GCSE English Literature
Unit 1 Modern Texts
An Inspector Calls
by J B Priestley
LO: Can I explore the ways Priestley presents and develops
Gerald’s character?.
Key words:
INFER
DEDUCE
TRUST
COMPASSION
Make sure you pay close attention to the stage
directions.
How am I doing?
Check your answer against the mark scheme
‘Confident, Assured’ B
* confident and developed interpretations of texts
* engages with writers’ ideas and attitudes and provide
perceptive interpretations using precisely selected
supporting quotes or examples
• analysis of aspects of language in convincing detail.
‘Clear, Consistent’ C
* clear understanding of significant meanings of the text
• ability to explain writers’ ideas clearly using relevant and
appropriate quotes or examples
* ability to show understanding of features of language
What facts do you know about
Gerald?
What has Priestley
inferred about
Gerald? Quotes?
5 An Inspector Calls Gerald YouTube
Act Two - Gerald & Sheila
Why does Gerald suggest that Sheila ought to be
excused at the beginning of Act Two?
Why does Sheila refuse to leave?
What explanation does the inspector provide?
…if she leaves us now,
and doesn’t hear any
more, then she’ll feel
she’s entirely to blame
Sheila has already accepted and acknowledged that she is
at least partly to blame for Eva’s death and now she wants to
know who else is implicated.
FAMILY QUESTIONS?
Why is Sheila angry with Gerald’s behaviour?
According to Gerald
when did his affair with
Daisy end? What happened?
Find examples in Sheila’s text lines
where she says she almost respects
Gerald’s confession. What does
this reveal about her?
Gerald
We now learn of Gerald’s role in Eva
Smith/Daisy Renton’s ruin.
What does the audience think of Gerald
now?
Personality
Evidence
Be prepared to share your ideas on Gerald and justify your views.
Gerald’s role
What arguments can you put forward to defend Gerald’s
behaviour towards Daisy?
He obviously liked her as he describes her as ‘very
pretty – soft brown hair and big dark eyes’.
He is upset when he suddenly realizes that it is she who
is dead.
When they first met he had rescued her from a old
womanizer.
When he realized she was hungry he got her food.
He provided her with somewhere to live when he found
out she was being turned out of her room.
When he ended the affair he gave her some money to
live on for a while.
When he has confessed all he goes out because he is
genuinely upset about Daisy.
How responsible was Gerald?
1
10
On a scale of 1-10 how
responsible was Gerald in
Eva’s death?
Write one paragraph to
justify your response.
What does Gerald
represent in the play?
How does Priestley use
him.