AN

Literature
OR
GCSE
ECT
I NSP LS
CAL

Paper 2
 YOU WILL HAVE A
IN THE CHOICE OF 2
QUESTIONS.
EXAM. CHOOSE THE ONE YOU
FEEL YOU COULD ANSWER
.. WELL.
BE CONFIDENT IN YOUR
CHOICE AND STICK WITH
IT.

TYPICAL EXAM QUESTION:

The question 0 How does Priestley explore

may be on a
central theme guilt in An Inspector Calls? The key
focus is
or key Write about: HOW
character
0 The ideas about guilt explore his
METHODS
0 How Priestley presents There will be
those ideas by the way he bullet points
writes. to remind you
what to
include.
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% OF PAPER 2 INVOLVES ACCURATE TECHNICAL SKILLS AND GOOD VOCABULARY

 The mark scheme
This is grade
grade 5/6 (B/C)
C/B
(grade 5/6)
approximatel
y. Look at
some of
the
underline
d key
words.
Do you
recognise
these key
words?

They are
on the wall
displays,
Marked out of
grade
30.
descriptors
(4 marks
and your
available for
advice
SPAG)
slips!
How the marks are split up.

https://youtu.be/6dMvzBXbIpE?t=131 play till 2:42

 What to focus on in the exam?

This means having a line of argument you can follow

in your answer NOT making 4 or 5 isolated points
To focus on structure you can talk about when things
happen (a good way to do this is to focus on exits
and entrances)
Form means you need to focus on the fact its a play
focus on stage directions and set design will help
with this
 An Inspector Calls
What must be in your
essay?
0 A range of well chosen quotes
0 Analysis of Priestleys methods use of
language/ structure/ form to convey his
message using subject terms
0 Understanding of key themes
0 Understanding of Priestleys main
ideas
0 Reference to context i.e time it was
written and time it was set
0 Audience reaction - at time it was
written and now
 Typical TYPICAL EXAM QUESTION:
question
How does Priestley explore
s responsibility in An Inspector
Calls?
Write about:
The ideas about responsibility
How Priestley presents those
ideas by the way he writes.

TYPICAL EXAM QUESTION: TYPICAL EXAM QUESTION:

How does Priestley show
change in An Inspector Calls?
Write about:
The ideas about people
changing or not changing
How Priestley presents those
ideas by the way he writes.
How and why does Sheila change
in An Inspector Calls? How does
Priestley show this change?
Write about:
How Sheila responds to her
family and the inspector
How Priestley presents Sheila by
the way he writes.
EITHER
0 Question 1 Explain the significance of Mr Birling in
J.B. Priestleys An Inspector Calls. Write about:
how Mr Birling responds to character and plot
how Priestley presents Mr Birling by the way he
writes.
[30 marks] AO4 [4 marks]

OR

0 Question 2 How does Priestley explore social

status in An Inspector Calls? Write about:
the ideas about social status in An Inspector Calls
how Priestley presents these ideas by the way he
writes.
[30 marks] AO4 [4 marks]
Question 17
Arthur Birling describes himself as a
hard-headed, practical man of
business. How does Priestley present
this and other views of Arthur Birling in
An Inspector Calls?
[30 marks] / SPaG [4
marks]
OR
Question 18
How does Priestley present ideas about
inequality in An Inspector Calls?
 Example exam questions:
1. How is Eva Smith presented by Priestley?
2. How does Priestly present ideas about how we
should treat other people in An Inspector Calls?
3. What do you think is the Inspectors function in the
play and how does Priestley present him?
4. How does Priestley show the differences in attitudes
between the generations in An Inspector Calls?
5. Explore the role of Sheila. How does Priestley use
her?
6. What is the role of Gerald and how is he presented?
7. Explore the differences and similarities between Mr
and Mrs Birling.
8. Who in the play learns their lesson and how does
Priestley show this taking place?
Key events that lead to Eva Smith's death.
 TIMELINE
YEAR AND WHAT HAPPENS PERSON
MONTH INVOLVED
September 1910 Eva sacked by Birling and Co. MR BIRLING
December 1910 Eva employed by Milwards.
Late January 1911 Eva sacked by Milwards. SHEILA BIRLING
March 1911 Eva (calling herself Daisy GERALD CROFT
Renton) becomes Geralds
mistress.
Early September Gerald breaks off the affair. GERALD CROFT
1911
November 1911 Eric meets Eva. ERIC BIRLING
December Eva finds she is pregnant. ERIC BIRLING
1911/January
1912
Late March 1912 Mrs Birling turns down Evas MRS BIRLING
application for help.
0 Keen to pioneer a new morality in politics, Priestleys chief
concern involved social inequality in Britain.

