Hello, and thank you for joining me today.

I'm Mrs. Butterworth and I will be leading the lesson today.

And I'm really excited because we are going to start reading the first scene from "Small Island" and we're gonna be focusing on one of our main characters, Hortense, so I really hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

So let's get started.

So by the end of the lesson, you will be able to explain how the character of Hortense is established in the opening scene.

Before we delve into the lesson, there are a few keywords that we need to be aware of that will just help with your understanding of the lesson.

These are: conform, direct address, dominant and flashback.

In a moment, the definitions will appear on the screen.

It might be a good idea to pause the video to give yourself plenty of time to read these definitions.

So the outline of our lesson looks like this.

We're going to begin by exploring the start of Act 1, Scene 1 and reading this.

And then we're going to move on to look at Hortense, Hortense the heroine.

So let's begin with that exploration of Act 1, Scene 1.

So when we are studying plays, it is just as important to explore stage directions as well as the dialogue between characters.

Playwrights spend a lot of time crafting stage directions in order to get their intention and purpose across.

And for us as readers, it gives us so many rich clues about characterization, about setting, about themes, about the writer's intention.

And I really enjoy looking at the stage directions because they just give you a really good sense of what the play will look like.

So let's look at the first set of stage directions in Act 1, Scene 1.

We'll read them together.

"Summer.

1939.

Pathe-style news footage of Jamaica bracing itself for a strong hurricane.

On the stage is a wooden schoolhouse, Hortense is hurrying to prepare the classroom for the hurricane's arrival.

Mrs. Ryder is standing by the open doorway.

Strong gusts of wind are heard".

What an exciting dramatic opening.

So what I want us to do now is I want us to look at this section again and make some predictions about the text.

So in a moment I'm gonna ask you to pause the video to discuss these predictions, but first I'm going to give you a few questions to help you make those.

So the first question is, why is this date significant and what are Pathe images? What is the effect of the personification? What is suggested about the characters through their actions? And finally, what atmosphere is being created? So, what predictions can we make about the text from the stage directions? Pause the video and discuss.

Or you may just want to think alone about your answers to these questions.

Off you go.

Well done everyone.

I could hear some really excellent predictions being made about the text.

So let's just share some of our answers.

So that first question.

So the reason 1939 is so significant is because it the marks the beginning of World War II, which becomes a really significant event as we go through the play.

Now, you'll notice Pathe images, Pathe-style news footage actually comes up quite a lot across the play and Pathe were really famous for distributing news films, particularly during World War II.

They're quite an iconic part of World War II history and they used to be shown in cinemas.

So Edmundson is using these to kind of give us a sense of time of when the play was happening.

And what is the effect of this personification of Jamaica bracing itself? So this really foregrounds Jamaica as another important character in the play.

So by personifying Jamaica in this way, we are forced to view Jamaica as almost like another character in the play.

And Jamaica is such an important setting and part of the narrative of this play.

And then we get the descriptions of Hortense and Mrs. Ryder and what can we predict about these characters through this description? So it's really funny, isn't it? Hortense has this real sense of urgency.

She's hurrying to prepare, and Mrs. Ryder seems less bothered.

She's actually standing by the open doorway.

So this already marks them out as different.

So again, using our predictive skills, we know that these characters might be slightly at odds with each other.

And then finally, what atmosphere is created? So what atmosphere can we expect in this first scene? So the hurricane is a dramatic way to start.

I think we're all agreed on that.

And perhaps this suggests a sense of foreboding and danger.

So it gives us, perhaps with our predictions, it gives us a sense that maybe something bad might be about to happen.

Okay, let's see how much you remember.

The first part of Scene 1 takes place in? Excellent, a wooden schoolhouse.

Well done to everyone that noticed that.

And again, it gives us a really strong image of the play's setting.

So we're going to look at another set of stage directions.

This time they are describing Hortense, and this is how Edmundson, the writer, chooses to direct that character.

So it says here, "Hortense pauses in what she's doing and looks at the audience.

She addresses them, conspiratorially, with barely controlled excitement".

