An Inspector Calls - Teaching Resources 1 - 10

An Inspector Calls by J. B.
Priestley 1
An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley

- WJEC GCSE English Literature 2010
Unit 2a: Literary Heritage Drama
- AQA GCSE English Literature 2010
Unit 1, Section A: A Modern Drama
Introduction
This teaching pack is a creative and comprehensive resource that will complement every
English teacher’s tool kit.
Though prepared with the GCSE English Literature examinations in mind, also included are a
range of activities that teachers can use and / or adapt for Controlled Assessment tasks. *
The pack contains a number of reading, writing and speaking and listening tasks and there is
considerable opportunity for students to undertake individual, pair and group work. Many of
the tasks and activities allow students to engage with the play in exciting and dynamic ways,
whilst other tasks and activities take a more formal and traditional approach. Similarly, there
is a balance of teacher and student-led tasks, and also a number of opportunities and
suggestions for differentiation. In addition to a wide variety of worksheets, the pack also
contains a number of useful ‘Keeping Track’ resources. Indications of when these resources
could be introduced are suggested in the content list below. Alternatively, they can be used
as a revision tool at the end of the unit.
The variety of tasks and activities ensures that students are offered many creative
opportunities and approaches in their study of the text, aiding perception of the playwright’s
intentions as well as a thorough analysis of the themes, characters and dramatic techniques.
Copyright © 2010 TES English www.tes.co.uk/an-inspector-calls

An Inspector Calls by J. B. Priestley 2
This printable pack is supported by a comprehensive collection of audio files on the text.**
Using the audio files
- Use them as starters / settling tasks as applicable / appropriate
- Use for plenaries as applicable / appropriate
- Find accompanying images to put into photo story / moviemaker / powerpoint
- Use them as a guide for students who would like to script and record their own audio
files
- Revision activities
- Annotating and note taking
- Homework and research tasks
* Individual teachers should confirm the choice and title of controlled assessment tasks with
the relevant awarding body.
** SPOILER ALERT. All of the audio files contain information that might spoil students’
enjoyment of the text.
Interactive whiteboard
Also available within the collection are a range of themed interactive whiteboard tools
together with a selection of interactive whiteboard resources with pre-loaded demo question
sets / content. Resources have been created so that they can be used as teacher-led, whole
class activities and / or used by students working independently.

CONTENTS – printable resources
Resource 1: Introduction and contents

Resource 2: Assessment Objectives ‐ WJEC
Resource 3: Assessment Objectives ‐ AQA
Resource 4: Context ‐ J. B. Priestley
Resource 5: Pre‐reading prediction activities ‐ book covers and posters
Resource 6: Whodunit? Pre‐reading prediction activities ‐ introducing character and
stage directions
Resource 7: The opening stage directions ‐ multiple choice and comprehension
Resource 8: Pre‐reading prediction activities ‐ Mrs. Birling and propriety and
manners
Resource 9: Context ‐ the importance of understanding context
Resource 10: Context ‐ a timeline
Resource 11: Location and setting
Resource 12: Keeping Track ‐ entrances and exits
Resource 13: Dramatic irony ‐ Birling and context
Resource 14: Birling ‐ contemporary audiences, community and responsibility
Resource 15: Dramatic tension ‐ Birling and the arrival of Inspector Goole
Resource 16: Birling is questioned
Resource 17: Using quotes
Resource 18: Keeping Track ‐ Character
Resource 19: Family and class tensions ‐ Act One
Resource 20: Gerald and Sheila ‐ Act One
Resource 21: Gerald, Sheila and Daisy Renton ‐ Plot and tension
Resource 22: Keeping Track ‐ Class, status and power
Resource 23: The different generations ‐ An overview
Resource 24: The different generations ‐ Gerald
Resource 25: Keeping Track ‐ The different generations, character and themes
Resource 26: Mrs. Birling is questioned ‐ Act Two

Resource 27: Context ‐ Mrs. Birling and Edwardian Britain

Resource 28: Eric is questioned ‐ Act Two
Resource 29: Responsibility ‐ quote quest
Resource 31: Family tensions ‐ Sheila and Eric versus Mr. and Mrs. Birling
Resource 32: Class and gender
Resource 33: Keeping Track – class and gender
Resource 34: Eva Smith in the hot seat
Resource 35: Eva Smith ‐ status and power. Who is responsible?
Resource 36: The ending
Resource 37: Inspector Goole ‐ true or false quote quest
Resource 38: Dramatic and stylistic features of the play
Resource 39: Context – contemporary reviews
Resource 40: Acknowledgements and thanks