0 Priestley had fought in World War I and like many of the men who
came back home he wanted a new England, where men were
equal and the wealth of the nation was shared more evenly he
wanted a socialist government and society.

0 Priestley was involved in helping to set up the Welfare State that

we now have as a part of our everyday lives e.g. National
Health Service.

0 Although Priestley wrote the play in 1944 he sets the play in

England 1912. He did this as this era was a good example of all
the things he wanted to change.

0 In 1912, rigid class and gender boundaries seemed to ensure that

nothing would change. Yet by 1945, most of those class and
gender divisions had been breached.
 Social, Historical and Cultural Context
1912 1945
In April 1912 the Titanic launched on its maiden voyage to New
York, but hit an iceberg and sank.
No woman was allowed to vote. The suffragette movement was
fighting for womens rights. In 1913, Emily Davidson gave her
life. Women did not get full voting rights until 1928.
In 1914 all of Europe went to war no real reason just for
industrial domination.
1917 Russian Revolution within 20 years the country evolved
from a backward farming community to an industrial giant.
The Trades Union Movement once banned became a stronger
united force. In 1926 several major unions TUC called all
workers out on strike to fight for better working conditions. It
was started by the mine workers having their conditions altered.
In 1939 Germany invaded Poland and World War 2 began. The
British troops were fighting for freedom and on their return to
the UK demanded freedom for themselves as workers.
In 1946 Clement Atlee was elected the first Labour Prime
 Act 1 Summary
The Birling family is celebrating the engagement of Sheila to Gerald Croft, the son of
Lord and Lady Croft, who comes from an old country family landed people. Arthur
Birling is in a good mood and makes a number of speeches giving his views about the
state of the world, technology and industrial relations. One of his main themes is about
being responsible for themselves; he doesnt believe that anyone has a responsibility to
others apart from his family.

When Inspector Goole is announced, Birling and Gerald make a joke about Eric who
shows his guilty conscience by reacting strongly to this. The inspector informs Birling
about the death of a young woman who has committed suicide by drinking disinfectant. It
emerges that Birling had sacked the girl, Eva Smith, two years earlier after she had been
one of the ring-leaders in a strike and demanding higher wages.

Sheila Birling is also connected to the girl, having had her sacked from her new job at
Milwards. She is horrified by what she did and is genuinely remorseful.

The inspector seems to know details of the familys involvement before they speak and
when he tells them that the girl changed her name to Daisy Renton, Geralds reaction
tells us that he, too, knew the girl. When they are temporarily left alone, Sheila warns
Gerald not to try to hide anything from the inspector. By the end of the first act, the
audience is expecting the inspector to reveal further connections with members of the
Birling family.
 Act 2 Summary
Although Gerald tries to get Sheila to leave the room, she insists on staying.
Gerald admits to having had an affair with Eva Smith, the girl he knew as Daisy
Renton, the previous summer. Sheila is hurt and disappointed in Gerald who had
told her he was busy at the works at that time. After Gerald broke off the affair,
Eva/Daisy had left Brumley for a few months. After Sheila has returned her
engagement ring to him, Gerald goes out, seemingly genuinely affected by the
news of the girls death.

Despite Sheilas warnings Mrs Birling tries to intimidate the inspector, believing
that she could have no possible connection to the girl. When the inspector
reminds her of the pregnant girl she turned away from the charity organisation she
chaired, Mrs Birling concedes but felt herself to be justified because the girl had
lied to her about her name (calling herself Mrs Birling). She also disbelieved the
girls claim that she had refused the offer of help from the father of her baby
because she believed that he had stolen the money. Mrs Birling digs herself
deeper into a hole by insisting that the father of the baby should be made to pay.

Eric has been out during this exchange but re-enters right at the end of the scene
to expectant faces we are expecting Eric to be the father of the baby.
 Act 3 Summary
Eric immediately realises that they all know and tells them of how he met Eva and of her
subsequent pregnancy. Questioned closely by the inspector, he also reveals that he had
tried to support the girl by giving her money but he had stolen it from his fathers
business. The Birlings seem more horrified by this than his responsibility for the girls
condition. Having done his job, the inspector makes a speech about social responsibility
and leaves the Birlings to examine their behaviour.

