J. B.

Priestley, An Inspector Calls

• What can you recall about the character of Mr. Birling Answer the following questions about…
in An Inspector Calls? Mr. Birling, Mrs. Birling, Gerald, Shiela, Eric and the Inspector:
• What can you recall about the theme of masculine
How would you describe this person?
power in An Inspector Calls?
• Explain how Eric and masculine power are linked in
the play. What is this individual best known for?

• What can you recall about the character of the

Inspector in An Inspector Calls? What other people are connected to this person and how?
• What can you recall about the theme of capitalism in
An Inspector Calls?
• What other key facts can you recall about this individual?
Explain how the Inspector and capitalism are linked in
the play.
Create a key question where the individual is the answer.
• What can you recall about the character of Eva in An
Inspector Calls?
• What can you recall about the theme of socialism in
An Inspector Calls?
• Explain how Eva and socialism are linked in the play.
 RETRIEVAL PRACTICE:
Discuss how Eva Smith is
PYRAMID
4 a victim of masculine
Points power in An Inspector
Calls.

How are women outside

3 What does Eva and Eric’s
of the Birling family
Points baby symbolise?
treated in the play?

Who shows these

What are the
2 What does the term stereotypical traits of
stereotypical traits of
Points ‘masculinity’ mean? masculinity in the play
masculinity?
and how?

What item does Mr. What does Eric do a lot

1 Where does Gerald meet Why does Mr. Birling
Birling use in an attempt which Mrs. Birling is
Point Eva Smith? favour Gerald?
to impress Gerald? unaware of?
 RETRIEVAL PRACTICE:
‘Fire and blood and
PYRAMID
4 anguish.’ Discuss the
Points Inspector’s role as a
prophetic messenger.

Discuss how the

3 Discuss the ambiguity of
Inspector gives the
Points the name ‘Goole’.
lower classes a voice.

The Inspector creates an

How does the Inspector 'impression of Why do we never see
2 tend to speak and how is massiveness, solidity and
the Inspector again once
Points this different to Mr. purposefulness’. What is
the significance of this he has left the room?
Birling?
description?

Why does the Inspector How does the Inspector

How does the lighting The Inspector is
1 only show one person cut Birling off in the
change when the ‘Priestley’s mouthpiece’.
Point the photograph of Eva at middle of his capitalist
Inspector arrives? What does this mean?
a time? philosophy?
 RETRIEVAL PRACTICE:
PYRAMID
Discuss Priestley’s
4
purpose in constructing
Points
Birling the way he has.

‘Just let me finish, Eric’ – We employers at last are

Birling cuts Eric off and coming together to see that our
3 interests – and the interests of
disregards his point of view
Points multiples times during his
capital – are properly
protected.’ What does Birling
early speeches. Why? value?

Why is Birling wrong Gerald agrees with Mr.

‘Unsinkable. Absolutely
2 when he says Russia ‘will Birling’s views. How are
unsinkable.’ What is the
Points always be behind Eric and Gerald
Titanic a symbol of?
naturally?’ different?

‘We can't let these

What will a British
Bernard Shaws and H.G.
1 What was the Great What happened to the audience watching the
Wellses do all the
Point Depression? Titanic? play in 1946 have lived
talking.’ Who are these
through?
people?