CONTENTS ‐ audio files
Audio file 1: Act One – summary

Audio file 2: Act Two – summary
Audio file 3: Act Three – summary
Audio file 4: Birling
Audio file 5: Mrs. Birling
Audio file 6: Sheila
Audio file 7: Eric
Audio file 8: Gerald
Audio file 9: Inspector Goole
Audio file 10: Eva Smith
Audio file 11: Social context
Audio file 12: Historical context
Audio file 13: Stage Directions
Audio file 14: Exits and entrances
Audio file 15: Lighting
Audio file 16: Dramatic irony
Audio file 17: Class
Audio file 18: Gender
Audio file 19: Generations
Audio file 20: Responsibility

CONTENTS – interactive whiteboard resources
IWB 1 A themed timer

IWB 2 Image analysis template
IWB 3 Single spinner
IWB 4 Double spinner
IWB 5 Ranking, grouping and sorting
IWB 6 Social climber quiz and quiz editor
IWB 7 Activity spinner quiz
IWB 8 Identity parade quiz and quiz editor
IWB 9 Stop the clock quiz and quiz editor
IWB 10 Text analysis template
IWB 11 True of false quiz and quiz editor

WJEC English Literature 2010
Unit 2a: Literary Heritage Drama
An Inspector Calls by J. B. Priestley
Assessment Objectives
AO1
Respond to texts critically and imaginatively; select and evaluate relevant textual detail to illustrate
and support interpretations
AO2
Explain how language, structure and form contribute to writers’ presentation of ideas, themes and
settings
AO3
Make comparisons and explain links between texts, evaluating writers’ different ways of expressing
meaning and achieving effects
AO4
Relate texts to their social, cultural and historical contexts; explain how texts have been influential
and significant to self and other readers in different contexts and at different times

Things you need to know (WJEC)

- This unit will be externally examined.
- You have to answer two questions on the play.
- Part (i) is based on a short extract and will be marked out of ten using AO1 and AO2.
- For part (ii) OR part (iii) you will have to write an essay on the play.
- You will have a choice of two essay titles. Your essay will be marked out of twenty using
AO1 and AO4.
- You are NOT allowed to take copies of the play into the examination.
- You will have one hour to complete both of your answers on An Inspector Calls. (Don’t
forget, this is just one section of a two‐hour exam.)
- You should spend about 20 minutes on part (i) and about 40 minutes on part (ii) OR part
(iii).
- A notional indication of how the marks are allocated across the Assessment Objectives can
be found in the table below. In practice, however, examiners will give an overall mark
based on appropriate coverage of each Assessment Objective.
WJEC Question Mark / AO1 AO2 AO3 AO4
i) / 10 5 5
Unit 2a
ii) OR iii) / 20 7 13

AQA English Literature 2010
Unit 1, Section A: Modern Drama
Assessment Objectives
AO1
Respond to texts critically and imaginatively; select and evaluate relevant textual detail to illustrate
and support interpretations
AO2
Explain how language, structure and form contribute to writers’ presentation of ideas, themes and
settings
AO3
Make comparisons and explain links between texts, evaluating writers’ different ways of expressing
meaning and achieving effects
AO4
Relate texts to their social, cultural and historical contexts; explain how texts have been influential
and significant to self and other readers in different contexts and at different times

Things you need to know (AQA)

- This unit will be externally examined.
- You have to answer one essay question on the play.
- Your answer will be marked out of thirty using AO1, AO2 and AO4.
- You will have a choice of two essay titles.
- You ARE allowed to take a copy of the play into the examination but your copy MUST NOT
be annotated, and MUST NOT include any other notes or materials.
- You will have 45 minutes to complete your answer on An Inspector Calls. (Don’t forget, this
is just one section of an exam that lasts one hour, thirty minutes.)
- A notional indication of how the marks are allocated across the Assessment Objectives can
be found in the table below.
AQA Question Mark / AO1 AO2 AO3 AO4
Unit 1 Section A / 30 11.25 11.25 7.5