When Gerald re-enters he has news that there is no Inspector Goole employed by the
local police. Birling and Gerald now set about disproving the inspectors case, although
Sheila and Eric feel that that is not the point. When Gerald confirms that no girl has died
of drinking disinfectant by telephoning the infirmary, the Birlings and Gerald are delighted
and their mood of jollity and good-humour of the beginning of Act 1 returns.

Sheila and Eric do not feel the same way, continuing to feel guilt for what they have done
and are appalled at the behaviour of Gerald and their parents. When Birling suggests
that Sheila take back her engagement ring from Gerald, Sheila remarks that it is too
soon.

Just at the point where Birling is teasing them for their lack of sense of humour, the
telephone rings and Birling is obviously stunned by what he hears: a girl has died in the
infirmary and a police inspector is on his way to act them some questions.
 characters
What should you
0 Mr Arthur Birling know?
0 At least 5 quotes for
0 Mrs Sybil Birling each character
0 Sheila Birling 0 Have a good
0 Eric Birling understanding of the
characters part in
0 Gerald Croft
events and what
0 Inspector Goole Priestley is using them
0 Eva Smith/Daisy to show
Renton 0 You should be able to
link each character to a
theme.
An Inspector Calls Mr Birling
AO1 AO3
What is Priestley trying to teach us
Find Quotations about the historical context through
for the following: the character of Mr Birling?
How is Priestley teaching us this?
He cares more about Which themes does Mr Birling link
his business than his to and how?
family
AO2
He will not take
Analyse the following quotations. What devices have been
responsibility for used? What is the key word and its connotations?
others Arthur Birling is a heavy-looking, rather portentous man
easy manners but rather provincial in his speech.
He is made to look
foolish by Priestley The titanic absolutely unsinkable.
Capitalist views
A man has to make his own way has to look after himself
Tries to have authority and his family too, of course.
over the Inspector
Youd think we were all mixed up together like bees in a
hive community and all that nonsense.
Theres every excuse for what both your mother and I did
it turned out unfortunately, thats all
An Inspector Calls Mrs Birling
AO1 AO3
What is Priestley trying to teach us
Find Quotations about the historical context through
for the following: the character of Mrs Birling?
How is Priestley teaching us this?
She refuses to take Which themes does Mrs Birling link
responsibility to and how?

She is selfish
AO2
Treats Eric/Sheila like
Analyse the following quotations. What
children
devices have been used? What is the key
She is not sorry for word and its connotations?
what happened

A rather cold woman and her husbands

social superior.

Please dont contradict me like that.

The most prominent member of the

committee.
An Inspector Calls Sheila
AO1 AO3
What is Priestley trying to teach
Find Quotations us about the historical context
for the following: through the character of Sheila?
How is Priestley teaching us this?
She represents the
Which themes does Sheila link to
change in political
and how?
view from Capitalism
to Socialism AO2
She is shocked by the Analyse the following quotations. What
death of Eva Smith devices have been used? What is the key

word and its connotations?
She will take
responsibility
Oh how horrible! Was it an accident?
She is the family
conscience
Its you two who are being childish trying
She was spoilt at the
not to face the facts.
start

But these girls arent cheap labour theyre

people.
An Inspector Calls Eric
AO1 AO3
What is Priestley trying to teach
Find Quotations us about the historical context
for the following: through the character of Eric?
How is Priestley teaching us this?
He drinks too much
Which themes does Eric link to
Admits that he made and how?
Eva Smith pregnant
after meeting her at AO2
the Palace Theatre Analyse the following quotations. What devices
have been used? What is the key word and its
Admits he stole money connotations?
from his father
Accuses his mother of Just keep quiet, Eric, and dont get excited.
murdering his unborn (Mr Birling)
child

Thats something this public-school-and-Varsity
Acknowledges his
life youve had doesnt seem to teach you. (Mr
irresponsibility
Birling)
towards Eva Smith

She was pretty and a good sport.

