1 7 How does Priestley show that tension is at the
heart of the Birling family? (30 marks)
18
Priestley criticises the selfishness of people
like the Birlings. What methods does he use
to present this selfishness? (30 marks)
jan 11
GCSE English Literature
Unit 1 Modern Texts
An Inspector Calls
by J B Priestley
This is an exam text; you will have a choice of two
questions on Section A; worth 30 marks; 20% of your final
grade. YOU WILL ONLY HAVE 45 MINS
It would be advisable if you bought your own copy of
the play so that you can write notes in your book.
Assessment Objectives
AO 1 Respond to texts critically and
10% imaginatively; select and evaluate
relevant textual detail to illustrate and
support interpretations
AO 2
10%
Explain how language, structure and form
contribute to writers’ presentation of
characters, ideas, themes and settings
Priestley criticises the selfishness
of people like the Birlings. What
methods does he use to present this
selfishness?
(30 marks)
UNDERLINE KEY WORDS BRAINSTORM YOUR IDEAS
AO1 Respond to texts critically and imaginatively; select
and evaluate relevant textual detail to illustrate and
support interpretations
In what way were these characters selfish?
Mr Birling
Mrs Birling
Sheila
Selfishness
Gerald
Eric
AO2 Explain how language, structure and form
contribute to writers’ presentation of characters, ideas,
themes and settings
What techniques did Priestley use?
Mr Birling
Mrs Birling
Sheila
Selfishness
Gerald
•Dramatic irony
•Satires their behaviour
•Highlights their faults through Inspector
Eric
An Inspector Calls has been called ‘a
play of contrasts’. Write about how
Priestley presents some of the
contrasts.
(30 marks)
An Inspector Calls has been called ‘a
play of contrasts’. Write about how
Priestley presents some of the
contrasts.
(30 marks)
An Inspector Calls has been called ‘a
play of contrasts’. Write about how
Priestley presents some of the
contrasts.
(30 marks)
TIMED EXAM PRACTICE – 45 mins
‘Inspector Goole merely functions as a
mouthpiece for Priestley’s ideas.’
What do you think is the inspector’s function
in the play and how does Priestley present
him?
(30 marks)
UNDERLINE KEY WORDS
- PLAN YOUR IDEAs
TIMED EXAM PRACTICE – 45 mins
Write about the differences between Arthur
Birling and Eric Birling in the play An Inspector
Calls.
You should write about:
what Arthur and Eric Birling are like
their different attitudes
the methods Priestley uses to present Arthur
and Eric Birling.
(30 marks)
1 7 How does Priestley show that tension is at the
heart of the Birling family? (30 marks)
18
Priestley criticises the selfishness of people
like the Birlings. What methods does he use
to present this selfishness? (30 marks)
jan 11
8
Priestley criticises the selfishness of
people like the Birlings. What methods does he
use
to present this selfishness? (30 marks)
• AO1 the lack of understanding between the generations –
Mr Birling does not understand his children sibling
squabbles lack of compassion and differing views/beliefs
brought out by the Inspector the characters are outspoken
and do not consider each other the impact of the Inspector
takes the shroud off the niceties within the family
• AO2 the play form allows tension to be created through the
staging and scene directions – the use of subdued lighting
at the beginning to create a relaxed atmosphere could in
fact be shrouding the true feelings at the table especially as
the language hints at tension the use of cliff hangers
especially used to show Sheila and Gerald‟s relationship
and problems (it will be assumed by students that as they
are engaged he is considered part of the family) the
dialogue between the characters is a clear indication of
tension, e.g. Birling and Eric. the children still being treated
as „little children‟, seen through the language
• AO1 the lack of understanding from Birling of the
working class Sheila having no regard for other people
as seen in the incident at Milwards Eric stealing money
to „sort out his problem‟ Sybil – having a position in
society and not using it correctly social satire of the
wealthy class and their lack of appreciation for others
• AO2 dramatic irony – to humiliate those similar to
Birling – shows their self-obsession and that their
assuredness is misplaced the fact the play is set in 1912
and written in 1945/6 – satirises his society and those
in it like Birling who have not learnt from past mistakes
creating a chain of events to show that one action can
have many consequences through the dialogue of the
characters – Priestley is able to highlight their faults
through the Inspector‟s tone and style of questioning –
mouthpiece for Priestley
Jun 11
• An Inspector Calls has been called ‘a play of contrasts’.