Context: J. B. Priestley
Oral comprehension dominoes: Instructions for teacher
1. Issue the following question / answer domino cards to the pupils. (You will also need
group sets for task 3.) All students will have to listen carefully to the questions /
answers to keep the domino chain moving around the classroom.
2. Any pupils who do not have a domino card also need to listen carefully as they will be
setting the lesson’s homework. As they listen, they are to make notes on any aspect of
J. B. Priestley’s life that they do not understand / would like more information on.
(Expect them to list: 1894 Britain, Heaton, Bradford, middle class, First World War, The
Great Depression, Postscripts, socialism, left‐wing, Second World War, Common Wealth
Party, CND, ‘Man and Time’, Suffragettes, Order of Merit, etc.)
3. Domino pupils should be put into groups of three / four and should be provided with a
group set of the dominoes – which they need to order.
4. Listener pupils should also be put into small groups to share and, if necessary, add to
their notes and start planning homework tasks. (See point six for advice to pupils.)
5. At least one listener should be sent to each domino group. Domino pupils and listeners
are to share and discuss their work. Listener pupils take the lead in allocating research
homework tasks – which are to be negotiated and agreed with all group members.
Listeners are not excluded from the homework task.
6. Homework tasks should be fairly simple and, where relevant, must link to Priestley. An
example task might be: Find out what the Common Wealth party was and provide at
least two facts linked to Priestley’s involvement. Bigger areas like The Great Depression
could be split between a few pupils. Pupil one might find out what, when and why,
another might be asked to find a few examples from the period, etc.
7. Pupils to feedback their findings during the next lesson.
8. Differentiation possibilities are embedded within the tasks. Teacher to organize as
appropriate.

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
When was John Boynton Priestley born?
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
John Boynton Priestley was born in 1894. Where was he born?
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
He was born in Heaton, Bradford. How did Priestley describe Heaton?
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
Priestley called Heaton an “ultra‐respectable”

What social class were Priestley’s parents?
suburb of Bradford.
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

Priestley’s parents were middle class. What was his first job and where was it?
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
Priestley’s first job was as a junior clerk in a wool

What did he do during the First World War?
company.
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
Priestley joined the British Army during the First

What happened to Priestley late during the war?
World War.
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
Late in the war, and following a German gas

What did Priestley do after the First World War?
attack, Priestley was declared unfit for service.
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

After the First World War, and on his return to

Britain, Priestley read Modern History and What was Priestley doing by 1922?
Political Science at Cambridge.
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
By 1922 Priestley was well established as a

What started to concern Priestley in the 1930s?
journalist and critic.
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
In the 1930s, at the time of The Great

Depression, he became increasingly concerned What did Priestley do in 1940?
with social problems and industrial strife.
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
In 1940, during the Second World War, Priestley

presented Postscripts – a radio programme on Who complained about his show and what
the BBC – where he expressed his left‐wing happened to it in October 1940?
political views.
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

The Conservatives (Churchill’s Cabinet)

What did Priestley and his friends found in 1941
complained about Priestley’s programme and in
and why?
October 1940 the BBC axed it.
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
In 1941, and dismayed with the political truce

during the war, Priestley and a group of friends What did he do after the Second World War?
founded the socialist Common Wealth Party.
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
After the Second World War, Priestley continued What was the title of the play written by
his work as a journalist and writer. Priestley in 1945?
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
The title of the play written by Priestley in 1945 Where and when was the first performance of
was An Inspector Calls. the play?
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

The first performance of the play was in Russia in Where and when was the first UK performance
1946. of the play?
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
The first UK performance of the play was at the What was the title of Priestley’s 1957 article and
New Theatre, London on 1st October 1946. what did this lead to?
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
In 1957, his article – ‘Russia, the Atom and the

What was one of Priestley’s interests and in
West’ – led to the formation of the Campaign for
which article was this revealed?
Nuclear Disarmament (CND).
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
Priestley’s interest in the concept of time was

What book did Priestley write an introduction to
seen in his article, ‘Man and Time’, which was
in 1973?
published in 1964.
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

Priestley wrote an introduction to Antonia

What was Priestley awarded in 1977?
Raeburn’s The Militant Suffragettes in 1973?
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
Priestley was awarded the Order of Merit in

What did he do in later years?
1977.
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
Priestley wrote two autobiographical volumes in

When did Priestley die?
his later years.
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
Priestley died in 1984.

Book Covers and Posters

Pre‐reading prediction activities: To analyse a range of the book covers and posters for An
Inspector Calls and to use these to make predictions about the play.
TASKS
 Look at the following book covers and posters for J. B. Priestley’s An Inspector Calls. Use
them to make predictions about:
- setting – both in time and place;

- plot – what happens;
- characters;
- themes;
- any other ideas.
 Working on your own, make a note of your ideas.
 In pairs or small groups, discuss your observations. Share your ideas with
your teacher and the rest of the class.
 In groups, use the ‘Whodunit?’ character and setting cards to make further
predictions about the play. Share your ideas with your teacher and the rest of
the class.
 Make a note of your predictions under the headings above.



