1 An Inspector Calls by JB Priestley
2 Predict Trailer Watch the trailer for An Inspector Calls.Study the posters. Using de Bono’s hats, predict what you can about the play.
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8 de Bono’s Thinking Hats
9 Stage Directions Read the stage directions at the start of the play. Record the key information you discover on the template provided.
10 Homework Have you done your homework? Use the design sheet to pull our all of the detail from the stage directions at the start of the play.
11 An Inspector Calls - ContextAn Inspector Calls In Context Part 1 An Inspector Calls In Context Part 2 Watch the video and then divide into two teams for the quiz.
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13 Events Around the Play Take these 13 events and put them in chronological order.
14 Put these events in chronological order.
15 Answers
16 Characters Read the play up the moment that the Inspector arrives.Choose one of the characters and create a character poster for her or him. You must include: Her/his name and age; her/his appearance; a quotation that sums her/him up at this point. On a post-it note, add a burning question. What do you want to know about your character at this point.
17 Learning Objectives Know: the roles of Birling, Sheila and the Inspector in Act 1 Be able to: understand how to use literary techniques. So that: you can analyse Act 1.
18 Role on the Wall Complete a silhouette for the Inspector, using the stage directions for his appearance on the inside of the silhouette and some key quotations on the outside.
19 Inside: Use stage directions to identify the Inspector’s character.Outside: Use quotations to show your understanding of the Inspector’s character
20 The committee meeting – role playA young working class factory girl has appealed to a women’s charity for some money to help her out with her unplanned pregnancy. The father has deserted her, and in any case drank too much and was too young to help out too. To make matters worse, the only money offered so far from her father was money she fears was stolen. Will the committee grant her the money?
21 Your Task A young working class factory girl has appealed to a women’s charity for some money to help her out with her unplanned pregnancy. The father has deserted her, and in any case drank too much and was too young to help out too. To make matters worse, the only money offered so far from her father was money she fears was stolen. Will the committee grant her the money?
22 The roles you need to castSarah Jones – the young girl. She is soon to be a single mother, on a factory wage, and is desperate for help. She first introduces herself as Mrs Hardasnails, because she thinks the committee may have more pity for a married girl in the situation, but it turns out to be a mistake. Mrs Hardasnails – chair of the committee who will make the final decision. She is upper class, and is offended that the girl used the name ‘Mrs Hardasnails’ when she first introduced herself. She has no idea why this was the case, but takes an instant dislike to the girl. She may be a tricky lady to persuade! Mrs Givealot – another member of the committee, who is known for her generosity. She has two young daughters and is concerned by the young girl’s appearance and story. She is more likely to be generous to the young girl. Miss Wall – another member of the committee, who is elderly and has traditional values about marriage before starting a family. She could be hard to convince. Mr Kind – a new father himself, he may have more sympathy with the young girl. He knows how costly a new child can be, and wants to know more about the father. He will raise lots of questions about the role of fathers in family life.
23 Act 1: who said…? These quotations demonstrate the contrast between Mr Birling’s shameless belittling of Eva Smith and Sheila’s pity for her. They also reveal their contrasting rejection and acceptance of responsibility for being involved in her death. Sort the statements to fit the relevant character: Mr Birling, Sheila and the Inspector
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25 Freeze Frames Each part of this Act is to be taken by a different group: choose one moment to freeze frame. These will then be photographed and the rest of the group will write a caption to title it.
26 Point, Evidence, Explain…This is an example of PEE for Arthur Birling. Complete the sentences. Now create another point to share with the rest of the group.
27 20 questions A volunteer will have a character name stuck on their back. S/he then has 20 questions to work out who it is.
28 Homework Either: Research workers’ strikes of the 1910s and the rise of trade unions in the mid-1940s. The Cradley Heath chain makers’ strike is an interesting starting point (http://www.cradleylinks.co.uk/1910strike.htm). Or: Investigate the Women’s Suffrage movements of the time. The National Archives, BBC and The British Library all have lots of information and resources that would help. Extension: Research one of the following: the Trade Unions, the Welfare State and the General Strike of 1926; the National Archives have a good summary of each
29 Learning Objectives Know: the roles of Gerald and Sheila and in Act 2Be able to: understand how to use literary techniques. So that: you can analyse Act 2.
30 Extract 1 Priestley uses some clever wordplay in Act Two before we hear Gerald’s confession. Read the extracts below, then answer the questions that follow. Mrs Birling: If you mean that the Inspector will take offence – Inspector: No, no. I never take offence. Mrs Birling: I’m glad to hear it. Though I must add that it seems to me that we have more reason for taking offence. Inspector: Let’s leave offence out of it shall we? Gerald: I think we’d better. Sheila: So do I. Mrs Birling (rebuking them): I’m talking to the Inspector now, if you don’t mind.
31 Extract 2 Birling (angrily): Inspector, I’ve told you before, I don’t like your tone nor the way you’re handling this inquiry. And I don’t propose to give you much more rope. Inspector: You needn’t give me any rope. Sheila (rather wildly, with laugh): No, he’s giving us rope – so that we’ll hang ourselves. Birling (to Mrs Birling): What’s the matter with that child?
