C/W Sheila (pp. 18-25) 5 May 2023 LOs: • To actively annotate focusing on Sheila. • To analyse Priestley's representation of the theme of social responsibility. Starter: • Write a definition of 'social responsibility' • What is your impression of Sheila Birling from what we've read so far? CHALLENGE: What do you remember about the women’s suffrage movement? How might this have affected a 1945 audience’s perception of Sheila? The Inspector’s Interview with Sheila Let’s read and annotate pages 18-25. (‘Oh – why had this to happen’?) TASK: Summarise the key events in Eva’s life from November 1910 to the end of January 1911. How did Sheila know Eva Smith? Why was she fired? What do we learn about Sheila’s personality? Looking at the Inspector’s interview with Sheila, analyse his use of language: The Inspector’s Methods: 1. What questions does he ask? (open/closed, tone etc.) 2. What is the effect of these questions? 3. What type of language does he use? 4. How does he respond to what is said by Sheila? Harsh/kind? Rude? Disregards social conventions? Does he focus on what is moral or what is legal? 5. Does the way he responds change at all? Why? The Birlings: Staging: 1. How do stage directions and props add to the sense of conflict? Think about: the Inspector’s use of the photograph doors slamming entrances and exits other stage directions in the text 1. How does Sheila respond to the Inspector? 2. What emotions does she display (e.g. anger, guilt, remorse...) 3. How does this add to/resolve the conflict? 4. How does this affect the Inspector’s methods? Make sure you note down ideas and quotes as well as your analysis. In An Inspector Calls, Priestley explores social responsibility through: • the treatment of Eva Smith • how each character does or doesn’t take responsibility for their behaviour • the Inspector's lessons Character How does Priestly show their feelings towards social responsibility? Analysis Evidence "If we were all Mr Birling dismisses the responsible for everything idea that we should be Mr Birling refuses to take that happened to Mr Birling does not feel responsible for each any responsibility for Eva everybody we'd had socially responsible other, suggesting that Smith’s death. anything to do with, it such a situation would be would be very awkward, 'awkward'. wouldn't it?" How does Priestley present the character’s views of social responsibility? TASK: Complete the table for Eric, Gerald and Sheila. Spotlight On: Sheila's Reactions. What do the quotes below suggest about Sheila? Oh, how horrible! Sorry! It's just that I can't help thinking about this girl – destroying herself so horribly – and I've been so happy tonight. But these girls aren't cheap labour, they're people. (She looks at it closely, recognizes it with a little cry, gives a half-stifled sob, and then runs out.) HOMEWORK: Use what you have learned so far this lesson to write a short ‘question and answer’ interview with Sheila, which takes place just after she has discovered her role in Eva Smith's death. STEP ONE: Think of at least FOUR pressing questions to ask Sheila. STEP TWO: Imagine her reactions – how is she FEELING at this point in the play? STEP THREE: Make sure you have an interesting INTRODUCTION to the interview – who is Sheila Birling and why is she interesting to your reader? CHALLENGE: Write the interview into a magazine article. Plenary What are your predictions for Sheila's character as we move into the next act? How might her relationship with the other members of her family change?