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Year 10
AQA

An exploration of Scene Eight of Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking'

I can explain what happens in Scene Eight of ‘Leave Taking’, with a focus on Del’s development.

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Year 10
AQA

An exploration of Scene Eight of Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking'

I can explain what happens in Scene Eight of ‘Leave Taking’, with a focus on Del’s development.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Del sits exams with Mai to prove she is capable of being an obeah woman.
  2. Mai has a serious heart condition that will prove fatal.
  3. Mai gives Del her notebook which contains everything she knows about obeah.
  4. Enid justifies the choices she made in bringing up her daughters.
  5. The play ends with Del reading Enid’s palm.

Keywords

  • Obeah - Obeah is a series of spell-casting and healing traditions found in the Caribbean.

  • Development - The process by which something may change over time, including people understanding and accepting who they are.

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

Common misconception

The play is set over a series of days so Del's character development is rapid.

The stage directions at the beginning of each scene show that sometimes a few days have past, and sometimes much longer.


To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: An exploration of Scene Eight of Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Consider how you will explore the idea that Enid's mother didn't like her because "she was too black". The focus of this lesson is Del, but you should consider how to approach this moment with your class.
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Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

You need access to Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking' published by Nick Hern Books.

content-guidance

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of sexual violence
supervision-level

Supervision

Adult supervision required

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In Scene Four of 'Leave Taking', what does Enid reveal about her final day in Jamaica before migrating to England?
Her mother told her not to leave.
She had to persuade her husband to join her.
Her sister asked her to take her with her.
Correct answer: Her mother refused to say goodbye to her.
She thought she was going to America.
Q2.
In Scene Two of 'Leave Taking', Enid and Del argue. Why is Del particularly angry with Enid?
Del is angry that Brod is visiting again; she considers him a drunk.
Del is jealous of the attention Viv gets from Enid.
Del doesn't like the fact her mother wants to go and see Mai again.
Del feels Enid is too focussed on the Pastor's visit.
Correct answer: Del feels Enid ignores the discrimination Black people face in England.
Q3.
In Scene Five of 'Leave Taking', how does Pinnock show that Del is becoming increasingly interested in obeah?
Correct answer: She questions Mai.
She buys various pieces of equipment. For example, cards.
She tells Viv she wants to visit the West Indies.
Correct answer: She watches Mai practicing certain rituals.
Correct answer: She dabs some of the love potion behind her ears when Mai isn't looking.
Q4.
In Scene One of 'Leave Taking', Enid describes Del as ' . Like she possessed.'
Correct Answer: Angry, Angry., angry, angry., 'angry'
Q5.
In Scene Six of 'Leave Taking', Enid confides in Mai, telling her that she is worried about Del: 'I worry she a go herself.'
Correct Answer: destroy, Destroy, destroy., 'destroy', Destroy.
Q6.
In Scene Six of 'Leave Taking', Mai wonders if there is 'some kinda curse that condemn our people to wander the earth like who can't find rest.'
Correct Answer: ghosts, Ghosts, ghosts., Ghosts., 'ghosts'

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
How does 'Leave Taking' end?
with Del moving back in with her mother
with Viv going to the West Indies
with Mai dying
Correct answer: with Del giving Enid a reading
with Del giving Mai a reading
Q2.
In Scene Eight of 'Leave Taking', what does Enid reveal about her relationship with her mother?
Correct answer: She believes her mother hated her.
Correct answer: She believes her mother thought Enid's appearance would make her life difficult.
She believes her mother hated that she never met Del and Viv.
She believes her mother hated Enid's ex husband.
Correct answer: She has not spoken to her mother since she migrated to England.
Q3.
In Scene Eight of 'Leave Taking', what does Del learn about Mai during her practical exam?
Mai is going to give her the notebook which contains all her knowledge on obeah.
Correct answer: Mai is fatally ill.
Her mother is coming for a reading.
Mai wants her to take over as an obeah woman.
Mai is going to leave London.
Q4.
In Scene Eight of 'Leave Taking', Mai tells Del that she is going to see her next client. Mai says, 'Is time. You .'
Correct Answer: ready, Ready., ready., 'ready', Ready
Q5.
In Scene Eight of 'Leave Taking', Del and Enid discuss the relative poverty of Enid's family in Jamaica, and Enid's family in England. Enid says, 'In a way we than them.'
Correct Answer: poorer, Poorer, 'poorer', Poorer., poorer
Q6.
In Scene Eight of 'Leave Taking', Enid tells Del that she knows they face racial discrimination. Enid hates this, and it makes her want to ' the place down.'
Correct Answer: tear, Tear, tear., Tear., 'tear'