‘An Inspector Calls Past’ Paper Questions (Higher [mostly] and Foundation Tier)
1. ‘An Inspector Calls’ is set in 1912, and was written in the mid 1940s. Why do you
think it is still popular today, at the beginning of the 21st Century? Remember to
support your answer with close reference to the text.
2. Give advice to the actor playing Mrs Birling on how she should present the character to an
audience.
3. How is the character of Inspector Goole important to the play as a whole?
4. Imagine you are Eric. At the end of the play you look back over the events of the
evening. Write down your thoughts and feelings. Remember how Eric would speak
when you write your answer. (Consider how you could be asked to imagine yourself as
any character from the play, but the wording of the question will usually stay the same.)
5. Inspector Goole says “We are responsible for each other.” How does J.B. Priestley
present this theme in ‘An Inspector Calls’?
6. What do you think were the most important factors that contributed to Eva Smith’s
death?
7. Which character changes the most as a result of the Inspector’s visit, in your
opinion? Show how this change is presented to an audience.
8. Of all the secrets revealed by the Inspector during his visit, which do you think an
audience would find most shocking and why?
9. One of the messages of An Inspector Calls is that power can be misused. Show
what power different characters have over Eva Smith and how they use their
power.
10. For which character in An Inspector Calls do you have the most sympathy? Give
reasons for what you say.