Enid comes to visit Mai.
Enid has not seen Del for weeks and is very worried about her.
Enid expresses how she feels about Del, and her mother, through a ‘howl of pain’.
Mai believes many Jamaicans feel a sense of dislocation owing to the history of the transatlantic slave trade.
Mai describes home as a feeling of "peace" with yourself.

Common misconception

Mai's son emigrated with her.

Mai's son was born in Britain, but his cultural identity is important to him and he doesn't feel at home in Britain.

Keywords

Home - A place where you live. The word home is often connected to ideas of belonging, and security.
Dislocation - A feeling of being out of place, or in the wrong place.
Talking in tongues - When you speak in an unknown language during a religious service; considered communication from God.
Migrate - When you relocate from one country to another.
Identity - Who you are; the qualities that make you. Understanding, finding and accepting your identity can be a life’s work.

Consider how to set up the practice task in LC2 so that student annotations are detailed enough (i.e. referring to other moments and characters in the play, and including historical context where appropriate). You may want to model this on the board.

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 discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of mental health issues

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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Worksheet

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.

In Scene One of 'Leave Taking', we learn that Enid's sister in Jamaica has asked her for money to help support their sick mother. Why doesn't Enid send her the money?

Enid's sister is rich and should support their mother herself.

Enid suspects her mother of pretending to be ill.

Correct answer: Enid suspects her sister to be lying about their mother's illness.

Enid doesn't care about her mother anymore.

Mai tells her not to because she thinks Enid's sister is lying.

Q2.

In Scene Two of 'Leave Taking', Brod recalls a letter the British government sent him. What did the letter say?

He must leave England immediately.

He is a British citizen, so should get rid of his Jamaican passport.

Correct answer: He will not be considered British until he pays for the relevant paperwork.

That Gullyman has been the target of a racist attack.

That his British passport is ready.

Q3.

In Scene Three of 'Leave Taking', Brod and Enid recall a church service in Jamaica. What do they say about it?

Correct answer: They recall the power of the Pastor.

Correct answer: They recall talking in tongues.

They recall having tea after the service.

They recall it being cancelled because of a hurricane.

Correct answer: Brod compares it unfavourably to the recent Pastor's visit.

Q4.

In Scene One of 'Leave Taking', Viv says she wants to visit the West Indies so that she can explore her cultural identity. Del says she doesn't, claiming, 'I already who I am.'

Correct Answer: know, know., Know., Know, 'know'

Q5.

In Scene Two of 'Leave Taking', Enid calls Viv and Del 'my English girls'. Brod disagrees, saying 'These girls got souls.'

Correct Answer: Caribbean, caribbean, Caribbean., caribbean., 'caribbean'

Q6.

In the introduction to 'Leave Taking', Pinnock says that her mother retained an 'interest in obeah, consulting obeah men and women in times of for advice and healing.'

Correct Answer: crisis, Crisis, crisis., Crisis., 'crisis'

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.

In Scene Six of 'Leave Taking', why does Enid visit Mai?

She wants to know how Viv will do in her exams.

Correct answer: She is struggling with the grief of Del's departure.

Correct answer: She is struggling with the grief of losing her mother.

She wants to know about Mai's son, in case it could help her with Del.

Correct answer: She is having trouble sleeping.

Q2.

In 'Leave Taking', what are some of the differences between the characters of Mai and Enid?

Mai was born in England; Enid was not.

Mai has no children; Enid has two.

Correct answer: Mai has a more hands off approach to parenting.

Correct answer: They have different ideas about what it means to have a 'good life'.

Mai doesn't think Del has any problems.

Q3.

In Scene Six, Mai suggests Enid sees a doctor. Enid says she won't, asking, 'What they know about a black woman ?'

Correct Answer: soul, Soul, soul., 'soul', Soul.

Q4.

In Scene Six of 'Leave Taking', Enid seems to find some release for her grief via a ' of pain'.

Correct Answer: howl, Howl, howl., Howl., 'howl'

Q5.

In Scene Six of 'Leave Taking', Mai gives her own definition of what it means to be home. She says, 'You at with yourself, you at home anywhere.'

Correct Answer: peace, Peace, Peace., 'peace', peace.

Q6.

In Scene Six of 'Leave Taking', Mai, in response to Del's restlessness, says, 'It must be some kinda curse that condemn our people to the earth like ghosts who can't find rest.'

Correct Answer: wander, Wander., Wander, wander., 'wander'