Starter quiz
- In 'Small Island', who is caught kissing "passionately" in the schoolhouse?
- Michael and Hortense
- Mr Philip and Stella
- Mrs Ryder and Michael ✓
- Miss Ma and Mr Ryder
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- In 'Small Island', the stage directions describe "Jamaica bracing itself for a strong hurricane". What is this an example of?
- metaphor
- simile
- personification ✓
- anthropomorphism
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- At the start of 'Small Island', Mrs Ryder is describing the effects of the hurricane. Complete the quote: "Oh, look how the trees are starting to sway! Why it's as if they are ______!"
- 'dancing' ✓
- In 'Small Island', Michael says he is leaving for England to join what?
- the RAF ✓
- the Navy
- the Army
- the Ministry of Defence
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- In 'Small Island', what happens to Mr Ryder in Act 1 Scene 1?
- He witnesses Michael and Mrs Ryder kissing.
- He dies of a heart attack.
- He is injured in the hurricane looking for Mrs Ryder.
- His car hits a tree and he dies. ✓
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- Match the character from 'Small Island' to the quotes from Act 1 Scene 1.
- Hortense⇔"I would prefer to stay at home." ✓
- Michael⇔"get away from this house, from this small, small town." ✓
- Mr Philip⇔"He has brought shame on my name. Shame on this family. Let him go." ✓
- Miss Ma⇔"They are saying that my son was caught in an unholy embrace." ✓
- Miss Jewel⇔"The boy he done a bad ting. A bad ting." ✓
- Mrs Ryder⇔"Oh where is he? I want him. I want him!" ✓
Exit quiz
- What word beginning with 'f' describes the atmosphere created by Edmundson's use of the hurricane at the start of 'Small Island'?
- 'foreboding' ✓
- Which answer best describes the word 'foreshadowing'?
- a feeling that something bad will happen
- unable to be controlled or restrained
- a warning or indication about events to come ✓
- a theme, image, character or plot element that is used across many texts
- the opinion people have about someone or something
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- How does the hurricane's progression parallel the events in Scene 1 of 'Small Island'?
- it remains unrelated to the plot
- it mirrors the rising tensions between characters ✓
- it signifies the end of the play
- it has no correlation with the narrative
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- Michael leaves at the end of Scene 1 in 'Small Island', what historical event could the hurricane be foreshadowing?
- 'WWII' ✓
- In 'Small Island', the morning after the storm, Miss Jewel is described as "sitting at the table, __________"
- crying loudly
- rocking backwards and forwards ✓
- shouting Michael's name
- swearing at the top of her voice
- begging Mr Philip to listen
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- In 'Small Island', Mr Philip states that Michael has brought what on the family house and name?
- humilation
- shame ✓
- embarrassment
- indignity
- despair
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Worksheet
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Presentation
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Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Edmundson uses the literary trope of the storm to create a dramatic setting.
- The hurricane establishes a foreboding atmosphere and foreshadows the dramatic events to come.
- The hurricane parallels the rising tensions between the characters.
- The hurricane is a powerful natural force that exposes truths about the human relations between characters.
Common misconception
That all writers use only original ideas and if they don't they are bad writers.
Explore the idea of a literary trope and how writer's use these to elicit specific responses from readers. How do recognisable conventions work to appeal to us as readers?
Keywords
Foreboding - a feeling that something bad will happen
Irrepressible - unable to be controlled or restrained
Foreshadowing - a warning or indication about events to come
Literary trope - a theme, image, character or plot element that is used across many texts
Reputation - the opinion people have about someone or something
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