• Write about how Priestley presents some of the
contrasts in the play. (30 marks)
• OR
• Question 18
• 1 8 How does Priestley present the change in Sheila
during the course of the play
• An Inspector Calls? How do you think this change
reflects some of Priestley’s ideas?
• (30 marks)
• Answers might deal with some of the following aspects of the play:
• AO1 contrast between Sheila and Eva/Daisy e.g.
privileged/unprivileged, rich/poor contrast between attitudes of
youth and age e.g. self-satisfaction of the Birlings, openness to
change of the younger generation contrast between the Inspector
and the family e.g. the Inspector‟s feelings of responsibility and the
absence of these feelings in the Birlings contrast between the
Inspector‟s self-assurance and the disappearance of the selfassurance of the others during the course of the play.
• AO2 cheerful mood of the play at the beginning, which then gets
darker as the play progresses stage directions/lighting contrast in
language used by Inspector and Birling in their speeches use of
irony to show and emphasise contrast-impossibility of war and the
impossibility that the Titanic could sink stage directions for
characters‟ dialogue from „smiling‟, „gaily‟ etc to „hysterically‟,
„hesitantly‟.
• AO1 Sheila is more open to change than the other characters,
especially the older generation; she begins to realise the difference
between right and wrong; she becomes more independent as the
play progresses she is very different at the end of the play to the
beginning; from a girl pleased with life, self-centred and attractive
she develops a conscience and feels regret over her dealings with
Eva she learns from experience and is honest about her behaviour
realises that honesty and truth are important ideas she reflects of
Priestley e.g. responsibility
• AO2 stage directions at the beginning; „very pleased with life and
rather excited‟ Sheila‟s use of language – seen by her move from
dependence on parents and her future husband to more
independence. Her more passionate use of language, her use of
sarcasm (“So nothing‟s happened, so there‟s nothing to be sorry
for, nothing to learn.”) dramatic language “We killed her” stage
directions– she „shivers‟, „tensely‟ (showing her fear) actions –
hands back the engagement ring, shows her independence by
saying to her father “I‟m not a child”. Shows she becomes a bit like
the inspector – asking questions, contradicting her mother.
Jan 12
• Question 17
• 1 7 Arthur Birling says, ‘If we were all responsible for everything
that happened to everybody
• we’d had anything to do with, it would be very awkward, wouldn’t
it?’
• How does Priestley present ideas about responsibility in An
Inspector Calls? (30 marks)
• OR
• Question 18
• 1 8 How do you respond to Gerald in An Inspector Calls? How does
Priestley make you
• respond as you do by the ways he writes?
• (30 marks)
• AO1 May refer to Birling’s quote and thus his attitude to
responsibility – and other characters’ attitudes to
responsibility and how they are different The Inspector’s
attitude to responsibility – ‘each of you helped to kill her’ –
and his final speech to a wider audience – ‘millions and
millions of Eva Smiths...’ Socialist views about responsibility –
collective responsibility – everyone in society linked Ideas
about the play as a warning about how we should be
responsible for our actions
• AO2 The words ‘responsible’ and ‘responsibility’ are used by
most characters in the play – comment on some examples
‘fire and blood and anguish’ – significance of the choice of
these words The use of stage directions to reveal the
characters’ reactions to what the Inspector has to say about
how they treated Eva Smith How Priestley creates a sense of
self-satisfied smugness about the Birling family, where and
how they live – thus little sense of their need to move outside
the family and think of others [except Sheila / Eric]
• AO1 Aristocrat – ideas about class system – essentially
engaged to someone ‘beneath’ him Not as willing as
Sheila to admit his guilt – at first pretends he never
knew Daisy Renton – link with Mr Birling? Seems to
have some genuine feelings for Daisy Renton In Act 3,
Gerald tries to come up with as much evidence as
possible to prove the Inspector is a fake – wants to
protect himself rather than change himself Which
generation does he ‘fit’ most readily with?
• AO2 Regular references to Gerald’s ‘disappearance’ the
previous summer makes the audience wonder about
him References to any stage directions which reveal
Gerald’s attitudes / feelings How Priestley creates a
sense of self-satisfaction in Gerald when he thinks
‘Everything’s all right now’ Presentation as an ‘easy,
well-bred young man-about town’