
Correct answer: It is a place Enid goes to seek assistance.
It is Viv's home after she runs away from Enid.
Correct answer: Brod stays there after Enid kicks him out.
It is directly below Enid's flat.

Q3.
Mai is involved in five scenes in 'Leave Taking'. Starting with the first, put the events below in chronological order.

1 - Mai meets the Matthews family and tries to give Del a reading
2 - Del has moved in with Mai; Mai tells her more about obeah
3 - Mai gives Enid another reading; she tells Del about her son
4 - Mai realises Del has the "gift" of obeah, like Mai does
5 - Mai realises she is unwell; she makes Del take exams in obeah

Q4.
In Scene 7 of 'Leave Taking', we learn that Brod is now living at Mai's after being kicked out by Enid. We do not see this event on stage which makes it a ellipsis.

Correct Answer: temporal

Q5.
'Leave Taking' is made up of continuous scenes and no division into acts.

Correct Answer: 8, eight

Q6.
Which of these are settings in the play 'Leave Taking'?

Jamaica
the burger place where Del worked
Correct answer: Enid's flat
Correct answer: Mai's bedsit
Viv's school

Assessment exit quiz

Download exit quiz questions (PDF)

6 Questions

Q1.
What is a bedsit?

a large, multi-room apartment
Correct answer: a small, one-room flat with shared facilities
a temporary shelter for the homeless
a room devoted to obeah activities

Q2.
Who were the Windrush generation?

British people who moved to Jamaica after World War II
Correct answer: migrants from Caribbean countries who came to Britain post-World War II
migrants from Eastern Europe who came to Britain in the 1950s
a generation of British soldiers returning home after WWII

Q3.
In 'Leave Taking', Mai is arguably presented as a transient character. What does this mean?

She is a strong, permanent fixture in the play.
She is well-established in her community.
She is wealthy and owns several properties.
Correct answer: She feels only temporarily settled in her life in Britain.

Q4.
What is one key function of Mai’s bedsit in Pinnock's 'Leave Taking'?

it's a symbol of her financial success
Correct answer: it's a space that offers stability to other characters
it's a representation of British life
it's a place of luxury and comfort

Q5.
Which of the following statements about Mai’s bedsit in 'Leave Taking' is not true?

It symbolises her connection to Jamaican traditions.
Correct answer: It is a place of financial security for Mai.
It represents her transient nature in Britain.
It offers stability to other characters.

Q6.
In 'Leave Taking', how does Mai's bedsit reflect the experience of many Windrush migrants in Britain?

It was a symbol of total acceptance into British society.
Correct answer: It highlights the permanent instability many experienced.
It was a place of luxury that only a few could afford.
It shows how quickly migrants integrated into British life.

To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: Exploring Mai's Bedsit in 'Leave Taking', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...