Starter quiz
- In Scene Seven of 'Leave Taking', what does Brod tell Del?
- that Viv is going to university to pursue Black Studies
- that her grandmother is dead
- that he had to pay £50 to complete a naturalisation process
- that her father used to abuse her mother ✓
- that he visits his wife and children in Jamaica often
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- Why does Del leave home in Scene Two of 'Leave Taking'?
- she doesn't want to have dinner with the Pastor
- she has a violent fight with Viv
- she has a violent fight with Enid ✓
- she wants to move in with her boyfriend
- she wants to move in with Mai
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- The character of Brod is in three scenes of 'Leave Taking'. Match these scenes to their plot points.
- Scene Two⇔Brod questions Viv's Eurocentric education. ✓
- Scene Three⇔Brod talks to Enid about their past in Jamaica. ✓
- Scene Seven⇔Brod tells Del about her mother's experience of domestic abuse. ✓
- In Scene One of 'Leave Taking', Mai asks Enid if she wants her husband back. How does Enid respond?
- she says it's not possible because her husband has passed away
- she says she doesn't want him back; she can raise her children herself ✓
- she says she wants him back as she needs help with her children, especially Del
- she says she will come back another day for this but the focus this time is Del
- she says her husband has returned to Jamaica
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- In Scene Eight of 'Leave Taking', Del says to Enid, "Uncle Brod told me what that man did to you." What does she mean?
- Brod has told her about her father's excessive drinking
- Brod has told her about talking in tongues during a service in Jamaica
- Brod has told her that Enid's father never spoke to her after she migrated
- Brod has told her that her father used to abuse Enid ✓
- Brod has told her that her ex-boyfriend Roy has been round asking for Del
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- In the introduction to 'Leave Taking', Pinnock says she created Enid as the heroine of the play because she "couldn't ever recall seeing such a character - a ______ - as the lead in a British play."
- 'hospital cleaner' ✓
Exit quiz
- Each of the words below will help you to analyse 'Leave Taking' as a play. Match the key words to their definitions.
- dramatic function⇔the purpose of a character in a play ✓
- catalyst⇔something that causes a change or event to occur ✓
- foil⇔a character who contrasts with another character ✓
- insight⇔the ability to gain precise and deep understanding of someone ✓
- develop⇔to increase, deepen and grow ✓
- In 'Leave Taking', in what ways is Brod a foil to Enid?
- Brod is a single parent, like Enid
- Brod criticises Britain, Enid doesn't ✓
- Brod didn't complete the naturalisation process; Enid did
- Brod thinks Del and Viv should know of their Jamaican roots; Enid doesn't ✓
- Brod worries about Del, just like Enid
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- In 'Leave Taking', Brod serves as a ______ for Viv's questioning of the education system.
- 'catalyst' ✓
- In 'Leave Taking', Enid's husband doesn't appear on stage but he is reference in a number of scenes. Match the scenes to the reference.
- Scene One⇔Enid tells Mai she doesn't want her husband back. ✓
- Scene Two⇔Del accuses her mother for being the reason her father left. ✓
- Scene Four⇔Enid tells Viv about her and her husband's plans before they migrated. ✓
- Scene Seven⇔Brod tells Del that her father used to abuse her mother. ✓
- Scene Eight⇔Del speaks of her father as "that man" knowing he abused her mother. ✓
- In Scene Seven of 'Leave Taking', Brod tells Del that her father faced racist attacks at work. He speaks to the effect of this, stating, "I never see a man eyes look so ... ."
- 'empty' ✓
- In Scene Seven of 'Leave Taking', Brod tells Del that her father faced racist attacks at work. He speaks to the effect of this, stating, "Buy you father change from a smiling boy into a ... ."
- 'hard man' ✓
Worksheet
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Arguably, Pinnock centres women’s voices in ‘Leave Taking’.
- The character of Brod is the only onstage male character.
- Brod serves many important dramatic functions.
- Enid’s husband is an important off stage character.
- References to Enid’s husband help audiences understand the character of Enid and aspects of 1980s Britain.
Common misconception
You can't explore the dramatic function of off stage characters.
Off stage characters can help develop a world beyond the stage itself, grounding the play in its own reality.
Keywords
Dramatic function - the purpose of the character: how they help a playwright develop, emphasise and reveal certain ideas
Catalyst - something that causes a change or event to occur
Foil - a character who contrasts with another character
Insight - the ability to gain precise and profound (deep) understanding of someone or something
Develop - to increase, deepen and grow
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