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Year 11 GCSE English Literature Revision
Context
Read the following and answer the questions in the banners.
Class
An Inspector Calls was written in 1945 but set in 1912.
In 1912, there was a much greater emphasis on class than in post-war Britain. There was a clear distinction between the upper classes (who had land), the middle classes (business people with money) and the working class (those who worked hard to keep themselves clothed and fed).
The class distinction was less pronounced after the two world wars, as so many homes and lives had been destroyed.
Priestley believed that the class system and Capitalism had contributed to the two wars. He wanted people to care about people (whatever their class) in order to prevent further conflict.
Gender
Although women had some rights in 1912, they were not yet able to vote and middle and upper class women would rarely work. Unmarried working class women needed to work in order to support themselves, but there were only limited jobs available to them.
This changed during the two wars, as women were needed to do the jobs usually undertaken by men.
Socialism
Socialist ideas of equality were becoming more popular after the wars, and Priestley supported them. Howver, there were many who were threatened by these ideas and saw trade unions and interference by the government as going against their Capitalist right.
How is class important in An Inspector Calls?
What are the attitudes to women in An Inspector Calls?
How are Socialist ideas shown in An Inspector Calls?
Timeline
Complete the following timeline- what happens in each section?
Practice Exam Questions:
- How do you respond to Gerald in ‘An Inspector Calls’? How does Priestley make you respond as you do by the ways he writes?
- How does Priestley show that tension is at the heart of the Birling family?
- Priestley criticises the selfishness of people like the Birlings. What methods does he use to present this selfishness?
- An Inspector Calls has been called ‘a play of contrasts’. Write about how Priestley presents some of the contrasts in the play.
- 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?
Act 1
Family are celebrating Sheila’s engagement (p1-5) Birling talks about business benefits (p4, 6-10) An Inspector interrupts (p10-11) The Inspector tells the family about a girl who has committed suicide (p11) Inspector questions Birling (p12-17) Inspector questions Sheila (p18- 24) Inspector starts questioning Gerald (p25-26)
Act 2 Act 3
Character profile- Sybil Birling
How do others react to her?
Does she change?
What is she like as a person? What does she look like? (^) How does she treat others?
Character profile- Sheila Birling
How do others react to her?
Does she change?
What is she like as a person? What does she look like? (^) How does she treat others?
Character profile- Gerald Croft
How do others react to him?
Does he change?
What is he like as a person? What does he look like? (^) How does he treat others?
Character profile- Inspector Goole
How do others react to him?
Does he change?
What is he like as a person? What does he look like? (^) How does he treat others?
Exam practice
In the exam you will have a choice between two exam questions. They will focus on character or themes.
Example question and answer
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?
In Edwardian Britain, and era steeped in superficiality and hypocrisy, social status was measured by material wealth and a sense of moral responsibility was lost to materialism and etiquette. In Mr Birling, J. B. Priestley has created a character so fixated upon climbing social hierarchy that he is willing to ignore his conscience and feels no empathy to those less fortunate than himself. Throughout the play, J.B. Priestley demonstrates to us that we are members of “one body” and uses every character to convey his message that we have a responsibility to care for each other.
From the start of the play, Mr Birling demonstrates his Capitalist views upon the lives of the lower classes and society as a whole “as if we were all mixed up in a hive community and all that nonsense.” He is utterly dismissive of the notion that we must all work together and is so firmly attached to his higher social status that it’s obvious he cannot think about supporting those from a poorer economic status. The use of the word “nonsense” reflects his dismissive manner as it is a word full of mockery; a light-hearted term that shows Mr Birling’s opinion of community as unimportant. Mr Birling’s attitude is used by Priestley to convey to the audience that wealth and pursuit of material possessions can result in a bubble of selfishness, which can only lead to suffering of the working classes. In Edwardian Britain, characters such as Birling held all the power and have the ability to make an impression on the lives of the lower classes. Though set in 1912, the play’s message is still important today- we all have a responsibility to impact each other in appositive way and help those that are less fortunate.
It is obvious to the audience that the Inspector is used to examine the morals and scruples of the Birling family, and he challenges their views without fear “No sir I can’t agree with you there.” As Mr Birling is reluctant to take any real blame for Eva’s suicide, the Inspector challenges Mr Birling’s attitude. His language is formal and blunt, without any of the colloquialisms such as “squiffy” used by other members of the family. The Inspector’s language gives him greater authority as he is the voice of Priestley’s views and does not feel intimidated by Birling’s wealth. He refuses to be won over by Birling’s appeals to social status “I was an alderman for years and Lord Mayor two years ago.” Mr Birling is so reliant upon his authority being accepted without question that the Inspector’s manner surprises him. He is determined to show Birling that he holds a deep responsibility for Eva’s death and the lives of those around him. Upon the Inspector’s arrival the lighting changes to become “brighter and harsher” as the Birlings can no longer hide from the consequences of their actions.
The play reaches its dramatic climax with Mrs Birling, as she unwittingly condemns her own son, saying “I blame the young man who was the father of the child.” Mrs Birling is utterly blinded by her own sense of self-righteousness and her determination that others are always at fault. For the audience, there is an ultimate sense of dramatic irony as we build in our suspicions that Eric is father to the child as she utters “I blame.” Here she, without realisation, professes the part of her son in Eva’s tragic death and labels him as the culprit. The play is carefully structured so that Mrs Birling is questioned before Eric, allowing Mrs Birling to incriminate her own son at the height of dramatic tension. She is so negative towards the working classes that she overlooks that it is the wealthy people in the play that have committed immoral acts; she is so distant from her own son that she has no idea of his behaviour. Mrs Birling aims to place the widest gap between herself and those around her, a distance which Priestley shows as dangerous and immoral.
Through the behaviour of each character, and the Capitalist views of the Birling family, Priestley shows us that social responsibility is ever present and those that ignore their responsibilities to humanity for wealth and status can never achieve moral harmony.
This essay is particularly effective because it shows good understanding of play as a whole and shows understanding of language, structure and purpose. It received the full 30 marks.
