Del has moved in with Mai.
Del seems increasingly interested in obeah.
Scene One foreshadows the development of Del and Mai’s relationship.
Del did not enjoy school, perhaps because she was not offered the support she needed with reading.

Keywords

Obeah - A series of spell-casting and healing traditions found in the Caribbean.
Stage directions - Instructions written in a play script (often in italics) which explain something about the staging or how an actor should deliver a line.
Foreshadowing - Foreshadowing is a literary device. It gives the reader or audience a hint or indication of what might happen later in the story.
Charm - An object that is thought to have magical powers.

Common misconception

Del is as rude as ever about obeah.

Del is rude in this scene, but she also asks questions and watches Mai's practices.

Consider the exploration of foreshadowing. Are there any other texts where students have analysed this device and thus would help them understands its purpose in a text?

Teacher tip

Equipment

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

Content guidance

Contains strong language
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

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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Worksheet

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.

Pinnock includes stage directions in her play, 'Leave Taking'. What is true of stage directions?

They are present in all different text types.

Correct answer: They are often written in italics.

Correct answer: They give some sort of instruction to a director or actor.

They shouldn't be analysed in an analytical essay.

They don't count as part of the script itself; only dialogue counts.

Q2.

In 'Leave Taking', one of the play's central characters is Mai, an obeah woman. Obeah is a series of spell-casting and traditions found in the Caribbean.

Correct Answer: healing, Healing, healing., Healing., 'healing'

Q3.

In 'Leave Taking', the characters of Del and Mai meet in Scene One. How would you characterise their initial relationship?

They bond over their shared interest in obeah.

Del asks Mai questions about Jamaica.

Correct answer: Mai says Del can talk to her whenever she wants. Del declines the offer.

Correct answer: Del is rude about obeah, Mai and her home.

Correct answer: Del tries to steal something from Mai but is found out.

Q4.

At the end of Scene Two of 'Leave Taking', Enid slaps Del. What happens next?

Del cries.

Correct answer: Del leaves the family home.

Del slaps Enid.

Correct answer: Del says, 'That's the last time'.

Del says, 'Pastor soon come.' and gets ready, ignoring what has happened.

Q5.

At the end of Scene One of 'Leave Taking', Mai offers to be a confidante to Del if she ever needs to talk. Del says, 'I got I wanna talk.'

Correct Answer: friends, Friends, 'friends', Friends., friends.

Q6.

At the end of Scene One of 'Leave Taking', Mai says to Del, 'I can see you to talk.'

Correct Answer: need, Need, need., Need., 'need'

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.

What is arguably surprising about the opening of Scene Five of 'Leave Taking'?

Both Del and Viv have left the family home.

Mai is performing an obeah tradition.

Correct answer: Del has moved in with Mai.

Del is rude about obeah.

Enid has asked Mai to look after Del.

Q2.

In Scene Five of 'Leave Taking', Del asks Mai if her husband minded her being an obeah woman. Mai responds, 'He had no choice...It was my .'

Correct Answer: calling, Calling, calling., 'calling', Calling.

Q3.

In Scene Five of 'Leave Taking', Mai reads Del's palm and speaks to her experiences with education. Mai says she knows that Del 'had a liking for '.

Correct Answer: books, Books, books., 'books', Books.

Q4.

In Scene Five of 'Leave Taking', Del drops some of Mai's cards to the floor on purpose. What happens when Mai tries to pick them up?

Del beats her to it and picks the cards up first.

Del pushes the cards even further away from her.

Mai trips on a chair leg.

Correct answer: Mai has a dizzy spell.

The doorbell rings.

Q5.

At the end of Scene One of 'Leave Taking', as Enid, Viv and Del leave Mai's house, the stage directions state, 'Enid and Viv go. Del back.'

Correct Answer: hangs, Hangs, 'hangs', hangs., Hangs.

Q6.

In Scene Five of 'Leave Taking', we learn that Del has moved into Mai's home. How is this foreshadowed in Scene One of the play?

Del asks Mai if she can move in with her.

Del is rude to Mai.

Correct answer: Del stays at Mai's for a little bit after her mum and sister leave.

Correct answer: Del attempts to steal a charm from Mai.

Correct answer: Mai offers support to Del.