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Year 10
AQA

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

I can explain what happens in Scene Four of ‘Leave Taking’ with a focus on its main themes.

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Year 10
AQA

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

I can explain what happens in Scene Four of ‘Leave Taking’ with a focus on its main themes.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Scene Four explores Enid’s immediate reaction to her mother’s death.
  2. Enid tells Viv about her impoverished upbringing.
  3. Enid explains how her uncle migrating had a huge effect on her.
  4. Enid gives Viv a cheque so that she can be financially stable when she goes to university.
  5. The scene ends with Enid stating that she wants to "go home".

Keywords

  • Impoverished - Describes a person or place that has been made poor.

  • Emigrate - If you emigrate, you relocate from one country to another.

  • Breed - A verb used for animals: an animal that breeds mates with another animal and produces offspring (children).

  • Significantly - A synonym for importantly or notably.

Common misconception

Enid's husband never loved her. They had a terrible relationship.

Whilst there are descriptions of conflict in their relationship, the description of their moving to England shows their initial devotion.

Learning cyle 2 asks students to consider big ideas and themes. Consider how you will make sure students are thinking critically about the scene as a whole rather than just selecting a plot point.
Teacher tip

Equipment

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

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of sexual content

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).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What happens at the end of Scene Three of 'Leave Taking'?
Enid finds out Del has lost her job.
Enid slaps Del after an argument.
Correct answer: Enid finds out her mother has died.
Enid visits Mai, an obeah woman.
Enid and Brod dance together.
Q2.
In 'Leave Taking', why is Enid particularly proud of her daughter, Viv?
She covers for her sister Del, showing loyalty.
She values her Jamaican roots and cultural identity.
Correct answer: She is on course to go to university.
Correct answer: She is very academic.
She was polite when the Pastor came round.
Q3.
In Scene Two of 'Leave Taking', Brod says he 'dream[s]' of Jamaica. Enid says she doesn't dream about it because England 'is my '.
Correct Answer: home, Home, home., Home., 'home'
Q4.
In Scene Two of 'Leave Taking', Brod acknowledges that Jamaica is very poor. He says, 'An why they poor? Because a '.
Correct Answer: colonialism, colonialism., Colonialism, 'colonialism', Colonialism.
Q5.
At the end of Scene Three of 'Leave Taking', Del blames her mother for a specific event in their childhood. What is it?
Migrating from Jamaica to Britain.
Correct answer: Their father leaving.
Becoming friends with Mai, an obeah woman.
Getting a job as a hospital cleaner.
Q6.
In Scene Three of 'Leave Taking', Viv expresses a desire to go to Jamaica and visit the extended family. Enid doesn't support this saying, 'You don't understand what do to people.'
Correct Answer: poverty, 'poverty', Poverty, poverty., Poverty.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
At the end of Scene Four of 'Leave Taking', Enid says 'I want...I want to go '.
Correct Answer: home, Home, home., Home., 'home'
Q2.
In Scene Four of 'Leave Taking', Enid opens up to Viv about her family home in Jamaica. What does she say about it?
Correct answer: Her family was very impoverished.
She was brought up by her uncle.
Correct answer: People used to make fun of her family because they were so poor.
Her mother encouraged her to migrate.
Correct answer: Her family struggled to get basic necessities like water, heating and food.
Q3.
In Scene Four of 'Leave Taking', Enid talks about the day she left Jamaica. What detail does she reveal?
She migrated with her uncle.
She originally migrated to America.
She and her husband migrated together.
Correct answer: Her mother refused to say goodbye to her.
She found it really easy to leave Jamaica.
Q4.
In Scene Four of 'Leave Taking', Enid says she 'wasn't going to let no blasted man breed me up'; she didn't want this because she had ' '.
Correct Answer: plans, Plans, plans., Plans., 'plans'
Q5.
At the end of Scene Four of 'Leave Taking', Viv talks about her school work. She seems unhappy that she spends her 'life bent over books that have to do with me.'
Correct Answer: nothing, Nothing, nothing., 'nothing', Nothing.
Q6.
In Scene Four of 'Leave Taking', Enid uses a metaphor to describe what she thinks about love. She says, 'Love has .'
Correct Answer: teeth, 'teeth', teeth., Teeth, Teeth.