Starter quiz
- In 'Small Island', what do the characters Michael and Bernard both sign up for after dramatic events?
- 'RAF' ✓
- Where is Scene 2 set in 'Small Island'?
- Jamaica in a hurricane
- In London during WWII ✓
- On the HMT Windrush
- At Mr Philip's house
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- In 'Small Island', how does Edmundson use the house in Scene 2 to reflect Bernard's characterisation?
- The house is modern and lively
- The house is luxurious and colourful
- The house is old-fashioned and dowdy ✓
- The house is small and cramped
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- In 'Small Island', who is the first character to use direct address?
- Queenie
- Michael
- Hortense ✓
- Bernard
- Mrs Ryder
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- Starting with the first, put these events from Act 1 Scene 2 of 'Small Island' into chronological order.
- 1⇔Bernard and Queenie are arguing over furniture which Queenie wants to donate.
- 2⇔Queenie addresses the audience and tells them about her upbringing.
- 3⇔Queenie agrees to marry Bernard after her Aunt Dot dies.
- 4⇔The air raid siren begins to wail and the house is bombed.
- 5⇔Bernard tells Queenie he loves her and then joins up for the RAF.
- 6⇔Michael enters Queenie's house.
- In 'Small Island' what dramatic device does Edmundson use to enable characters to share their histories?
- Direct address
- Motif
- Flashback ✓
- Metaphor
- Monologue
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Exit quiz
- In 'Small Island', which term best describes Elwood's attitude towards Gilbert's decision to enlist?
- Cynical ✓
- Patriotic
- Gullible
- Proud
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- In 'Small Island' Elwood asks Gilbert "why you wanna go licky-licky to the British?". What describes this types of language use?
- Formal
- Colloquial ✓
- Exaggerated
- Patriotic
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- In 'Small Island' Scene 3, which dramatic techniques are used that are also found in Scenes 1 and 2?
- Soliloquy
- Motif ✓
- Direct address ✓
- Pathetic fallacy
- Foreshadowing
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- Match the quotes from 'Small Island' to either Elwood or Gilbert.
- Elwood⇔"Why you wanna lose your life for a white man?" ✓
- Gilbert⇔"Have you heard what this Hitler fellow is saying?" ✓
- Elwood⇔"This war will change nothing for you and me." ✓
- Gilbert⇔"I will be an air-gunner. And I will go to an English university". ✓
- Elwood⇔"Man, the English are liars." ✓
- Gilbert⇔"I tell you what this is about - you are jealous." ✓
- In 'Small Island' what role does Gilbert get assigned when he joins the RAF in England?
- air-gunner
- pilot
- coal truck driver ✓
- sniper
- paramedic
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- In 'Small Island', how does Gilbert describe the reactions of the people in the village.
- Hostile
- Curious ✓
- Fearful ✓
- Amazed ✓
- Confrontational
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Worksheet
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Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Gilbert is motivated by a desire to fight against Hitler and his Nazi racial theories.
- Gilbert is portrayed as gullible, whereas his cousin Elwood is more cynical about their 'mother country'.
- Gilbert breaks the fourth wall, addressing the audience to show them the reality of his posting with the RAF.
- The sarcasm and demeaning tone of the Sergeant in Lincolnshire is deliberately contrasted with the recruiting officer.
- Gilbert joins the RAF to fight for the British Empire, yet he finds that in Britain there's no sense of shared identity.
Common misconception
The Jamaican characters all have a cynical view of Britain and the British empire.
The reality is more nuanced. Whilst characters like Elwood are openly critical, some characters (like Gilbert) are more positive, buying into wartime narratives of fighting for their 'mother country'.
Keywords
Sarcasm - the use of remarks that clearly mean the opposite of what they say
Gullible - easily persuaded or willing to believe most things
Cynical - not trusting or unwilling to believe that there are good intentions
Ideology - a system of ideas, values or beliefs
Colloquial - describes language that is informal or casual everyday language
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