English Literature
Paper 2 Modern Text
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AIC-Booklet-English-Literature.pdf, Study notes of English Literature
Act One: The Inspector Arrives. Inspector Goole announces that he has come to investigate the suicide of a young working-class girl who died that afternoon.
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English Literature
Paper 2 Modern Text
Section A
Name _______________________
Class ______________
English Literature Overview
Paper 1:
Shakespeare and the 19th^ century novel +
Paper 2:
Modern text and Poetry
What’s assessed: Shakespeare – Macbeth 19 th^ century novel – Jekyll and Hyde What’s assessed: Modern text – An Inspector Calls Poetry – Power and Conflict Cluster Unseen Poetry How it’s assessed: written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes 64 marks 40% of GCSE How it’s assessed: written exam: 2 hours 15 minutes 96 marks 60% of GCSE Questions: Section A Shakespeare: Students will answer one question on Macbeth. They will be required to write in detail about an extract from the play and then to write about the play as a whole. Section B 19th^ century novel: Students will answer one question on Jekyll and Hyde. They will be required to write in detail about an extract from the novel and then to write about the novel as a whole. Questions: Section A Modern text: Students will answer one essay question from a choice of two on An Inspector Calls. Section B Poetry: Students will answer one comparative question on one named poem printed on the poem and one other poem from the power and conflict cluster. Section C Unseen Poetry: Students will answer two questions – one question on one unseen poem and one question comparing this poem with a second unseen poem. What will you be assessed on? Assessment Objectives (AOs)
AO1 Read, understand and respond to texts.
Students should be able to: maintain a critical style and develop an informed personal response use textual references, including quotations, to support and illustrate interpretations.
AO2 Analyse the language, form and structure used by a writer to create meanings and effects, using
relevant subject terminology where appropriate.
AO3 Show understanding of the relationships between texts and the contexts in which they were
written.
AO4 Use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for clarity, purpose and effect, with accurate
spelling and punctuation.
Identify the features of a play in the following extract from the opening of An Inspector Calls
Play Production
Priestley wrote the play for a stage and he uses dramatic devices to build tension and create conflict. Complete the boxes below with quotes from the stage directions. Explain the significance of the device and how Priestley uses it to create a dramatic play.
Relevant Vocabulary – find the full quote/example in the play.
Suburban
(adjective) A residential area on the edge of a city or town where people who work in the city or town often live.
Prosperous
(adjective) Successful, usually by earning a lot of money. Rich and wealthy.
Decanter
(noun) A decorative glass container for wine and other alcoholic drink.
Scaremonger
(noun) A person who spreads stories that cause public fear.
Port
(noun) A strong, sweet red wine. Often served after dinner.
Portentous
(adjective) Serious and trying to be very important. Shows arrogance and conceit.
Provincial
(adjective) Having opinions and ideas that are old- fashioned and simple.
Agitations
(noun) Worry and anxiety
Guffaws
(verb) To laugh loudly, especially at something stupid that someone has said or done.
Squiffy
(adjective) Slightly drunk.
Fiddlesticks
(exclamation) Used to express disagreement or to say that something in nonsense.
Capital
(noun) A large amount of money used for producing more wealth.
Cranks
(noun) A person who has strange or unusual beliefs.
Disconcerting
(adjective) Anxious, unsettled and worried.
Infirmary
(noun) An old name for a hospital.
Labour
(noun) A polity party that believes in social equality, a more equal sharing of wealth and the rights of workers.
Modestly
(adverb) To downplay your own abilities and achievements.
By Jove
(noun) Used to express surprise or to emphasise a statement.
Officious
(adjective) Too eager to tell people what to do and having too high an opinion of your own importance.
Impertinent
(adjective) Rude and not showing respect towards someone older or in a higher position that you.
Vindictive
(adjective) Having or showing a wish to harm someone because you think they have harmed you.
Impressionable
(adjective) Easily influenced by other people, especially because you are young.
Absurd
(adjective) Believed to be stupid and unreasonable.
Wretched
(adjective) Unpleasant
Agitated
(adjective) Nervous because of worry or feat that is difficult to control.
Savagely
(adverb) In a violent, cruel or very severe way.
Bluffed
(verb) To deceive someone by faking or pretending to do something.
Women of the town
(euphemism) Prostitutes
Goole
(noun) ‘Ghoul’ – strange, suspicious and unnatural.
Dramatic Irony
The situation in which the audience of a play knows something that the characters do not.