So again, what is the effect of the direct address? What does this word mean? And, what might be the impact on the audience? What might this tell, this description, tell us about Hortense? So let's go through the answers of those questions together.

So the impact of the direct address, the effect of the direct address.

So it really creates a rapport with the audience.

So if a character speaks to you directly, it really makes you feel part of what is happening and it helps to really develop relationships with characters.

So notice where writers choose to use that direct address to really create that relationship between audience and character.

And also it really adds authenticity to Hortense's story.

It comes from her own mouth.

She's directly addressing us.

So it's like she's telling us the story, not someone else.

So that idea that she's narrating her story directly is a really interesting one through this use of a direct address.

And then we get this lovely word "conspiratorially", and this means to create a secret plan.

So it's almost like you're in a conspiracy with someone.

And again, this feels quite conversational, but it also draws the audience in.

If you imagine someone saying, "Oh, let me tell you a secret", you can't help but want to be drawn in.

And it starts to really feel like a genuine connection between the audience and the character of Hortense.

And then we get this description of Hortense as this barely controlled excitement and this might really emphasise, you know, Hortense is a vivacious and spirited character.

She's excited, she can hardly control it.

So it gives us lots of lovely clues about Hortense as a character and also about how this relationship is created between the audience and her as a character.

Edmundson's been really clever here.

So true or false time.

"Direct address is an effective way to create a rapport with the audience".

Yeah, absolutely.

Well done to everyone that noticed, True.

Yeah, that key word there, rapport, how you're creating that relationship with the audience.

Okay, now time to justify your answer.

Yes, absolutely.

It also adds authenticity to Hortense's story.

So it's almost like it makes it more believable that she's saying it directly to us as the audience.

Well done.

So now it's over to you to read the first part of Act 1, Scene 1.

So I'm going to ask you to read from the beginning, the very beginning to about halfway of Scene 1 where it says "she listens as it drives away".

And as you read, I would like you please to answer the following questions.

So number one, what is Hortense's role in the schoolhouse? What explanation is given as to why Hortense's mother leaves and what does this tell us about her upbringing? How does Miss Jewel describe the life that Hortense is going to have? So you may want to just find a key quote for that one.

How does Mr. Philip describe his house? Again, look for those keywords and key quotes.

How does Mr. Philip respond when he finds out that Hortense has been climbing trees? Find a quote that shows the different lives Michael and Hortense have, and how does Michael describe the school he is going to? And then finally, what is the effect of using a flashback in this scene? So you'll need to pause the video, give yourself plenty of time to read this scene and answer those questions.

Good luck.

Okay, great!" So that's the first part of Act 1, Scene 1 read and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I have enjoyed reading it.

I really love this.

As I said, I love the stage directions and I love this introduction to our character Hortense.

So let's just go through the answer to this question.

So, "What is Hortense's role in the schoolhouse?" So she is a classroom assistant and Hortense actually uses the phrase, "I am only a classroom assistant after all", which already reveals this hierarchy between herself and Mrs. Ryder.

And we know from those predictions that we made earlier that there are definitely some differences between these two characters.

And then what explanation is given as to why Hortense's mother leaves and what does this tell us about her upbringing? So Miss.

Jules says about her mother going to work in Cuba, and this suggests that her mother would rather abandon Hortense in order for her to have a better life than continue to live the way they are.

So it suggests and hints at some trouble there.

And it also shows the importance of class and status.

So rather than be with her daughter, the mother understands that Hortense should go somewhere where there is wealth and class and status for a better life for her.

And Hortense also asks who her papa is revealing that she is estranged from him and she doesn't know who her father is.

And how does Miss.

Jewel describe the life that Hortense is going to have? So she describes a golden life which connotes wealth and success.

So it hints at this idea that there are high hopes for Hortense.

And then we meet Mr. Philip and how does he describe his house? So he says it is a decent home and a God-fearing house, which really emphasises the importance of conformity, appearance and religion.

