How to have got top marks on
Mrs Birling essay
How am I being marked?
AO1
Do you know the play well?
Can you make a number of relevant points
Do you use quotations which prove your point?
AO2
Do you understand that this is a play?
Can you comment on why Priestley uses the words and
the dramatic techniques that he does?
AO3
Do you understand the context – the historical
influences? The political message?
AO4
Spelling. Punctuation. Grammar. Good Writing style. 4
marks
Checklist for success:
1 Clear point that directly
references the question
given
2 Supported with relevant
evidence
3 Analysed an individual
word/phrase
4 Explained the effect on the
audience
5 Suggested what the writer’s
purpose
6 Used subject terminology
7 Linked to the wording of the
question
•
Secondly, by the end of the play, the
relationship between Sheila and Gerald shows
the audience that women can be opinionated
and assertive. Sheila uses the noun “mummy”
to address Mrs Birling at the beginning of the
play but by the end this has changed to
“mother”. This is effective because it conveys
her newly found authority in the play. She has
matured and learnt from her mistakes. In
addition, this highlights the theme of
responsibility as she has been able to mature
as a direct result of accepting her part in Eva’s
death. Gerald says to Sheila “Everything’s
alright now, Sheila” at the end in an attempt to
be the stereotypical reassuring male
comforting the weak and emotional woman.
However, Sheila rejects his support and judges
him for the mistake he has made. She calls
members of her family “childish” and accuses
them of being unable to “face facts”. The
adjective “childish” shows that although she is
younger than her parents, she has been able to
accept responsibility and grown up - they have
not. Priestley therefore teaches the audience
that despite being from a capitalist family and
female, you can change your attitudes and
become a more responsible member of society.
He is pointing out that women are equal in
their ability to change attitudes and ways and
that Mr Birling’s views of women are outdated.
How are women
presented in the play, ‘An
Inspector Calls?’
How am I being marked?
AO1
Do you know the play
well?
Can you make a number
of relevant points
Do you use quotations
which prove your point?
Did you mention her key
characteristics and provide
good quality evidence to
support your points?
5 minutes – what are her key characteristics to answer this
question – add a quotation if you can.
AO1 – Do you know the play well?
• Rich and powerful
• Snobbish and old fashioned – naïve
• Superior attitude towards the Inspector and Eva –
Stereotypes. Disrespectful. Boastful
• Callous. Uncaring. Cruel. No compassion
• Blind to her faults – tension is so high when she is
blaming the father – cannot accept truth.
• Stubborn and unremorseful to the end
• Hateful character with no good points.
How am I being marked?
AO2
Can you comment on
why Priestley uses the
words and the dramatic
techniques that he
does?
Do you comment on your
quotations or leave them
hanging?
Do you understand that
this is a play?
Did you, at some points,
mention play devices –
stage directions or
tension?
How the audience reacts
or feels?
AO2 – Language and fact it is a play
• Do you comment on your quotations? What are
the important words and why? What do they
show about Mrs B?
• Pauses and hesitations later – contrast to the
start.
• Do you refer to aspects of this as a pay:
o Stage directions
o Attitude of the audience
o Tension felt
o Mrs B as a dramatic device to teach the audience how
not to be
How am I being marked?
AO3 Do you understand
the context – the
historical influences?
The political
message?
Did you show that
Priestley is making a
political point through
Mrs Birling?
A03 - The Political Point?
• Social Responsibility – she does not believe we
should look after other people – we are not
responsible for others. There is no duty to care
for or be kind to others. She believes in personal
responsibility rather than collective.
• However, she ultimately kills her own grandchild
– Priestley is making a point in a very dramatic
way that we are all linked together – we have a
responsibility to others in our society.
A04 - SPAG
Your Examiner
xxx
Read the four extracts from essays you
did. What is the glaring error in each
one?
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