An Inspector Calls Gerald
AO1 AO3
What is Priestley trying to teach
Find Quotations us about the historical context
for the following: through the character of Gerald?
How is Priestley teaching us this?
He is self-assured,
Which themes does Gerald link to
mature and worldly
and how?
wise
Mr Birling think that AO2
Gerald would make a Analyse the following quotations. What devices
good son-in-law have been used? What is the key word and its
connotations?
Is in the middle of the
generation split
Rather too manly to be a dandy easy, well-
bred young man-about-town.

You were the wonderful Fairy Prince. You must

have adored it, Gerald. (Sheila)

How do we know any girl killed herself today?

An Inspector Calls Inspector Goole
AO1 AO3
What is Priestley trying to teach us
Find Quotations about the historical context through
for the following: the character of Inspector Goole?
How is Priestley teaching us this?
He is a messenger of Which themes does Inspector
God Goole link to and how?

He is a voice piece for

AO2
Priestleys political
Analyse the following quotations. What devices have been
views used? What is the key word and its connotations?
He represents One person and one line of enquiry at a time. Otherwise,
theres a muddle.
socialism Its my duty to ask questions.
He believes in social There are millions and millions of Eva Smiths and john
Smiths still left with us.
responsibility
All intertwined with our lives, and what we think and say
His appearance and do.
We dont live alone. We are members of one body. We are
responsible for each other.
They will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish.
An Inspector Calls Eva Smith/Daisy Renton
AO1 AO3
What is Priestley trying to teach us
Find Quotations about the historical context through
for the following: the character of Eva Smith?
How is Priestley teaching us this?
She is from the Which themes does Eva Smith link
working class to and how?

She was capable of

being a leader AO2
How she died Analyse the following quotations. What
devices have been used? What is the key
word and its connotations?

Well Eva Smiths gone. You cant do her

any more harm. (Inspector)

