Paper 2, Section A: Modern Texts (An Inspector Calls)
Section A: ONE question from a choice of two
30 marks content/4 SPaG
30 marks content/4 SPaG
The Plot
The Birling family are spending a happy evening celebrating the engagement of Sheila Birling to Gerald Croft - a marriage that will result in the merging of two successful local businesses. Yet, just when everything seems to be going so well, they receive a surprise visit from an Inspector Goole who is investigating the suicide of a young girl.
Act 1a
The Birling family are holding a dinner party to celebrate the engagement of Sheila to Gerald Croft, the son and heir of Mr Birling's rival in business. Although there are a few signs that not everything is perfect (Mr Birling is a bit too anxious to impress Gerald, Eric seems rather nervous and Sheila playfully rebukes Gerald for not having come near her the previous summer) there is a happy, light-hearted atmosphere.
When the ladies leave the men to their port, Mr Birling has a 'man to man' chat with Gerald and Eric, advising them that a man needs to look after himself and his own family and not worry about the wider community. As he is telling them this, the door bell rings. Inspector Goole enters, an impressive, serious man whom none of them has heard of.
Act 1b
Inspector Goole announces that he has come to investigate the suicide of a young working-class girl who died that afternoon. Her name was Eva Smith. After seeing a photograph of her, Birling admits that she used to be one of his employees: he discharged her when she became one of the ring-leaders of a strike asking for slightly higher wages. Birling justifies sacking her by saying he paid his workers the usual rates; he cannot see that he has any responsibility for what happened to her afterwards.
Act 1c
When Sheila enters, the Inspector reveals that he would also like to question her about Eva Smith's death. He tells Sheila that Eva's next job was at a big shop called Milwards, but that she was sacked after a customer complained about her. When she too is shown a photograph of the girl, Sheila is very affected. She admits that it was her fault that Eva was sacked: when Sheila had gone in to try on a dress that didn't suit her, she had caught Eva smirking to another shop assistant - in her anger, Sheila had told the manager that if Eva wasn't fired, Mrs Birling would close their account. Sheila is hugely guilty and feels responsible for Eva's death.
When the Inspector then states that Eva, in despair, changed her name to Daisy Renton, Gerald Croft's involuntary reaction reveals that he knew her too. When the act ends, the audience is poised to find out what part Gerald had to play in her death.
Act 2a
After some tense words between Sheila and Gerald, an attempt by Mrs Birling to usher the Inspector away and the revelation that Eric Birling is a hardened drinker, Gerald admits that he too had known Daisy Renton. He had met her at the local Variety Theatre - known to be the haunt of prostitutes - and had 'rescued' her from the unwelcome attentions of Alderman Meggarty, a local dignitary. When he found out that Daisy was almost penniless, Gerald let her stay in the flat of a friend of his and she became his mistress. He ended the affair when he had to go away on business, giving her some money to see her through for a few monthsAc 2bSheila is glad to have heard this confession from her fiancé, although Mrs Birling is scandalised. Once Gerald has left to go for a walk and get over the news of Daisy's death, Inspector Goole shows a photograph to Mrs Birling. She grudgingly admits that she had seen the girl two weeks previously, when the girl - now pregnant - had come to ask for financial assistance from the Brumley Women's Charity Organisation.
Mrs Birling was the chairwoman and persuaded the committee to turn down the girl's appeal on the grounds that she had the impudence to call herself Mrs Birling and because she believed that the father of the child should bear the responsibility. She says the girl refused to let the father of the child support her because she believed money he had given her previously to be stolen, yet Mrs Birling is proud of refusing the girl aid. She claims that she did her duty and sees no reason at all why she should take any blame for the girl's death.
Act 2c
Right at the end of the scene, as Mrs Birling denounces the father of the child and claims he needs to be made an example of, Sheila (and the audience) realise that Eric is involved. When Eric comes into the room, theact ends.
Act 3a
There is a bitter meeting between Eric and his parents, which the Inspector interrupts so that he can question Eric. Eric tells the storyof his own involvement with the girl. He had met her in the same theatre bar as Gerald, had got drunk and had accompanied her back to her lodgings. He almost turned violent when she didn't let him in, so she relented and they made love. When he met her two weeks later they slept together again and soon afterwards she discovered that she was pregnant. She did not want to marry Eric because she knew he didn't love her, but she did accept gifts of money from him until she realised it was stolen. Eric admits that he had taken about £50 from Mr Birling's office - at which Mr and Mrs Birling are furious.
