A place where you live. The word home is often connected to ideas of belonging, and security.

A feeling of being out of place, or in the wrong place.

When you speak in an unknown language during a religious service; considered communication from God.

When you relocate from one country to another.

Who you are; the qualities that make you. Understanding, finding and accepting your identity can be a life’s work.

An exploration of Scene Six of Winsome Pinnock’s ‘Leave Taking’

English

In 'Leave Taking: A Sense of Belonging', pupils explore the themes of immigration and identity in the play. In 'Leave Taking: The Power of Education', pupils explore how a lack of representation in literature and other educational materials negatively impacts on sense of self.

in 'Small Island', pupils explore the themes of identity, race, colonisation - shedding light on the experiences of Jamaican immigrants in post-war Britain. In 'Leave Taking: A Sense of Belonging', pupils explore the experiences of second generation immigrants and the difficulties they face in 1980's Britain.

In this unit, pupils start their exploration of Winsome Pinnock's play, 'Leave Taking'. They first learn about the play's context of 1980s Britain and the Windrush generation before then reading and exploring the full play. They finally explore themes and characters before working on essay writing.

Modern text: first study

Discriminatory behaviour or images, whether on the grounds of race, gender, disability, religion or belief or sexual orientation, or otherwise.

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce, poverty, deprivation.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Depiction or discussion of serious mental health issues including eating disorders, self-harm, suicide or attempted suicide, or the aftermath of such an event.

Depiction or discussion of mental health issues

She wants to know how Viv will do in her exams.

She is struggling with the grief of Del's departure.

She is struggling with the grief of losing her mother.

She wants to know about Mai's son, in case it could help her with Del.

In Scene Six of 'Leave Taking', why does Enid visit Mai?

Mai has a more hands off approach to parenting.

They have different ideas about what it means to have a 'good life'.

In 'Leave Taking', what are some of the differences between the characters of Mai and Enid?

In Scene Six, Mai suggests Enid sees a doctor. Enid says she won't, asking, 'What they know about a black woman {{}}?'

In Scene Six of 'Leave Taking', Enid seems to find some release for her grief via a '{{}} of pain'.

In Scene Six of 'Leave Taking', Mai gives her own definition of what it means to be home. She says, 'You at {{}} with yourself, you at home anywhere.'

In Scene Six of 'Leave Taking', Mai, in response to Del's restlessness, says, 'It must be some kinda curse that condemn our people to {{}} the earth like ghosts who can't find rest.'

Enid's sister is rich and should support their mother herself.

Enid suspects her mother of pretending to be ill.

Enid suspects her sister to be lying about their mother's illness.

Enid doesn't care about her mother anymore.

Mai tells her not to because she thinks Enid's sister is lying.

In Scene One of 'Leave Taking', we learn that Enid's sister in Jamaica has asked her for money to help support their sick mother. Why doesn't Enid send her the money?

He is a British citizen, so should get rid of his Jamaican passport.

He will not be considered British until he pays for the relevant paperwork.

That Gullyman has been the target of a racist attack.

In Scene Two of 'Leave Taking', Brod recalls a letter the British government sent him. What did the letter say?

They recall having tea after the service.

They recall it being cancelled because of a hurricane.

Brod compares it unfavourably to the recent Pastor's visit.

In Scene Three of 'Leave Taking', Brod and Enid recall a church service in Jamaica. What do they say about it?

In Scene One of 'Leave Taking', Viv says she wants to visit the West Indies so that she can explore her cultural identity. Del says she doesn't, claiming, 'I already {{}} who I am.'

In Scene Two of 'Leave Taking', Enid calls Viv and Del 'my English girls'. Brod disagrees, saying 'These girls got {{}} souls.'

In the introduction to 'Leave Taking', Pinnock says that her mother retained an 'interest in obeah, consulting obeah men and women in times of {{}} for advice and healing.'

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Depiction or discussion of mental health issues

Adult supervision required

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

An exploration of Scene Six of Winsome Pinnock’s ‘Leave Taking’

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.