You made her pay a heavy price for

that. And now shell make you pay a
heavier price still. (Inspector)
 Quiz Who is this
quotation about? 1
1) Rather portentous man
2) Cold woman
3) Very pleased with life
4) Creates an impression of massiveness
5) She used more than one name
6) Rather provincial in his speech
7) An attractive chap about thirty
8) Not quite at ease
9) Really the things you girls pick up these days!
10) Lucky girl
11) Has a disconcerting habit of looking hard
12) She died
13) Shed has a lot to say far too much
14) Half shy, half assertive
15) Suicide, of course
16) Why the devil do you want to go upsetting the child like that?
 Quiz Who is this
quotation about? 1
1) Rather portentous man Mr Birling
2) Cold woman Mrs Birling
3) Very pleased with life Sheila
4) Creates an impression of massiveness Inspector
5) She used more than one name Eva Smith
6) Rather provincial in his speech Mr Birling
7) An attractive chap about thirty Gerald
8) Not quite at ease Eric
9) Really the things you girls pick up these days! Sheila
10) Lucky girl Sheila
11) Has a disconcerting habit of looking hard Inspector
12) She diedEva Smith
13) Shed has a lot to say far too much Eva Smith
14) Half shy, half assertive Eric
15) Suicide, of course Eva Smith
16) Why the devil do you want to go upsetting the child like that? Inspector
 Quiz Who is this
quotation about? 2
1) Youre squiffy
2) Heavy looking
3) He speaks carefully
4) Rather excited
5) A pretty girl in her early twenties
6) Too manly to be a dandy
7) Thats something this public-school-and-Varsity lie youve had
doesnt seem to teach you
8) Both her parents were dead
9) And now youve brought us together
10) Shed swallowed a lot of strong disinfectant
11) Youre a pretty fortunate young man
12) A young woman dies in the Infirmary
13) I believe youre right sir
14) Suicide of course
 Quiz Who is this
quotation about? 2
1) Youre squiffy Eric
2) Heavy looking Mr Birling
3) He speaks carefully Inspector
4) Rather excited Sheila
5) A pretty girl in her early twenties Sheila
6) Too manly to be a dandy Gerald
7) Thats something this public-school-and-Varsity lie youve had doesnt
seem to teach youEric
8) Both her parents were dead Eva Smith
9) And now youve brought us together Gerald
10) Shed swallowed a lot of strong disinfectant Eva Smith
11) Youre a pretty fortunate young man Gerald
12) A young woman dies in the Infirmary Eva Smith
13) I believe youre right sir Mr Birling
14) Suicide of course Eva Smith
 Quiz Who said this
quotation? 1
1) Youre just the kind of son-in-law I always wanted
2) Is it the one you wanted me to have?
3) Hard-headed business man
4) Its better to ask for the earth than to take it
5) Its just I cant help thinking about this girl
6) One line of enquiry at a time
7) So Im really to blame?
8) A chain of events
9) Oh how horrible!
10) A man has to make his own way
11) Were in for a time of steadily increasing prosperity
12) He could have kept her on
13) Im not a purple-faced old man
14) To that I say fiddlesticks
15) Sir, an Inspectors called
16) I know the Brumley police pretty well
 Quiz Who said this
quotation? 1
1) Youre just the kind of son-in-law I always wanted Mr Birling
2) Is it the one you wanted me to have? Sheila
3) Hard-headed business man Mr Birling
4) Its better to ask for the earth than to take it Inspector
5) Its just I cant help thinking about this girl Sheila
6) One line of enquiry at a time Inspector
7) So Im really to blame? Sheila
8) A chain of events Inspector
9) Oh how horrible! Sheila
10) A man has to make his own way Mr Birling
11) Were in for a time of steadily increasing prosperity Mr Birling
12) He could have kept her on Eric
13) Im not a purple-faced old man Mr Birling
14) To that I say fiddlesticks Mr Birling
15) Sir, an Inspectors called Edna
16) I know the Brumley police pretty well Mr Birling
 Quiz Who said this
quotation? 2
1) I was awfully busy at the works all that time
2) Dont be an ass, Eric
3) Working together for lower costs and higher prices
4) Its my duty to keep labour costs down
5) But these girls arent cheap labour theyre people
6) At least, Im trying to tell the truth
7) She decided she might as well try another kind of life
8) I cant accept any responsibility
9) I discharged her from mu employment
10) I insist upon being part of the family now
11) Community and all that nonsense
12) Its about time you learnt to face a few responsibilities
13) Im on duty
14) I say there isnt a chance of war
 Quiz Who said this
quotation? 2
1) I was awfully busy at the works all that time Gerald
2) Dont be an ass, Eric Sheila
3) Working together for lower costs and higher prices Mr Birling
4) Its my duty to keep labour costs down Mr Birling
5) But these girls arent cheap labour theyre people Sheila
6) At least, Im trying to tell the truth Sheila
7) She decided she might as well try another kind of life Inspector
8) I cant accept any responsibility Mr Birling
9) I discharged her from mu employment Mr Birling
10) I insist upon being part of the family now Gerald
11) Community and all that nonsense Mr Birling
12) Its about time you learnt to face a few responsibilities Mr
Birling
13) Im on duty Inspector
14) I say there isnt a chance of war Mr Birling
 Themes in An
Inspector Calls
Responsibility Gender

Main
Theme
s

Class Age
 The play is concerned with both
Responsibility personal responsibility and social
responsibility
Primary theme
Words responsible and responsibility are used by most characters
throughout the play
The Inspector wanted each member of the family to share the responsibility
of Evas death:
"One Eva Smith has gone - but there are millions and millions and
millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us, with their
lives, their hopes and fears, their suffering and chance of happiness,
all intertwined with our lives, and what we think and say and do."
The Inspector gives the Birlings a warning:
And I tell you that the time will soon come when, if men will not
learn that lesson, when they will be taught it in fire and blood and
anguish.
What would Priestly want his audience to think of when providing the Birlings
with such warnings?
Character Attitude to Social Responsibility
Mr. Birling a man has to make his own way has to
look after himself and his family too, of
course when he has one
Doesnt believe that an individual has a social
responsibility to others.

Mrs. Birling
Sees social responsibility in a limited way while
she is involved with a womans charity she has a
very narrow sense of responsibility. She takes no
responsibility for Evas death.

Eric
Has some innate sense of social responsibility Why
shouldnt they try for higher wages. He felt
enough responsibility to offer Eva money.

Shelia
Shelias sense of social responsibility is awakened
throughout the play and she feels compassion for
workers like Eva But these girls arent cheap
labour theyre people.
 Class
Apart from Edna, the maid, the characters in the play are from the rich, upper
classes. However, a lot can be learnt about the lower classes through the
attitudes of the characters and their interactions with Eva Smith.
Again make sure that you consider how each character views the lower classes
at the beginning and the end of the play.