He regards the household has higher in status than others, so we really get the sense of Mr. Philip's terrifying character and how he views his status, his position in society and his household.

And how does Mr. Philip respond when he finds out that Hortense has been climbing trees? So as we probably predicted, he is furious and he states that it's actually ungodly and that little girls do not climb trees.

So this idea that Hortense is going away from standards and not conforming in the way she should be really shocks him.

And it also hints at this really oppressive nature of the house and the expectations to conform.

So if you go outside of these conventions, you are going to feel the wrath of Mr. Philip.

And find a quote that shows the differences between the lives that Hortense and Michael have.

So we get this description from Hortense where she says "He was allowed to play all day and I had chores to do".

So you can see that even though they live in the same house, there is still this sense of hierarchy between those two characters.

How does Michael describe the school he is going to? Well, he says it is the best school in the world, which again shows this link between class and opportunity.

So a better education comes with wealth, which we know Mr. Philip has.

So obviously his son is going to have those more plentiful opportunities.

And again, this reveals another stark difference between Hortense and Michael in their upbringings and their opportunities.

And we also get a flashback in this scene.

So what do we think the effect of this is? So what this allows is for Hortense to tell her whole story and what you may remember from context is that Windrush tales often have a male bias, yet this story foregrounds Hortense's experience from the outset.

So we're hearing a different side of these types of stories.

And it also shows Hortense claiming her narrative and her history.

She wants to tell her own story and not someone else's version of it.

And it allows the audience to gain a better understanding of multiple characters and their histories.

So both Levy, the original writer, and Edmundson, see this as a really important part of this text, this telling of narratives from different perspectives and also different historical perspectives.

So we have reached the second part of our lesson.

Now we have had a look at the start of Act 1, Scene 1, we're gonna focus our attention a little bit more into the character of Hortense.

So let's get on with the second part of our lesson.

So in the beginning of Act 1, Scene 1, Hortense speaks these words to the audience.

So let's read this quote together.

"Mrs. Ryder, evangelist, school teacher.

She clearly believes that she is the heroine of this situation, but I can assure you, she is most certainly not".

So I'd like you please to discuss what makes this quote so significant? Pause the video to give yourself time to discuss, or you may want to make a few notes or even just quietly think to yourself.

Great, excellent work everyone.

It's a really fab quote, isn't it? Tells us so much about the characters and Hortense as well.

So let's just go through some of the feedback.

So Hortense uses these words here, evangelist and school teacher, to describe Mrs. Ryder.

So she's really emphasising who Mrs. Ryder is, the fact that she's a missionary, we also know that she's white, she's American.

And also by doing this, Hortense is really identifying what arguably gives Mrs. Ryder a higher status and we know from those very beginning stage directions, these characters have many differences.

And then Hortense makes it very clear that she clearly believed that she is the heroine of the situation.

And this is really interesting, because Hortense here, Hortense through Edmundson's writing is exploring the notion of dominant narratives.

So the idea that we usually hear from a male, no, I can't say that.

Just read what's on the fucking screen.

(distant seagull calling) So at the start of Act 1, Scene 1, Hortense speaks these words to the audience.

So let's just read the quote together.

"Mrs. Ryder, evangelist, school teacher.

She clearly believed that she is the heroine of this situation, but I can assure you, she is most certainly not".

So I'd like you just to discuss what makes this quote so significant? You'll need to pause the video to give yourself time to discuss, or you may want to jot down some ideas or think quietly to yourself.

Some really great discussions there.

It's such a fab quote, isn't it? It tells us so much about this play and about our character Hortense.

So first of all, we get this description of Mrs. Ryder and Hortense describes her as evangelist and school teacher.

So we know that Mrs. Ryder is a missionary, so she's very religious.

We know that she is white, she's an American.

And what Hortense is also doing here is she's identifying specifically what arguably gives Mrs. Ryder a higher status, and we know from those initial stage directions, there are lots of differences between these characters.

And Hortense is marking these out here.

We then get this sentence.

