Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson

Bryson’s Britain

Activity 1
In pairs or small groups, brainstorm the words ‘small island’. What do these words
mean to you? Here are some ideas to get you started:
 paradise
 blue seas
 palm trees

Share your findings with the rest of the class.

Keep your brainstorm. When you have finished reading the text you may wish to do
another brainstorm based on the events in the actual text. Compare both
brainstorms. Do you think that the title of Bryson’s book is misleading? Why (or why
not)?

Activity 2
In pairs, do some research and find out as much as you can about Bill Bryson. Here
are some questions that you could answer:
 When was his birthday?
 Where was he born?
 Where has he lived?
 What books has he written?
 Why is he famous?

Prepare a five minute presentation on Bill Bryson to show the rest of the class.

Activity 3
Individually, list all of the different places in the United Kingdom that you have visited.
What made you visit these different places? Was it because a family member lived
there? Did you go on holiday there? Do you do an activity that meant you had to visit
that place? Share your results with the rest of the class.

Activity 4
What is a stereotype? What stereotypes exist about Britain and British people? For
example, we always have to have a cup of tea at 4pm. List as many as you can and
share your ideas with the rest of the class.

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 Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson
Bryson’s Britain

What are your favourite things about this country? Talk to a partner and come up with at
least five things that you both love about Britain.

Below is a list of some of the things that Bryson loves about Britain. For each item on the
list, find evidence from the text which shows us that Bryson feels fondly about this
particular aspect of British life. As a group, discuss whether this is a truly ‘British’ item or
something that depends on your own community and experiences.

Aspect of Page
Evidence from text Your comments
British life number

Walking

The London
Underground
Map

Place names

Puddings

Hotels

Trains

History

Indian food

Chinese food

© www.teachit.co.uk 2010 14261 Page 2 of 3

 Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson
Bryson’s Britain

Bryson first visited Britain in 1973. He then revisits it in 1993. In the first nine chapters of
the text, he makes many comparisons and contrasts between the two. Fill in the chart
below, comparing life in Britain between the two time periods.

Location 1973 1993

He met Mrs Smegma. She
was …

Dover
He stayed in the guest house.
The people were …

Wapping is now full of apartment

blocks. He feels …

London

He works in the sanatorium. He

finds the job …

Bryson makes this funny by

Windsor
describing things such as …

He meets his wife.

The little coffee bars have gone.

Bournemouth

They used to eat crab salad in

Lulworth. The service was good.
Dorset

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