This theme is linked heavily with

Priestleys socialist views and the time
periods in which the play were set and
written (1912 and 1945).

Make sure that you understanding

Priestleys background and personal
political views.
Character At the start of the play this To this character Eva was
character was
Mr. Birling Keen to cement his social
rise through Shelias Simply cheap labour he did
marriage. Insecure about his not think of her as a person.
social status.

Mrs. Birling Social superior to her

husband and gets An upstart who deserves
embarrassed by his social what she gets.
gaffes.
Shelia Happy taking advantage of
Someone beneath he social
the benefits of her social
status who deserved to be
class spending time in
fired out of spite.
expensive shops.
Gerald Prepared to marry Shelia
despite her lower social A mistress to be used and
status and the disapproval of discarded as he pleases.
his mother.

Eric
Feels awkward about the
Easy sex at the end of a
benefits from his social
drunken night out.
status.
 Gender
Because of her sex Eva was in an even more vulnerable position. When the
play is set women were not yet valued in their own right by society and had
not been awarded the right to vote.

Even upper class women had limited choices and were under the control of
men. The situation was even worse for working class women. Eva Smith
encompasses this plights and her life is heavily influenced by the men she
encounters.

Why do you think Priestley decided

to have the play based on the
death of a young working class
woman rather than the death of a
young working class man?

Age
The Old (Mr. and Mrs. Birling)
The old are set in their ways.
They are confident that they are
right and the young are wrong.
They will do anything to protect
themselves and their reputation
Mr. Birlings first thought is to
cover up a scandal
They have never been forced to
examine their actions and they
cannot do this now you cant
teach an old dog new tricks.
Mr. and Mrs. Birling have much
to fear from a visit from the real
Inspector they will lose the
thing they value most.
The older and younger
generations deal with the
Inspectors call in different
ways.
The Young (Shelia and Eric)
More open to new ideas. Their
views change throughout the
play and they express sympathy
for the striking workers
They accept responsibility for
their actions and their effects.
Eric and Shelia examine their
role in Evas death.
They have less to fear from the
real Inspector as they have
already admitted their wrong
doing and it is suggested they
will change.
 How should you revise
theme?
0 Have quotes for each theme.
0 Can you match a characters actions or
opinion to each key theme?
0 How would an audience react to this
theme?
0 Why is Priestley using it?
0 Can you think of 4 5 times that this
theme is shown throughout the text?
 Language Techniques used
in An Inspector Calls
0 Words such as chaps (men) and jingo help show
the characters social class. Theyre using language of
their social group.
0 The Inspector uses plain and direct language, he only
says what he needs to there cant be any confusion.
0 He also uses silence he has a disconcerting
habitat of staring for a while at a person before he
speaks to them.
0 The older Birlings find him offensive because of his
manner and language he is rude and
impertinent.
0 By the end of the play Sheila is confident and
assertive.
 Language Techniques used
in An Inspector Calls
Priestley uses dramatic irony to influence
the audience.

0 It seems as if the Inspectors omniscient he

knows everything.

0 The audience know that a lot of what Birling

dismisses in his speech actually happened.

0 When the audience know more than the

 Language Techniques used
in An Inspector Calls
The Birlings use euphemism to hide
what they mean.

0A euphemism is a way of avoiding

something unpleasant by using other, often
more vague, words. For example, Mrs Birling
describes Eva Smith a girl of that sort
(meaning a lower-class girl).

0The Inspector doesnt use euphemisms. His

 Language Techniques used
in An Inspector Calls
The Inspector uses imagery.

0 Language that creates a strong picture is called

imagery.

0 The Inspector uses graphic imagery to shock the

words burnt her inside out create an image that
distresses Sheila and the audience.

