Starter quiz
- Where are the locations that 'Small Island' is set?
- Jamaica ✓
- Nigeria
- Britain ✓
- Northern Ireland
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- When was 'Small Island' first performed?
- 2019 ✓
- 1999
- 1989
- 1979
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- When exploring literary texts we need to consider themes. What is a theme?
- the narrative arc
- a character presented in different ways
- exploration of stage directions
- an idea that is explored in a text in a number of different ways ✓
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- What are the historical events that are most prominent in 'Small Island'?
- WW1
- HMT Windrush docked at Tilbury ✓
- The Titanic set sail
- WWII ✓
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- 'Small Island' is an adaptation of the novel with the same name. What does the word 'adaptation' mean?
- a transformation of a literary work into a different medium ✓
- the process of modifying a story line to fit a specific historical context
- the evolution of characters in a novel to better suit a diverse audience
- the act of condensing a lengthy literary work into a shorter version
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- 'Small Island' is told through different stories and multiple voices. What word describes this literary technique?
- Monologue
- Soliloquy
- Polyphony ✓
- Dialogic
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Exit quiz
- In 'Small Island', when Hortense stops and speaks to the audience, this is an example of ...
- a rhetorical question.
- emotive language.
- direct address. ✓
- hyperbole.
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- In 'Small Island' the stage directions describe 'Jamaica bracing itself'. This is an example of ...
- personification ✓
- metaphor
- simile
- hyperbole
- irony
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- Pathé were famous for ...
- publishing Jamaican novels.
- distributing current affair magazines.
- reporting on extreme weather conditions.
- film and image production particularly for news. ✓
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- In 'Small Island', Hortense addresses the audience "conspiratorially". What does this mean?
- Openly and honestly, sharing information transparently.
- Anxiously, reflecting a state of nervous anticipation.
- Secretly or covertly, often implying collaboration in a plot or scheme. ✓
- Nonchalantly, indicating a casual or indifferent attitude
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- In 'Small Island' how does Mr. Philip describe his house?
- god fearing ✓
- religious
- decent ✓
- wealthy
- respectful
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- Complete this quote from 'Small Island'. Little Hortense says "I wa a ______ life".
- 'Golden' ✓
Worksheet
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Presentation
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Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Hortense narrates her origins directly to the audience, joined by a younger Hortense.
- Windrush tales often have a male bias, yet this story foregrounds Hortense's experience.
- Hortense's comment about being the "heroine" of the situation opens questions about the dominance of 'white' history.
- Hortense is forced to change her behaviour and accent to become "decent", according to her adoptive family.
Common misconception
All relevant information comes only from the dialogue in plays.
What is the role of stage directions? Explore how they are crafted to further characterisation. What extra information do they give us?
Keywords
Conform - to behave according to expectations and usual standards
Direct address - where a speaker talks directly to the audience
Flashback - a scene that is set earlier than the main story
Dominance - to have power and authority
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