So Hortense says that Mrs. Ryder clearly believed that she is the heroine of the situation and what Edmundson is doing here through the character of Hortense is exploring the notion of dominant narratives and how usually it is the privileged who have their stories told.

So we get the sense that what Hortense is saying, that Mrs. Ryder as a white American woman appears a lot in stories.

And actually this is Hortense's turn to tell her story.

It's not Mrs. Ryder's turn.

And we get this last bit, "but I can assure you, she, is most certainly not".

So Hortense is really claiming her own narrative and not just the story that she's telling, but the historical narrative of Jamaican migrants.

And both Levy and Edmundson want to foreground this experience.

We want to hear from the women and the men who experienced migration as a Jamaican.

And also by marking herself as the heroine, Hortense is challenging the male bias in Windrush narratives.

So in your previous study, you may have explored the idea that a lot of the history and stories around Windrush narratives are actually presented in a male perspective.

So to hear from a woman is a really interesting choice by both Levy and Edmundson.

So true or false, "Edmundson and Levy", the original writer, "want to foreground the experiences of Jamaican migrants".

True or false? Well done, everyone that said true.

That's quite a tricky question.

So now it's time to justify those answers.

Great.

So what this does is "Edmundson and Levy want to foreground the experiences of Jamaican migrants".

"Therefore, Hortense asserts herself as the heroine of the story".

So by Hortense saying that she's going to tell her story, Edmundson and Levy are able to really foreground her experience as a Jamaican migrant.

Well done everyone.

So we are onto the second and final practise task.

And what I would like you to do is to create a character profile of Hortense.

So you may wish to create your own image of her, or you can use the image on the screen here.

And what you must include is some words to describe her.

So think about your own words, the words that you would to describe Hortense using the information that we have gathered so far about her.

You'll then need to include some key quotes.

So think about some of the quotes that we have looked at today.

And then also you'll need to go back to the text to look at those stage directions, 'cause remember, they tell us so much about a character.

So we have already looked at some together, but perhaps you can find a few more to really flesh out this character profile.

So pause the video so that you have time to fill out and complete your character profile.

Off you go.

Well done everyone.

I heard some fantastic words coming out there to describe our character, Hortense.

So let's just share some of those ideas.

You may have some different things, which is absolutely fine.

You may want to pinch some of these to add to your character profiles.

So the words that I have chosen are, spirited and vivacious, brave, assertive, and then I cheated a little bit on this one 'cause although it's not one word, I think it's quite important.

I've put that she challenges dominant narratives.

And then the quotes that I have chosen, I've chosen this one, "addresses them conspiratorially with barely controlled excitement".

If you remember at the start of the lesson, we looked at this in terms of creating her character as someone that is spirited and vivacious, engaging.

And then I've got this quote here.

"He was allowed to play all day, but I had chores to do".

So if you remember in our reading of Act 1, Scene 1, we looked at this quote in terms of those differences between Michael and Hortense's life.

We've got this quote here, which we just looked at.

"I can assure you, she is most certainly not".

So we get this real sense of Hortense's assertiveness and certainty in her own identity.

And then in Act 1, Scene 1, we hear Hortense say she wants a golden life.

"I wa a golden life".

And this shows this idea, the importance of wealth and success and all of those sorts of things.

And then finally, Hortense's description of herself, "My skin is the colour of warm honey".

So we can really start to build a really good idea of Hortense based on some of these features.

So well done everyone.

We have made it to the end of the lesson.

I really hope you have enjoyed the start of "Small Island".

It is such a fantastic play.

So I'm really looking forward to exploring that further with you all.

So let's just remind ourselves of everything that we have looked at.

So we know that Hortense narrates her origins directly to the audience joined by a younger Hortense.

We talked about the fact that Windrush tales often have a male bias, yet this story foregrounds Hortense's experience.

We get Hortense's comment about being the heroine of the situation.

And this opens questions about the dominance of white history.

And Hortense is forced to change her behaviour and accent to become decent according to her adoptive family.

So again, thank you so much for joining me today.

I really can't wait to see you all again in a future lesson.

So until then, goodbye!.