0 The Inspectors final speech uses imagery from

the Bible. This makes the Inspector sound like a
 Exploring
She instructs and
language commands her family
What can we say about this quite a change to
quotation? What is worth how submissive she is
analysing? Is there a device?
at the start of the
play.
The wall is
symbolic- Sheila: You mustn't try to build up a kind of
Priestley is wall between us and that girl. If you do,
being then the Inspector will just break it down.
metaphorical.
And it'll be all the worse when he does.
What does it
represent?
She knows how
What does it
painful it is to regret
say about the
your actions after the
classes? Break is a power word
Inspector makes you
which shows the
strength of the
realise the
Inspector and his power consequences.
of knowledge. What else
does it show/ imply?
Look for - Sentence types (during
Close Analysis). Explore why they
are used.
0 Imperatives commands/ request/
demand
0 Exclamations shows strong feelings
or emotions
0 Declaratives declares something
0 Interrogatives asks questions

State which sentence

type it is, if appropriate, as part
of your essay (blended in with your analysis)
What can we say about this
quotation? What is worth
analysing?
Is there a device?
Inspector Goole: One Eva Smith has
gone - but there are millions and
millions and million of Eva Smiths and
John Smiths still left with us, with their
lives, their hopes and fears, their
suffering and chance of happiness, all
intertwined with our lives, and what we
think and say and do. We don't live
alone. We are members of one body.
We are responsible for each other.
(Act 3)
What can we say about
this quotation? What is
worth analysing? Is there a
device?

Inspector Goole: (massively)

Public men, Mr. Birling, have
responsibilities as well as
privileges.
 Exploring structure

Sheila start of play:

Excited
Taking out the ring/ admiringly

Sheila end of play:

Distressed
Scornfully
Crying quietly

Stage directions are hugely useful and worth

analysing in the exam you should have a supply of
them ready to include!
Stage directions concerning the
Inspector what can you say?

The lighting should be pink

and intimate until the
Inspector arrives and then
it should be brighter and
harder

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g75ZigJMBM
Stage directions concerning the
Inspector what can you say?

We hear the
sharp ring of a
front door bell
Stage directions concerning the
Inspector what can you say?

He speaks carefully,
weightily, and has a
disconcerting habit of
looking hard at the person
he addresses before
actually speaking
 Stage directions find one pertinent
stage direction for each of the main
characters and be prepared to explore
it
Birling:

Eric:

Sheila:

Gerald:

Mrs Birling:
 Cycles

0 In what way is the play a cyclic play?

0 In what way is it not?

0 Include this in your essay if relevant

it shows you can see STRUCTURE
and can see the play as a whole,
constructed piece of work.
 An Inspector Calls

issues
The dining room furniture symbolises
objects etc

The decanter of port and the cigars This symbolises outward displays of wealth
Small

symbolise
The photograph of Eva symbolises
lighting/ directions
Bigger staging/

P12 the Inspector cuts through others These actions symbolise that to expose the actions of ignorant people you
speaking and interposes himself need to
between them when they try to see the
photo
P7 Sheila and Sybil leaving after
dinner
P70 Birling wipes his brow/ Sheila
shivers

Mr and Mrs Birling symbolise

Biggest people/ events

Eva/ Daisy symbolise

Eric symbolises

The room they are in symbolises

Sheila symbolises

The Inspectors arrival at the Birling

 Approaching the
question

How does Priestley present the

character of Mr Birling throughout the
play?
Underline the key words in the
question and make sure you
understand what it is asking you to
do.

What is the importance of

Geralds/Sheilas/Erics/Mr or Mrs
Birlings role in the play?
 Planning
Think of some gut reactions (these will be
your first or immediate points/answers) to the
question.
e.g.: How does Priestley present the
character of Mr Birling in the play?

Dont forget to
number these- So, Mr Birling is
to give a sense presented as
ignorant, stubborn,
of coherence! traditionalist and a
social climber.
 Planning

So, Mr Birling is
presented as
ignorant, stubborn,
traditionalist and a
social climber.

Which quotes will you use?

 PEE
Take each of these words from your plan and
make them the first sentence of your
paragraph:
1. To begin with, Priestley presents Mr Birling
as an ignorant character.
2. Furthermore, he is presented as a social
climber.
3. Moreover, Priestley conveys him as a
traditionalist.
4. Finally, he is presented as someone who is
quite stubborn.
Use 1-2 quotations to support each
idea
 PEE example
To begin with, Priestley presents Mr Birling as an
ignorant character quite early on in the play. This is when
he says: the Titanic is unsinkableabsolutely
unsinkable. Mr Birling talks with assumed authority
about the Titanic and other events. He makes sweeping
statements about progress, business, and politics.
However, while he enjoys lecturing his children and Gerald
about life and the world, he is shown to be narrow-minded
and cannot see the consequences of his actions or
recognise what is happening in the world at large. It is
because of these sweeping statements, his character
creates tension early on in the play.