Euphemisms
A word or phrase used to avoid saying an unpleasant or offensive word.
Prejudiced
Showing an unreasonable dislike for something or someone.
Omniscient
(adjective) Having unlimited knowledge – appears to know everything
Capitalism
(noun) An economic, political and social system in which people are motivated by profit and success.
Socialism
(noun) The set of beliefs that states that all people are equal.
Responsibility
(noun) To have a duty or obligation to help, support, provide, work so that certain things are done.
TEN VOCABULARY QUESTIONS Which adjective means ‘successful, rich and wealthy’?
- Portentous.
- Prosperous.
- Port.
- Provincial. Which verb means to deceive someone?
- Guffaws.
- Modestly.
- Savagely.
- Bluffed. Which noun shows a large amount of money used for producing more wealth?
- Capitalist.
- Capitalism.
- Capital.
- Capitalisation. Which adjective means ‘stupid and unreasonable?
- Agitated.
- Vindictive.
- Absurd.
- Wretched. A euphemism is…
- The situation in which the audience of a play knows something that the characters do not.
- Showing an unreasonable dislike for something or someone.
- Used to express disagreement or to say that something in nonsense.
- A word or phrase used to avoid saying an unpleasant or offensive word. Which adjective means to ‘know everything’?
- Officious.
- Omniscient.
- Impertinent.
- Provincial. What expression is used to show ‘surprise’?
- Guffaws.
- By Jove.
- Squiffy.
- Fiddlesticks. Which noun represents equality?
- Responsibility.
- Labour.
- Socialism.
- Society. Which adjective is used to describe someone who is easily influenced?
- Modestly.
- Disconcerting
- Cranks.
- Impressionable. Prejudice is …
- Used to express disagreement or to say that something in nonsense.
- The situation in which the audience of a play knows something that the characters do not.
- A word or phrase used to avoid saying an unpleasant or offensive word.
- Showing an unreasonable dislike for something or someone.
An Inspector Calls
J.B.Priestley It is a spring evening in 1912 at the Brumley home of the Birlings, a prosperous industrial family in the North Midlands. The family is enjoying a dinner party celebrating the engagement of their daughter to a man who is heir to the most successful family business in the North - but they are about to be interrupted by the persistent Police Inspector, Inspector Goole.
Act One: a family affair in 1912
Arthur Birling, a wealthy businessman, and his family are celebrating the engagement of his daughter Sheila. The play begins with the idea that all is well at the Birling household. Arthur gives a speech to Gerald and Eric about business. He says that every man should look after himself. The doorbell rings and they receive a visit from an Inspector, Inspector Goole, who has come to inform them that a young working class girl called Eva Smith has committed suicide by drinking disinfectant and that he is there to investigate her sudden suicide. It turns out that Arthur Birling sacked Eva Smith from his factory and Sheila Birling asked for Eva Smith to be sacked from Millwards (a clothing shop) last year. The Inspector explains that Eva Smith changed her name to Daisy Renton. Gerald appears shocked and Eric leaves.
Act Two: the Inspector’s investigation continues
The family are, in turn, interrogated by the Inspector, and evident cracks appear in their relationships with one another. Under the pressure of the Inspector’s interrogation, every member of the family turn out to have a shameful secret linking them with Eva’s death. Gerald is forced to confess he spent last summer with Daisy Renton, who was his mistress. Sheila returns his engagement ring and Gerald leaves. Sybil Birling (who sits on the Woman’s Charity Organisation) confesses to having rejected Eva/Daisy’s appeal for help. Sybil blames the father of Eva/Daisy’s unborn child for her death. Sheila guess that Eric is the father of the child.
Act Three: who is responsible?
Eric returns and confesses to being the father of Eva/Daisy’s unborn child. He describes how he drunkenly forced her to have sex with him, got her pregnant and then stole money from his father’s office to support her. Evan/Daisy rejected the money and went to Sybil’s charity for help. Eric blames his mother, Sybil, for having murdered her own grandchild. The Inspector reminds everyone that they have all been responsible for the death of Eva/Daisy. He warns the Birling’s that everyone must look after one another. The Inspector leaves.
Act Three: the big reveal
Gerald returns and announces that there is no ‘Inspector Goole’ at Brumley police station. Arthur Birling confirms this when he calls the station. Gerald then calls the infirmary and no one has committed suicide. Mr Birling, Sybil and Gerald all believe it was hoax and begin to relax. Sheila and Eric argue that they are all still guilty and must take responsibility. The phone then rings, informing the family that a young woman has been found dead after drinking disinfectant and a Police Inspector is to visit them that evening. The curtain falls
Edwardian Society
The play is about the relationship between the poor and the rich.