(Enlarge to A3) SETTING PLOT CHARACTERS THEMES OTHER IDEAS
BOOK COVER 1
BOOK COVER 2
BOOK COVER 3
POSTER 1

POSTER 2
POSTER 3
POSTER 4
21
Whodunit? Whodunwot?
‘Two hours ago a young woman died in the Infirmary …’
ARTHUR BIRLING GERLAD CROFT
ARTHUR BIRLING is a heavy-looking, GERALD CROFT is an attractive chap about

rather portentous man in his middle fifties thirty, rather too manly to be a dandy but very
with fairly easy manners but rather provincial much the easy well-bred young man-about-
in his speech.’ town.’
SYBIL BIRLING his wife ERIC BIRLING his son
His wife is about fifty, a rather cold woman ERIC is in his early twenties, not quite at
and her husband’s social superior. ease, half shy, half assertive.
SHEILA BIRLING his daughter INSPECTOR GOOLE
SHEILA is a pretty girl in her early twenties,

very pleased with life and rather excited.

The dining-room of a fairly large suburban The dining-room of a fairly large suburban
house, … house, …
‘At rise of curtain, the four BIRLINGS and

‘ … belonging to a prosperous manufacturer.’ GERALD are seated at the table, …’
‘ … dessert plates and champagne glasses, etc

‘… good solid furniture of the period.’ …’
‘ … substantial and heavily comfortable, but ‘ … decanter of port, cigar box and
not cosy and homelike.’ cigarettes.’
‘ … Act Three can show a small table with

telephone on it, …’ ‘All five are in evening dress of the period, …’
‘The lighting should be pink and intimate until ‘At the moment they have all had a good
the INSPECTOR arrives, and then it should dinner, are celebrating a special occasion,
be brighter and harder.’ and are pleased with themselves.’

An Inspector Calls
A PLAY IN THREE ACTS
CHARCTERS
ARTHUR BIRLING
SYBIL BIRLING
SHEILA BIRLING
GERALD CROFT
EDNA
INSPECTOR GOOLE
Acts
All three Acts, which are continuous, take place in the dining-room of
the Birlings’ house in Brumley, an industrial city in the North
Midlands. It is an evening in spring, 1912.

The opening stage directions

 On your own, reread the character list and detailed stage directions on pages 1 and 2, and then
answer the following questions. Support your answers with brief quotations where applicable.
1. The play was written in:

 1946
 1912
 1945
2. The play is set in:

 1946
 1912
 1945
3. How many acts are there in the play?

 One
 Two
 Three
4. The action of the play takes place in:

 a living room
 a dining room
 a bedroom
5. The first British performance of the play was in:

 1946
 1912
 1945

6. Prior to this, the play had been performed in:

 Turkey in 1911
 China in 1944
 Russia in 1946
7. The play is set in the fictional, industrial city of:

 Brumley
 Bradford
 Birmingham
8. The Birlings’ house is described as being:

 in the city centre
 in the suburbs
 close to Mr. Birling’s factory
Explain what this suggests about the wealth and status of the Birlings.
9. Mr. Birling is described as being ‘a prosperous manufacturer’. This means that Mr.
Birling:
 is good at making things
 is a successful and wealthy factory owner
 is very wealthy
10. What type of furniture adorns the room?

11. What kind of mood did Priestley want this furniture to create?
12. Priestley specifies instructions with regard to lighting. How is it meant to be before the
arrival of the Inspector?
13. How is it meant to change after the arrival of the Inspector? What does this type of
lighting remind you of?
14. Make a list of props that hint at the upper middle class status of the Birlings.
15. Which phrase in these opening stage directions creates a sense of foreboding?

Propriety and
Mrs. Birling
Manners
‘(smiling) Very well, then. Just a little, thank
SYBIL BIRLING …
you.’
‘(reproachfully) Arthur, you’re not supposed to
is about fifty, aa rraatthheerr ccoolldd w
woom
maann and
say such things – ’
hheerr hhuussbbaanndd’’ss ssoocciiaall ssuuppeerriioorr.
‘Now, Sheila, don’t tease him.’

