The relationship between Mai and Del in Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking'
I can explain Mai’s powerful influence on Del in Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking'.
The relationship between Mai and Del in Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking'
I can explain Mai’s powerful influence on Del in Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking'.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Pinnock describes Mai as an “enigmatic” character.
- Pinnock says Mai has a “powerful influence” on all the characters in ‘Leave Taking’.
- Arguably, Mai has the most powerful influence on Del.
- Mai argues people need to “invest in their own healing”.
- Arguably Mai helps Del “invest” in herself.
Keywords
Invest - To invest in something, means to put time, money or effort into something that you think will go up in value.
Enigmatic - A synonym for mysterious or unknowable.
Second generation immigrant - People who have grown up in a country that at least one of their parents was not born in.
Pocomania - A Jamaican folk religion combining aspects of surviving African religion with aspects from Protestant religion.
Common misconception
Mai's desire that people "invest" in themselves is just a way for her to make more money.
Whilst Mai is determined to be paid for her services, she takes her calling seriously.
To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: The relationship between Mai and Del in Winsome Pinnock's '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: The relationship between Mai and Del in Winsome Pinnock's '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 sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Meets the Matthews and tries to give Del a reading
Del has moved in with Mai; Mai tells her more about obeah
Gives Enid another reading; tells Del about her son
Realises Del has the "gift" of obeah, like Mai does
Realises she is unwell; makes Del take exams in obeah
Meets Mai; is rude to her and dismissive of obeah
Moves out of the family home after an argument with Enid
Has moved in with Mai; fights with Viv
Says Enid "hates" her; learns about Mai's son
Brod tells her Enid was abused by her father
Becomes an obeah woman and gives Enid a reading