Discuss:
At the beginning of the play:
At the end of the play:
The Edwardian era or Edwardian period covers the reign of King Edward VII 1901-1910, but also covers the period of time from the mid-1890s to the outbreak of WW1 in 1914. During the early 1900s there were significant political shifts in society. Where previously common labourers and women were excluded from society they became increasingly politicised. The Edwardian period maintained a rigid class system, however the changing economic system creating more social mobility. This included an increased interest in socialism , attention to the plight of the poor and the issue of women’s suffrage. As industry rapidly increased, so did economic opportunities.
Glossary
Elite: Etiquette: Servant’s entrance: Upstairs vs Downstairs: The Rules of Edwardian Society
- A poor person has no manners / class / sophistication / education.
- A poor person cannot ever become wealthy / rich.
- The poor and the rich should never mix – friendships / relationships / work.
- A poor person should be grateful for all that the rich help to provide them.
- The rich didn’t want to see or hear the poor; they just needed them to do a job.
- The rich employed the poor.
- A rich person could sack or punish a poor employee without consequences.
Who’s who in Brumley?
Label the characters with their name and a brief outline of their key characteristics.
In these extracts, Arthur Birling presents his views on war and business.
- Give each speech a heading from those listed below to sum up what it is about.
- Annotate each speech with comments on the use and impact of dramatic irony. Strikes War won’t happen Progress No such thing as society Business prospects Look after number one History doesn’t matter The future looks good “There’s a good deal of silly talk about these days
- but – and I speak as a hard-headed business man, who has to take risks and know what he’s about – I say, you can ignore all this silly pessimistic talk. When you marry you’ll be marrying at a very good time. Yes, a very good time – and soon it’ll be an even better time.” “Last month, just because the miners came on strike, there’s lots of wild talk about possible labour trouble in the near future. Don’t worry. We’ve passed the worst of it.” “We employers at last are coming together to see that our interests – and the interests of Capital – are properly protected. And we’re in for a time of steadily increasing prosperity.” “Glad you mentioned it, Eric. I’m coming to that. Just because the Kaiser makes a speech or two, or a few German officers have too much to drink and begin talking nonsense, you’ll hear some people say that war’s inevitable. And to that I say – fiddlesticks! The Germans don’t want war. Nobody wants war, except some half- civilised folks in the Balkans. And why? There’s too much at stake these days. Everything to lose and nothing to gain by war.”
“Look at the progress we’re making. In a year or two we’ll have aeroplanes that will be able to go anywhere. And look at the way the auto- mobile’s making headway – bigger and faster all the time. And then ships. Why, a friend of mine went over this new liner last week – the Titanic
- she sails next week – forty-six thousand eight hundred tons - forty-six thousand eight hundred
- New York in five days – and every luxury – and unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable.” “In twenty or thirty years’ time – let’s say, in 1940 – you may be giving a little party like this – your son or daughter might be getting engaged
- and I tell you, by that time you’ll be living in a world that will have forgotten all these Capital versus Labour agitations and all these silly little war scares. There’ll be peace and prosperity and rapid progress everywhere – except of course in Russia, which will always be behindhand naturally.” “But what so many of you don’t seem to understand now, when things are so much easier, is that a man has to make is own way – has to look after himself – and his family too of course, when he has one – and so long as he does that he won’t come to much harm.” “But the way some of these cranks talk and write now, you’d think everybody has to look after everybody else, as if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive – community and all that nonsense.”
Killer Quotation
How is Mr Birling presented in these extracts?
Stretch yourself by including sophisticated vocabulary:
portentous, prosperous, capitalist, provincial, egotistical, affluent, presumptuous, riled.
How does the writer achieve it? Identify a technique or interesting use of language Use a quote Why is it effective? Link to the actual words used What does it make you feel/do? What are the connotations? Does it have an emotional impact? Context Does it link to Edwardian society, values or beliefs? Does it link to Priestley’s own beliefs? Lit AO1 : Use textual references, including quotations, to support and illustrate interpretations. Lit AO1 : Read, understand and respond to texts, maintain a critical style and develop an informed personal response. Lit AO2 : Analyse the language, form and structure used to create meanings and effects, using relevant subject terminology where appropriate. Lit AO3 : Show understanding of the relationships between texts and the contexts in which they were written.