 Mrs. Birling has very few lines in the
‘What an expression, Sheila! Really the things opening act of the play; indeed, most of
you girls pick up these days!’ her lines from Act One are reprinted over
the page.
‘Now stop it, you two.’
You should notice that many of them are
‘Much nicer really.’ either (giving instructions) or offer
reprimands (a telling off). Her motives
‘Now, Arthur, I don’t think you ought to talk
here, and elsewhere in the play, are
business on an occasion like this.’
linked, very closely, to her perception of
what’s right and what’s wrong, to
‘Eric!’
behaviour and manners.
‘Well, it came just at the right moment. That
 Working in groups, discuss each of the
was clever of you, Gerald.’
quotes. Talk about who Mrs. Birling might
‘Arthur!’ be speaking to, and why. What might
have been said / happened before she
delivers the line and / or what might have
‘Eric – I want you a minute.’
been said / happened after it?
 In groups of five, select at least three quotes and use them to improvise, and
then script, a short extract (about 20 lines) between the Birlings and Gerald Croft.
Mrs. Birling’s lines must be delivered exactly as detailed. Take a few minutes to
rehearse your performances before presenting them to the rest of the class.

As you rehearse, consider:
- Priestley’s stage directions describing the personality / actions of the

characters;
- Mrs. Birling’s motives and relationship with each member of her family, and
with Gerald;
- the themes and ideas of the play.
Motives and Relationships & Themes and Ideas
MORALS AND ETHICS manners
propriety GENDER class and status
family generational differences

An Inspector Calls - Teaching Resources 1 - 10

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

An Inspector Calls - Teaching Resources 1 - 10

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

An Inspector Calls by J. B.

An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley

Copyright © 2010 TES English www.tes.co.uk/an-inspector-calls

Using the audio files

- Use them as starters / settling tasks as applicable / appropriate

- Use for plenaries as applicable / appropriate

- Find accompanying images to put into photo story / moviemaker / powerpoint

- Annotating and note taking

- Homework and research tasks

Copyright © 2010 TES English www.tes.co.uk/an-inspector-calls

CONTENTS – printable resources

Resource 1: Introduction and contents

Copyright © 2010 TES English www.tes.co.uk/an-inspector-calls

Resource 27: Context ‐ Mrs. Birling and Edwardian Britain

Copyright © 2010 TES English www.tes.co.uk/an-inspector-calls

CONTENTS ‐ audio files

Audio file 1: Act One – summary

Copyright © 2010 TES English www.tes.co.uk/an-inspector-calls

CONTENTS – interactive whiteboard resources

IWB 1 A themed timer

Copyright © 2010 TES English www.tes.co.uk/an-inspector-calls

WJEC English Literature 2010

Unit 2a: Literary Heritage Drama

An Inspector Calls by J. B. Priestley

Copyright © 2010 TES English www.tes.co.uk/an-inspector-calls

Things you need to know (WJEC)

WJEC Question Mark / AO1 AO2 AO3 AO4

Copyright © 2010 TES English www.tes.co.uk/an-inspector-calls

AQA English Literature 2010

Unit 1, Section A: Modern Drama

An Inspector Calls by J. B. Priestley

Copyright © 2010 TES English www.tes.co.uk/an-inspector-calls

Things you need to know (AQA)

AQA Question Mark / AO1 AO2 AO3 AO4

Unit 1 Section A / 30 11.25 11.25 7.5

Copyright © 2010 TES English www.tes.co.uk/an-inspector-calls

Copyright © 2010 TES English www.tes.co.uk/an-inspector-calls

When was John Boynton Priestley born?

John Boynton Priestley was born in 1894. Where was he born?

He was born in Heaton, Bradford. How did Priestley describe Heaton?

Priestley called Heaton an “ultra‐respectable”

Copyright © 2010 TES English www.tes.co.uk/an-inspector-calls

Priestley’s first job was as a junior clerk in a wool

Priestley joined the British Army during the First

Late in the war, and following a German gas

Copyright © 2010 TES English www.tes.co.uk/an-inspector-calls

After the First World War, and on his return to

By 1922 Priestley was well established as a

In the 1930s, at the time of The Great

In 1940, during the Second World War, Priestley

Copyright © 2010 TES English www.tes.co.uk/an-inspector-calls

The Conservatives (Churchill’s Cabinet)

In 1941, and dismayed with the political truce

Copyright © 2010 TES English www.tes.co.uk/an-inspector-calls

In 1957, his article – ‘Russia, the Atom and the

Priestley’s interest in the concept of time was

Copyright © 2010 TES English www.tes.co.uk/an-inspector-calls

Priestley wrote an introduction to Antonia

Priestley was awarded the Order of Merit in

Priestley wrote two autobiographical volumes in

Priestley died in 1984.

Copyright © 2010 TES English www.tes.co.uk/an-inspector-calls

Book Covers and Posters

- setting – both in time and place;