Context refers to historical, social, literary and biographical information.
Context should not be presented as isolated facts.
Context should be relevant to the analysis and woven in the response.
Context should develop your ideas and give an insight into the writer’s purpose and intention.

Common misconception

Context must be included in every paragraph.

Context must be included in essays, but where it is relevant and develops your analysis - not as a tick box exercise for each paragraph.

Keywords

First generation migrant - A person who was born in one country, but moves to live and establish their life in another country.
Second generation migrant - People who have grown up in a country that at least one of their parents was not born in.
Windrush scandal - When many citizens who had migrated to Britain between 1948 and 1973 were facing deportation under a discriminatory immigration system.
Weave - In relation to context, when you embed it into paragraphs rather than including it as a series of isolated facts.

Consider if your class need to re-read Pinnock's introduction in learning cycle 1. You may feel they have mastered this contextual knowledge already and can devote more time to the Practice Task in learning cycle 2.

Teacher tip

Equipment

You need access to a copy of Winsome Pinnock's 'Leave Taking'.

Content guidance

Contains strong language
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
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).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.

In 'Leave Taking', which characters are first generation immigrants?

Correct answer: Enid

Del

Viv

Correct answer: Mai

Correct answer: Brod

Q2.

In 'Leave Taking', which characters are second generation immigrants?

Enid

Correct answer: Del

Correct answer: Viv

Mai

Brod

Q3.

When was 'Leave Taking' first performed?

1980

Correct answer: 1987

1995

2018

Q4.

In Scene Two of 'Leave Taking', why is Brod angry at the British government?

because of the Windrush Scandal

because of the racist attack on Gullyman

because they want him to update his Jamaican passport

Correct answer: because he has to pay to become a British citizen

because Viv is not considered a British citizen

Q5.

In her introduction to 'Leave Taking', Pinnock states "I wanted to make Enid the heroine of the play because I couldn't recall ever seeing such a character [...] as the in a British play."

Correct Answer: lead, Lead., lead., "lead", Lead

Q6.

In Scene Two of 'Leave Taking', Brod is angry that he has to seek naturalisation. What does it mean to seek naturalisation?

the act of moving from one country to another

the act of getting a passport

the act of moving back to your country of birth

Correct answer: the act of making someone a legal citizen of a country they weren't born in

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.

In every 'Leave Taking' essay, you should include context. Match the type of context to its definition.

Correct Answer:historical,What was happening when the text was written.

What was happening when the text was written.

Correct Answer:literary,What influenced the text's style or genre.

What influenced the text's style or genre.

Correct Answer:social,What were the shared values and ideas of the time period.

What were the shared values and ideas of the time period.

Correct Answer:biographical,What are the life experiences of the author.

What are the life experiences of the author.

Q2.

In her introduction to 'Leave Taking', Pinnock tells us she wanted to be an actor, but that she was told she wouldn't be successful because she is Black. What type of context is this?

historical

literary

social

Correct answer: biographical

Q3.

In her introduction to 'Leave Taking', Pinnock tells us she was asked to reduce her original cast of characters in 'Leave Taking's' first draft to just five. What does she say this allowed her to do?

develop Enid's relationship with her mother

Correct answer: develop Enid's relationship with her daughters

develop Enid's relationship with Brod

include the incident about Gullyman

develop our understanding of the play's setting

Q4.

In Scene Six of 'Leave Taking', Mai says, "My grandfather's grandfather came to Jamaica in the hold of a ship." What does Mai mean?

her grandfather's grandfather migrated

her grandfather's grandfather was a colonial

her grandfather's grandfather was colonised

Correct answer: her grandfather's grandfather was enslaved

Q5.

In Scene Two of 'Leave Taking', Brod explores the lasting impact Britain's colonisation of Jamaica. If exploring colonisation as a way to understand the play, what type of context are you relying on?

Correct answer: historical

literary

social

biographical

Q6.

In her introduction to 'Leave Taking', Pinnock writes, "Brod's words about having to seek naturalisation [...] echo words spoken thirty years later by victims of the 2018 ".

Correct Answer: Windrush Scandal, windrush scandal, Windrush Scandal., Windrush scandal, windrush Scandal

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