Act 3b
All the Birlings now know they played a part in the girl's death. Mr and Mrs Birling are concerned about covering up their involvement, whereas Sheila and Eric are more aware of the personal tragedy and feel guilty. The Inspector leaves, after delivering a strong message about how we all should be responsible for each other.
Act 3c
After he has left, and the family has begun to consider the consequences of what has been revealed, they gradually begin to wonder about the Inspector. Was he real? When Gerald returns from his walk he explains that he also had suspicions about the Inspector and had found out that there is no Inspector Goole on the force, which Birling confirms with a phone call.
They gradually realise that perhaps the Inspector conned them - he could have showed each person a different photograph - and when they telephone the infirmary, they realise that there hasn't been a suicide case for months. Birling is delighted, assuming they are now all off the hook, while Sheila and Eric maintain that nothing has changed - each of them still committed the acts that the Inspector had accused them of, even if they did turn out to be against five different girls.
Act 3d
Then the telephone rings. Mr Birling answers it, and after hanging up tells the family that it was the police on the line: an inspector is on his way to ask questions about the suicide of a young girl...
Act 1a
The Birling family are holding a dinner party to celebrate the engagement of Sheila to Gerald Croft, the son and heir of Mr Birling's rival in business. Although there are a few signs that not everything is perfect (Mr Birling is a bit too anxious to impress Gerald, Eric seems rather nervous and Sheila playfully rebukes Gerald for not having come near her the previous summer) there is a happy, light-hearted atmosphere.
When the ladies leave the men to their port, Mr Birling has a 'man to man' chat with Gerald and Eric, advising them that a man needs to look after himself and his own family and not worry about the wider community. As he is telling them this, the door bell rings. Inspector Goole enters, an impressive, serious man whom none of them has heard of.
Act 1b
Inspector Goole announces that he has come to investigate the suicide of a young working-class girl who died that afternoon. Her name was Eva Smith. After seeing a photograph of her, Birling admits that she used to be one of his employees: he discharged her when she became one of the ring-leaders of a strike asking for slightly higher wages. Birling justifies sacking her by saying he paid his workers the usual rates; he cannot see that he has any responsibility for what happened to her afterwards.
Act 1c
When Sheila enters, the Inspector reveals that he would also like to question her about Eva Smith's death. He tells Sheila that Eva's next job was at a big shop called Milwards, but that she was sacked after a customer complained about her. When she too is shown a photograph of the girl, Sheila is very affected. She admits that it was her fault that Eva was sacked: when Sheila had gone in to try on a dress that didn't suit her, she had caught Eva smirking to another shop assistant - in her anger, Sheila had told the manager that if Eva wasn't fired, Mrs Birling would close their account. Sheila is hugely guilty and feels responsible for Eva's death.
When the Inspector then states that Eva, in despair, changed her name to Daisy Renton, Gerald Croft's involuntary reaction reveals that he knew her too. When the act ends, the audience is poised to find out what part Gerald had to play in her death.
Act 2a
After some tense words between Sheila and Gerald, an attempt by Mrs Birling to usher the Inspector away and the revelation that Eric Birling is a hardened drinker, Gerald admits that he too had known Daisy Renton. He had met her at the local Variety Theatre - known to be the haunt of prostitutes - and had 'rescued' her from the unwelcome attentions of Alderman Meggarty, a local dignitary. When he found out that Daisy was almost penniless, Gerald let her stay in the flat of a friend of his and she became his mistress. He ended the affair when he had to go away on business, giving her some money to see her through for a few monthsAc 2bSheila is glad to have heard this confession from her fiancé, although Mrs Birling is scandalised. Once Gerald has left to go for a walk and get over the news of Daisy's death, Inspector Goole shows a photograph to Mrs Birling. She grudgingly admits that she had seen the girl two weeks previously, when the girl - now pregnant - had come to ask for financial assistance from the Brumley Women's Charity Organisation.
Mrs Birling was the chairwoman and persuaded the committee to turn down the girl's appeal on the grounds that she had the impudence to call herself Mrs Birling and because she believed that the father of the child should bear the responsibility. She says the girl refused to let the father of the child support her because she believed money he had given her previously to be stolen, yet Mrs Birling is proud of refusing the girl aid. She claims that she did her duty and sees no reason at all why she should take any blame for the girl's death.
