'Small Island': reading the beginning of Act 1 Scene 3
I can explain the events of Act 1 Scene 3 and how the character of Gilbert is established.
'Small Island': reading the beginning of Act 1 Scene 3
I can explain the events of Act 1 Scene 3 and how the character of Gilbert is established.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Gilbert is motivated by a desire to fight against Hitler and his Nazi racial theories.
- Gilbert is portrayed as gullible, whereas his cousin Elwood is more cynical about their 'mother country'.
- Gilbert breaks the fourth wall, addressing the audience to show them the reality of his posting with the RAF.
- The sarcasm and demeaning tone of the Sergeant in Lincolnshire is deliberately contrasted with the recruiting officer.
- Gilbert joins the RAF to fight for the British Empire, yet he finds that in Britain there's no sense of shared identity.
Keywords
Sarcasm - the use of remarks that clearly mean the opposite of what they say
Gullible - easily persuaded or willing to believe most things
Cynical - not trusting or unwilling to believe that there are good intentions
Ideology - a system of ideas, values or beliefs
Colloquial - describes language that is informal or casual everyday language
Common misconception
The Jamaican characters all have a cynical view of Britain and the British empire.
The reality is more nuanced. Whilst characters like Elwood are openly critical, some characters (like Gilbert) are more positive, buying into wartime narratives of fighting for their 'mother country'.
To help you plan your year 9 english lesson on: 'Small Island': reading the beginning of Act 1 Scene 3, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 9 english lesson on: 'Small Island': reading the beginning of Act 1 Scene 3, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 english lessons from the 'Small Island' unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of the play 'Small Island' written by Andrea Levy and adapted for the stage by Helen Edmundson
Content guidance
- Contains strong language
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
"Why you wanna lose your life for a white man?"
"Have you heard what this Hitler fellow is saying?"
"This war will change nothing for you and me."
"I will be an air-gunner. And I will go to an English university".
"Man, the English are liars."
"I tell you what this is about - you are jealous."