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.

Students are re-reading a section of Scene Eight. They are essentially doing a close reading. Consider if you want to draw attention to other moments in this section as well as the four questions already given.

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 violence or suffering

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

Skip lesson video

Worksheet

Download worksheet

Skip worksheet

Starter quiz

Download starter quiz

6 Questions

Q1.

Mai is one of the five characters in 'Leave Taking'. What do we know about her?

she asked Del to move in with her

she is an old family friend of Enid's

Correct answer: she has a son

Correct answer: she has an illness which will kill her

Correct answer: she knew she would be an obeah woman aged thirteen

Q2.

Creating single paragraph outlines is a way of planning for an essay question. What is included in a single paragraph outline?

Correct answer: a summary sentence, written in a full sentence

three to five clear thesis that you might use in your introduction

Correct answer: bullet pointed supporting detail, in note form

Correct answer: a topic sentence, written in a full sentence

written analysis of every quotation, in full sentences

Q3.

Mai is in five of 'Leave Taking's' eight scenes. Match her scenes to her plot points.

Correct Answer:Scene One,Meets the Matthews and tries to give Del a reading

Meets the Matthews and tries to give Del a reading

Correct Answer:Scene Five,Del has moved in with Mai; Mai tells her more about obeah

Del has moved in with Mai; Mai tells her more about obeah

Correct Answer:Scene Six,Gives Enid another reading; tells Del about her son

Gives Enid another reading; tells Del about her son

Correct Answer:Scene Seven,Realises Del has the "gift" of obeah, like Mai does

Realises Del has the "gift" of obeah, like Mai does

Correct Answer:Scene Eight,Realises she is unwell; makes Del take exams in obeah

Realises she is unwell; makes Del take exams in obeah

Q4.

Del is in six of 'Leave Taking's' eight scenes. Match her scenes to her plot points.

Correct Answer:Scene One,Meets Mai; is rude to her and dismissive of obeah

Meets Mai; is rude to her and dismissive of obeah

Correct Answer:Scene Two,Moves out of the family home after an argument with Enid

Moves out of the family home after an argument with Enid

Correct Answer:Scene Five,Has moved in with Mai; fights with Viv

Has moved in with Mai; fights with Viv

Correct Answer:Scene Six,Says Enid "hates" her; learns about Mai's son

Says Enid "hates" her; learns about Mai's son

Correct Answer:Scene Seven,Brod tells her Enid was abused by her father

Brod tells her Enid was abused by her father

Correct Answer:Scene Eight,Becomes an obeah woman and gives Enid a reading

Becomes an obeah woman and gives Enid a reading

Q5.

In Scene One of 'Leave Taking', Enid goes to visit Mai. Enid has come to her for a reading, saying "Them tell me say you have the good."

Correct Answer: gift, Gift, Gift., gift., "gift"

Q6.

In her introduction to 'Leave Taking', Pinnock says that her mother would consult obeah men and women "in times of for healing and advice."

Correct Answer: crisis, Crisis., crisis., "crisis", Crisis

Exit quiz

Download exit quiz

6 Questions

Q1.

In Scene Eight of 'Leave Taking', where does Mai tell Del that, when you are doing an obeah reading, you can find everything you need to know?

their palms

the cards

their soul

their words

Correct answer: their eyes

Q2.

In Scene Eight of 'Leave Taking', the stage directions describe Del "like a learning to read" whilst reading Mai's palm.

Correct Answer: child, Child, child., Child., "child"

Q3.

In Scene Eight of 'Leave Taking', Mai tells Del "They [people] have to in their own healing."

Correct Answer: invest, Invest., Invest, "invest", invest.

Q4.

In her introduction to 'Leave Taking', Pinnock says of Del and Viv as having "no direct connection with the culture she [Mai] represents". What does Pinnock mean by this?

As first generation immigrants, they have a limited relationship with Jamaica.

Correct answer: As second generation immigrants, they have a limited relationship with Jamaica.

Neither of them are ever interested in Jamaica.

They are not related to Mai and so can't understand her.

Q5.

In her introduction to 'Leave Taking', Pinnock argues that Mai "comes to have a influence on them all".

Correct Answer: powerful, Powerful, powerful., Powerful., "powerful"

Q6.

In her introduction to 'Leave Taking', Pinnock describes Mai as an " figure".

Correct Answer: enigmatic, Enigmatic, Enigmatic., enigmatic., "enigmatic"