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Year 9

'Small Island': the significance of the hurricane

I can explain the significance of the hurricane.

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New
New
Year 9

'Small Island': the significance of the hurricane

I can explain the significance of the hurricane.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Edmundson uses the literary trope of the storm to create a dramatic setting.
  2. The hurricane establishes a foreboding atmosphere and foreshadows the dramatic events to come.
  3. The hurricane parallels the rising tensions between the characters.
  4. 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

Personalise this lesson by referring to texts the students have studied previously. Compare and contrast how different writers use weather in their works.
Teacher tip

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

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In 'Small Island', who is caught kissing "passionately" in the schoolhouse?
Michael and Hortense
Mr Philip and Stella
Correct answer: Mrs Ryder and Michael
Miss Ma and Mr Ryder
Q2.
In 'Small Island', the stage directions describe "Jamaica bracing itself for a strong hurricane". What is this an example of?
metaphor
simile
Correct answer: personification
anthropomorphism
Q3.
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 !"
Correct Answer: dancing, Dancing
Q4.
In 'Small Island', Michael says he is leaving for England to join what?
Correct answer: the RAF
the Navy
the Army
the Ministry of Defence
Q5.
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.
Correct answer: His car hits a tree and he dies.
Q6.
Match the character from 'Small Island' to the quotes from Act 1 Scene 1.
Correct Answer:Hortense,"I would prefer to stay at home."

"I would prefer to stay at home."

Correct Answer:Michael,"get away from this house, from this small, small town."

"get away from this house, from this small, small town."

Correct Answer:Mr Philip,"He has brought shame on my name. Shame on this family. Let him go."

"He has brought shame on my name. Shame on this family. Let him go."

Correct Answer:Miss Ma,"They are saying that my son was caught in an unholy embrace."

"They are saying that my son was caught in an unholy embrace."

Correct Answer:Miss Jewel,"The boy he done a bad ting. A bad ting."

"The boy he done a bad ting. A bad ting."

Correct Answer:Mrs Ryder,"Oh where is he? I want him. I want him!"

"Oh where is he? I want him. I want him!"

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What word beginning with 'f' describes the atmosphere created by Edmundson's use of the hurricane at the start of 'Small Island'?
Correct Answer: foreboding, Foreboding, foreboding., Foreboding.
Q2.
Which answer best describes the word 'foreshadowing'?
a feeling that something bad will happen
unable to be controlled or restrained
Correct answer: 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
Q3.
How does the hurricane's progression parallel the events in Scene 1 of 'Small Island'?
it remains unrelated to the plot
Correct answer: it mirrors the rising tensions between characters
it signifies the end of the play
it has no correlation with the narrative
Q4.
Michael leaves at the end of Scene 1 in 'Small Island', what historical event could the hurricane be foreshadowing?
Correct Answer: WWII, world war two, World War Two, WW2
Q5.
In 'Small Island', the morning after the storm, Miss Jewel is described as "sitting at the table, __________"
crying loudly
Correct answer: rocking backwards and forwards
shouting Michael's name
swearing at the top of her voice
begging Mr Philip to listen
Q6.
In 'Small Island', Mr Philip states that Michael has brought what on the family house and name?
humilation
Correct answer: shame
embarrassment
indignity
despair