| • |
What themes later explored in
the book are set out in the opening description of the trip
to the British Empire Exhibition and Queenie’s first
encounter with a black man? |
| |
| • |
What similarities are there between the upbringing
and aspirations of Hortense and Queenie? What disappointments
do they share? How do their responses to the character of
Michael compare? |
| |
| • |
What similarities are there between Gilbert
and Bernard’s wartime experiences? What changes do
they see when they each return home? |
| |
| • |
How is Hortense’s relationship to Alberta
and Miss Jewell depicted? |
| |
| • |
What is it about the white people she meets
in Jamaica and the things that she has been taught by Britain
that so impresses Hortense? |
| |
| • |
How do you as a reader respond to Hortense’s
criticism of the Anderson family and her treatment of her
friend Celia Langley? |
| |
| • |
How are the attitudes of the US and British
armed forces to black people portrayed? What are the differences
and similarities? |
| |
| • |
Gilbert’s cousin Elwood remains in Jamaica
with his dreams of independence and an easy life. What is
it in Gilbert’s nature that means he could not settle
for this? |
| |
| • |
Gilbert says that ‘Queenie’s good
intentions were entirely missing the point’ during
the incident with the GIs in the cinema. What does he mean
by this? |
| |
| • |
Why does Gilbert want to impress Celia Langley?
Why does he then allow himself to be ‘bought’ by
Hortense? |
| |
| • |
Why do you think Queenie changes from ‘that
pretty blonde woman who friendly leaned across a table to
share a rock bun’ to the exploitative landlady complaining
about her lodgers’ noise and smells? To what extent
do you think she was aware of the change that took place
in her? |
| |
| • |
What effect does the war have upon Queenie?
How does it change her relationship with Bernard’s
father? |
| |
| • |
Why is Gilbert so angry when he comes home
from work to find Hortense scrubbing the floor of their room? |
| |
| • |
Bernard is proud of the British Empire. What
vision of the empire do we get through his narration? How
have Bernard’s experiences in India shaped his view
of immigrants? |
| |
| • |
Why is Hortense’s rejection at the offices
of the education authority a turning point for her and Gilbert? |
| |
| • |
Why do you think Bernard responds so warmly
to the baby? How can this be reconciled with his racist views? |
| |
| • |
What techniques does Andrea Levy use to distinguish
the voices of her four narrators? How reliable are their
interpretations of the events described? |
| |
| • |
What do we learn through the four main characters
about society’s expectations of men and women? |
| |
| • |
How convincingly does Andrea Levy establish
the connections and coincidences that link the four main
characters? How important is it that the plot twists and
revelations are plausible? |
| |
| • |
Would you describe Small Island as a political
book? Why? |
| |
| • |
Would you recommend it to others? Why? |
