English - Leave Taking

n Scene 1, what two major concerns prompt Enid to visit Mai for a clairvoyant reading?

She suspects that her daughter Del is pregnant and worries that her sister Cynthia is stealing money sent home to Jamaica for their mother.

In Scene 1, what does Mai make Del hand back before leaving the flat?

A charm that Del had tried to steal.

In Scene 2, whose story does Brod share to demonstrate the destructive toll of racism in Britain?

Gullyman, a Jamaican man whose struggles with cultural integration and racist abuse led to a mental breakdown.

In Scene 2, what causes the argument between Enid and Del to escalate into physical violence?

Del belittles Enid for accepting poor treatment from British people, prompting Enid to slap her.

n Scene 3, what tragic news does Cynthia deliver to Enid over the telephone?

Their mother has passed away in Jamaica.

In Scene 3, what alternative plan does Viv propose instead of attending university?

Traveling to Jamaica to carry out volunteer work.

In Scene 4, what item did Enid steal from her visiting aunt in Jamaica, and why?

A pair of stockings, because her pride stopped her from asking for them.

In Scene 5, why is Del furious when Viv arrives at Mai's bedsit offering her university money?

Viv skipped her English Literature exam to bring the money, potentially jeopardizing her future.

In Scene 5, what core frustration does Viv express regarding her English Literature studies?

The curriculum does not represent her cultural background or lived reality.

In Scene 6, what ultimatum does Mai give Del regarding her stay at the flat?

She informs Del that she must move out by Wednesday.

In Scene 7, what background does Brod reveal about Viv's father?

He was a hard-working, loving man who became bitter and abusive due to systemic racism in Britain, forcing Enid to leave him.

In Scene 8, what serious physical condition does Del intuit about Mai during her test?

She senses that Mai's heart is failing.

In Scene 8, what academic discipline does Enid reveal Viv has chosen to study at university?

Black Studies.

How does the play conclude between Del and Enid in Scene 8?

Del reads Enid's palm as both begin to empathize with each other's pain and struggles.

Character in Leave Taking who embodies the sacrifices, resilience, and disillusionment of the Windrush generation as a single mother

Enid

Enid's primary reason for leaving her husband, used by Pinnock to challenge 1980s societal criticism of single mothers

She left him because he became bitter and subjected her to domestic abuse.

Key sacrifice Enid makes to secure daughter Viv's academic future

She works two separate jobs to save enough money to fund Viv's university education.

Reason Enid remains in England despite longing to return to Jamaica

he wants to give her daughters the best possible life opportunities, enduring mockery so that her children will not face it ("People laugh at me, but they never laugh at you").

Form of colorism and rejection Enid suffered from her own mother in Jamaica

Her mother disliked and treated her harshly for being "too black."

Enid's unfulfilled career ambition before emigrating from Jamaica

Becoming a postmistress.

Two distinct spiritual traditions that Enid respects, demonstrating her adherence to tradition

The Christian church and traditional Caribbean Obeah practices.

Evolution of Enid's stated perspective on life in Britain across Scenes 2 and 3

She shifts from claiming "England been good to me" to longing for Jamaica and acknowledging that British society laughs at and disrespects her.

Root cause of the generational conflict between Enid and Del at the beginning of the play

Enid insists that Del must work relentlessly to overcome racial and gender barriers, while Del resents Enid's strictness and remains unaware of the trauma behind her parents' separation.

Symbolic action at the end of Scene 8 representing emotional vulnerability and reconciliation between Enid and Del

Del holds her mother's hand in both of hers and smoothes Enid's palm as they begin to share mutual empathy.

Del's representation of the second-generation immigrant experience in Leave Taking

She embodies elements of both Jamaican and British cultures, yet feels alienated and unable to belong fully in either world.

Two specific forms of everyday racism Del cites in Scene 2 to justify her rebellious outlook

Police aggressively hunting down Black people on the streets, and colleagues talking down to her at work as though she cannot speak English.

Unsupported learning barrier that damages Del's self-confidence and hinders her ability to realize her potential

Dyslexia.

Underlying significance of Del attempting to steal a charm from Mai's flat in Scene 1

Despite verbally mocking Mai's work, the theft exposes an instinctive connection and subconscious draw toward Obeah spirituality

Enid's personal interpretation of Del's past shoplifting incident

She views it as a direct personal failure in her maternal duty to raise respectable children.