32 Read Up to Gerald’s exit in Act 2.
33 Gerald’s Affair Sequence the events of Gerald’s affair with Daisy Renton into the correct order:
34 Answers for sequencing taskGerald met Daisy in the Palace music hall. Gerald noticed Daisy because she looked different: ‘She was very pretty – soft brown hair and big dark eyes –‘ Old Joe Meggarty had cornered Daisy, who looked at Gerald for help. Gerald suggested to Daisy that she leave the bar. Gerald took Daisy to the County Hotel, where they talked. Gerald found out that Daisy had lost both parents, had lost two recent jobs and was broke and hungry. Two days later, Gerald found out that Daisy was about to lose her accommodation. Gerald’s friend had given him the key to some of his rooms, so he moved Daisy in. Daisy became Gerald’s mistress. Gerald broke off the affair due to work, and Daisy moved to the seaside, with some savings.
35 Eva Imagine you are Eva Smith in the play, and write her diary entries for the dates mentioned below. Think carefully about how you could write the diary to best reflect Eva’s character and her experiences in the language and style you choose to use.
36 Spotlight on Sheila ‘You and I aren’t the same people who sat down to dinner here.’ Select quotations and list the ways that Sheila has changed since the start of the play.
37 Inspector’s Notepad Complete the Inspector’s notepad so far with:five details he’s learnt since his arrival; four character traits he’s seen in the Birlings; three events that have impacted on Eva’s death; two opinions on working conditions for young women in Brumley and one definition of who is responsible for Eva’s death.
38 Homework Look for relevant news stories that will prepare you for the moral issues to come: stories about asylum seekers, teenage pregnancy, charity donations, care in the community or the divide between the rich and the poor. Bring in the articles and sort articles into relevant categories or themes that relate to the text.
39 Learning Objectives Know: the events of Act 2.Be able to: understand the political and social context within which the play is set. So that: you can write about the themes of the play.
40 “Unmarried teen mums are selfish.”Discuss “Unmarried teen mums are selfish.”
41 Read From Gerald’s exit to the end of Act Two.
42 Teenage Pregnancy Amber's Story Discuss the advantages and disadvantages to bringing up a child without adequate support. What are the links with Eva: family support, financial support and the mother’s preparedness. Compare the ‘factors’ that lead to high levels of teenage pregnancy in the UK in 2016, with those of Brumley in 1912.
43 Teenage Pregnancy Part 2Write a letter to the director of the programme you have just watched. You are in role as Mrs Birling. Explain ‘your’ viewpoint on the responsibility of the mother and father of unplanned families, the factors involved, and the likely consequences.
44 Socialism and CapitalismSort the statements into the relevant column. The traditional views of the Labour Party. Views of Clement Attlee in Introduced the National Health Service. Views personified in the play by the Inspector, which suggests that they are well-informed, serious and important. Younger characters come to share them. The views of J.B. Priestley (who wrote the play), George Bernard Shaw, and H.G. Wells. A set of beliefs represented by the character of Mr Birling. Describes people like George Bernard Shaw, H.G. Wells, and J.B. Priestley as ‘cranks’ (an insult). Has an attitude of ‘You’ve worked hard to earn your money, and you should be allowed to keep it all.’ Suggests that the poor should work harder so that they can become rich. All people should pay roughly the same amount of tax. Has an attitude of ‘You should share your wealth, if you are rich, with those who aren’t.’ The traditional views of the Conservative Party. The views of Winston Churchill in 1945. Proposes the idea of individual responsibility, looking out for yourself and those close to you, but not everyone in society. A set of beliefs represented by the character of Inspector Goole. This set of beliefs is very much criticised and made to look unfair by the play. This set of beliefs is portrayed favourably in the play. Suggests that the rich should support the poor, and pay higher taxes, related to how much they earn. Proposes the idea of living together as a community, all looking out for and protecting each other. Through the technique of dramatic irony, this political view is shown to be idiotic, as those who hold it are shown to be fools.
45 Links in a Chain Complete the worksheet identifying the actions, motivations and consequences of the key characters’ behaviour.
46 Homework As preparation for studying Act Three, investigate the ingredients of a well-made play, and consider how An Inspector Calls fits the model. The Encyclopaedia Britannica is a good place for you to begin:
47 Learning Objectives Know: the events of Act 3.Be able to: understand the political and social context within which the play is set. So that: you can write about the themes of the play.
48 Prediction Before you read any of Act Three, can you predict:what Eric’s reaction will be, what the Inspector will do once he has the stories from all the characters, and how the play will end?
49 Bingo
50 Read Read from the start of Act Three up to Gerald’s return.
51 Picture Strip ExerciseComplete the storyboard below with appropriate images or symbols and the correct word choices from the bottom of this page. Think of an alternative title to replace An Inspector Calls, e.g. The Sad Tale of a Mystery Woman …
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53 Politics and Persuasion in the final speechIn the Inspector’s final speech he says ‘We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.’ When An Inspector Calls was written ( ), the playwright, J.B. Priestley, was keen that the then Conservative government would be beaten by a Labour government instead.
54 Sort it out
55 The Inspector’s Final Speech
56 Final Questions
57 Hotseating the InspectorEither choose one of the group or your teacher to be hotseated as the Inspector. What questions do you want to ask? What do you want to find out about him?
58 Homework Now that students are familiar with the events leading up to Eva’s death, challenge them to make revision resources for the storyline. A Snakes and ladders game (Teachit filename: 3238) works well, as does a Treasure hunt (Teachit filename 14768) – and you could set students the challenge of making their own appropriate maps and boards with An Inspector Calls backdrop.