Arguably, Pinnock centres women’s voices in ‘Leave Taking’.
The character of Brod is the only onstage male character.
Brod serves many important dramatic functions.
Enid’s husband is an important off stage character.
References to Enid’s husband help audiences understand the character of Enid and aspects of 1980s Britain.

Common misconception

You can't explore the dramatic function of off stage characters.

Off stage characters can help develop a world beyond the stage itself, grounding the play in its own reality.

Keywords

Dramatic function - the purpose of the character: how they help a playwright develop, emphasise and reveal certain ideas
Catalyst - something that causes a change or event to occur
Foil - a character who contrasts with another character
Insight - the ability to gain precise and profound (deep) understanding of someone or something
Develop - to increase, deepen and grow

Consider how long pupils will need to create the table in learning cycle 2. It requires looking at 5 of the play's 8 scenes, with a focus on Enid's husband- often fleeting references. Once you have worked out the timing for this (and feedback), you can work out the timing for the rest of the lesson.

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 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).

Video

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Worksheet

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.

In Scene Seven of 'Leave Taking', what does Brod tell Del?

that Viv is going to university to pursue Black Studies

that her grandmother is dead

that he had to pay £50 to complete a naturalisation process

Correct answer: that her father used to abuse her mother

that he visits his wife and children in Jamaica often

Q2.

Why does Del leave home in Scene Two of 'Leave Taking'?

she doesn't want to have dinner with the Pastor

she has a violent fight with Viv

Correct answer: she has a violent fight with Enid

she wants to move in with her boyfriend

she wants to move in with Mai

Q3.

The character of Brod is in three scenes of 'Leave Taking'. Match these scenes to their plot points.

Correct Answer:Scene Two,Brod questions Viv's Eurocentric education.

Brod questions Viv's Eurocentric education.

Correct Answer:Scene Three,Brod talks to Enid about their past in Jamaica.

Brod talks to Enid about their past in Jamaica.

Correct Answer:Scene Seven,Brod tells Del about her mother's experience of domestic abuse.

Brod tells Del about her mother's experience of domestic abuse.

Q4.

In Scene One of 'Leave Taking', Mai asks Enid if she wants her husband back. How does Enid respond?

she says it's not possible because her husband has passed away

Correct answer: she says she doesn't want him back; she can raise her children herself

she says she wants him back as she needs help with her children, especially Del

she says she will come back another day for this but the focus this time is Del

she says her husband has returned to Jamaica

Q5.

In Scene Eight of 'Leave Taking', Del says to Enid, "Uncle Brod told me what that man did to you." What does she mean?

Brod has told her about her father's excessive drinking

Brod has told her about talking in tongues during a service in Jamaica

Brod has told her that Enid's father never spoke to her after she migrated

Correct answer: Brod has told her that her father used to abuse Enid

Brod has told her that her ex-boyfriend Roy has been round asking for Del

Q6.

In the introduction to 'Leave Taking', Pinnock says she created Enid as the heroine of the play because she "couldn't ever recall seeing such a character - a - as the lead in a British play."

Correct Answer: hospital cleaner

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.

Each of the words below will help you to analyse 'Leave Taking' as a play. Match the key words to their definitions.

Correct Answer:dramatic function,the purpose of a character in a play

the purpose of a character in a play

Correct Answer:catalyst,something that causes a change or event to occur

something that causes a change or event to occur

Correct Answer:foil,a character who contrasts with another character

a character who contrasts with another character

Correct Answer:insight,the ability to gain precise and deep understanding of someone

the ability to gain precise and deep understanding of someone

Correct Answer:develop,to increase, deepen and grow

to increase, deepen and grow

Q2.

In 'Leave Taking', in what ways is Brod a foil to Enid?

Brod is a single parent, like Enid

Correct answer: Brod criticises Britain, Enid doesn't

Brod didn't complete the naturalisation process; Enid did

Correct answer: Brod thinks Del and Viv should know of their Jamaican roots; Enid doesn't

Brod worries about Del, just like Enid

Q3.

In 'Leave Taking', Brod serves as a for Viv's questioning of the education system.

Correct Answer: catalyst

Q4.

In 'Leave Taking', Enid's husband doesn't appear on stage but he is reference in a number of scenes. Match the scenes to the reference.

Correct Answer:Scene One,Enid tells Mai she doesn't want her husband back.

Enid tells Mai she doesn't want her husband back.

Correct Answer:Scene Two,Del accuses her mother for being the reason her father left.

Del accuses her mother for being the reason her father left.

Correct Answer:Scene Four,Enid tells Viv about her and her husband's plans before they migrated.

Enid tells Viv about her and her husband's plans before they migrated.

Correct Answer:Scene Seven,Brod tells Del that her father used to abuse her mother.

Brod tells Del that her father used to abuse her mother.

Correct Answer:Scene Eight,Del speaks of her father as "that man" knowing he abused her mother.

Del speaks of her father as "that man" knowing he abused her mother.

Q5.

In Scene Seven of 'Leave Taking', Brod tells Del that her father faced racist attacks at work. He speaks to the effect of this, stating, "I never see a man eyes look so ... ."

Correct Answer: empty

Q6.

In Scene Seven of 'Leave Taking', Brod tells Del that her father faced racist attacks at work. He speaks to the effect of this, stating, "Buy you father change from a smiling boy into a ... ."

Correct Answer: hard man