Exploring the character of Del across the eight scenes of ‘Leave Taking’
I can explain how and why the character of Del develops.
Exploring the character of Del across the eight scenes of ‘Leave Taking’
I can explain how and why the character of Del develops.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- At the start of the play, Del appears uninterested in obeah and her cultural roots.
- At the start of the play, Del’s relationship with Enid is full of conflict.
- Del develops over the course of the play.
- Pinnock links Del’s development to Mai, obeah and Del’s new found understanding of her mother.
- The closing stage directions establish the depth of Del’s development.
Keywords
Obeah - 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.
Topic sentence - The first sentence of a paragraph. It states the paragraph’s main idea.
Common misconception
You can't analyse stage directions in depth.
The closing stage directions of 'Leave Taking' are integral in understanding Pinnock's final messages about the characters and themes.
To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: Exploring the character of Del across the eight scenes of ‘Leave Taking’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: Exploring the character of Del across the eight scenes of ‘Leave Taking’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 english lessons from the Leave Taking: a sense of belonging unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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 sexual violence
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
reluctantly taken to an obeah reading
leaves home after Enid slaps her
moves in with Mai; increasing interest in obeah
continues living with Mai; believes her mother "hates" her
finds out her father used to beat her mother
becomes an obeah woman and reads Enid's palm