Youth subculture interest illustrating Del's immersion in contemporary Black British culture

Following reggae sound systems and attending music events for years.

Spiritual vocation and role Del ultimately assumes by the end of the play

Embracing her Caribbean heritage to become an Obeah woman and spiritual reader.

Viv's recurring role during family arguments between Enid and Del in Scenes 1 and 2

She acts as a mediator, striving to defuse tension and maintain peace between them.

Dimension of the second-generation immigrant experience represented specifically by Viv

The strong immigrant work ethic and the drive to secure a place in society through educational achievement.

Viv's academic reputation and character traits highlighted by Enid

She is tenacious, highly intelligent, and a dedicated student who consistently earns top marks at school.

Scene 5 quote demonstrating Viv's sense of alienation within the English education system

"Me and those teachers don't speak the same lingo."

Viv's reaction to Enid's tireless labor when speaking with Brod in Scene 2

She expresses deep appreciation and awe at her mother's sacrifices, admitting: "She works so hard. I don't know how she does it."

Underlying conflict between Enid's expectations for Viv and Viv's personal ambitions

Enid expects total commitment to academic and career success in Britain, whereas Viv desires to travel to Jamaica to reconnect with her cultural heritage.

Del's intervention in Scene 5 when Viv arrives with university money

Del demands that Viv leave immediately and take her English Literature exam, refusing to let Viv jeopardize her educational future.

Viv's gesture of support regarding Del's pregnancy that highlights the importance of family bonds

She offers unconditional support by promising to help care for Del's baby

Spiritual role and cultural identity of Mai in Leave Taking

She is an Obeah woman, clairvoyant, and spiritual reader who draws on Caribbean traditions.

Hidden challenge Mai recognizes in Del, leading her to nurture Del's latent potential

Dyslexia

Silent reaction by Mai in Scene 1 when Del attempts to steal a charm, illustrating her intuitive awareness

She simply holds out her hand without speaking, knowing Del took it and prompting her to return it.

Thematic significance of Mai's perceptiveness and Obeah practice in the play

It showcases the power of Caribbean spirituality and affirms the validity of non-Western knowledge systems and traditions.

Two underlying reasons Mai allows Del to remain at her flat despite an initial eviction threat

Del fills the emotional void created by Mai's estranged son, and Mai identifies Del's spiritual gifts and seeks to train her in Obeah.

Estranged family member whose absence leaves an emotional void that Del helps Mai navigate

Mai's son

Mai's long-term hope for Del's future revealed by Scene 8

That Del will succeed her and carry forward her spiritual practice after she dies.

Way in which Mai aids the relationship between Enid and Del

She provides guidance that fosters empathy, helping Del understand her mother's hardships and perspective.

Scene 6 metaphor Mai uses to convey her profound exhaustion from fixing others' lives

"My battery dead."

Physical illness afflicting Mai that she believes will ultimately lead to her death

A failing heart condition

What is Brod's relationship with Enid and her family?

He is a close friend of Enid and has a family-like relationship with the Matthews family.

In Scene 2, how has Brod's experience in Britain affected his identity?

He no longer feels fully British because of racism and the government's threat to take away his citizenship.

What does Brod's experience reveal about the treatment of immigrants?

It shows how racism and hostility from the state can damage immigrants' sense of belonging and identity.

In Scene 2, why does Brod want Enid's daughters to understand their Jamaican heritage?

He believes they should understand where they come from and value their Caribbean identity.

What does Brod's drinking suggest about his character?

His serious drinking problem suggests he is struggling to cope with painful experiences and the racism he has faced.

In Scene 7, how does Brod try to help Del understand Enid?

He explains how Enid has suffered and tells Del that her mother has been depressed since she left.

In Scene 7, what does Brod reveal about Del's father?

He explains that Del's father was once loving and hardworking but was damaged by his experiences in Britain and became abusive towards Enid.

What is the significance of Brod eating at Enid's flat and mentioning the missing rice and peas in Scene 7?

It suggests that Enid's home provides a sense of community and cultural familiarity for Caribbean immigrants.

In Scene 2, how does Gullyman try to fit into British society?

He imitates the English way of speaking to try to integrate into British society.

What happens to Gullyman despite his attempts to integrate?

He suffers racist abuse, causing his mind to “crack” until he can barely speak properly.

What does Gullyman symbolise in Leave Taking?

He symbolises how racism and rejection can damage immigrants' identity and sense of belonging, reflecting the negative Windrush experience.