Act 2c
Right at the end of the scene, as Mrs Birling denounces the father of the child and claims he needs to be made an example of, Sheila (and the audience) realise that Eric is involved. When Eric comes into the room, theact ends.
Act 3a
There is a bitter meeting between Eric and his parents, which the Inspector interrupts so that he can question Eric. Eric tells the storyof his own involvement with the girl. He had met her in the same theatre bar as Gerald, had got drunk and had accompanied her back to her lodgings. He almost turned violent when she didn't let him in, so she relented and they made love. When he met her two weeks later they slept together again and soon afterwards she discovered that she was pregnant. She did not want to marry Eric because she knew he didn't love her, but she did accept gifts of money from him until she realised it was stolen. Eric admits that he had taken about £50 from Mr Birling's office - at which Mr and Mrs Birling are furious.
Act 3b
All the Birlings now know they played a part in the girl's death. Mr and Mrs Birling are concerned about covering up their involvement, whereas Sheila and Eric are more aware of the personal tragedy and feel guilty. The Inspector leaves, after delivering a strong message about how we all should be responsible for each other.
Act 3c
After he has left, and the family has begun to consider the consequences of what has been revealed, they gradually begin to wonder about the Inspector. Was he real? When Gerald returns from his walk he explains that he also had suspicions about the Inspector and had found out that there is no Inspector Goole on the force, which Birling confirms with a phone call.
They gradually realise that perhaps the Inspector conned them - he could have showed each person a different photograph - and when they telephone the infirmary, they realise that there hasn't been a suicide case for months. Birling is delighted, assuming they are now all off the hook, while Sheila and Eric maintain that nothing has changed - each of them still committed the acts that the Inspector had accused them of, even if they did turn out to be against five different girls.
Act 3d
Then the telephone rings. Mr Birling answers it, and after hanging up tells the family that it was the police on the line: an inspector is on his way to ask questions about the suicide of a young girl...
Context
It is important to study the period, both in time and place, in which texts are written in order to fully understand and appreciate them.
In addition to the playwright’s personal views and beliefs, many events and attitudes from the period will have influenced the content, plot and themes of the play. So, to fully understand An Inspector Calls you will need to understand what happened in Britain between 1900 and 1945. |
The play is set in Brumley: "an industrial city in the North Midlands"
It is important to know that at the time of writing, Britain was a capitalist country: an economic system based on private ownership of wealth
Therefore, people who owned business – such as factories – had great wealth. Whereas the people who worked in them had very little. This meant that the rich got richer, while the poor stayed poor, creating inequality in the lives of British people
There were numerous issues in Britain that concerned priestly:- class and social status- health and welfare- politics- gender inequality
‘An Inspector Calls’ is trying to raise awareness about social inequality
Priestly wanted people to think about the changes that the war had brought – for the better!
It is important to know that at the time of writing, Britain was a capitalist country: an economic system based on private ownership of wealth
Therefore, people who owned business – such as factories – had great wealth. Whereas the people who worked in them had very little. This meant that the rich got richer, while the poor stayed poor, creating inequality in the lives of British people
There were numerous issues in Britain that concerned priestly:- class and social status- health and welfare- politics- gender inequality
‘An Inspector Calls’ is trying to raise awareness about social inequality
Priestly wanted people to think about the changes that the war had brought – for the better!
Some useful things to know...
An Inspector calls is known as a well-made play.
The structure of a well-made play is carefully crafted in order to arouse suspense and tension!
The play also conforms to the The Unities of classical Greek drama.
These are:
The play is also known as a 'whodunit?'
This is a play in which a mystery is unraveled and a criminal revealed!
An Inspector calls is a Morality PlayThis was a type of play performed in the middle ages, its purpose was to instruct the audience on the ‘correct’ way to live, behave and treat others
The structure of a well-made play is carefully crafted in order to arouse suspense and tension!
The play also conforms to the The Unities of classical Greek drama.
These are:
- Unity of Time - what happens on stage is happening in 'real time' - it makes it more authentic!
- Unity of Action - No complicated subplots! The action seems realistic and plausible.
- Unity of Place - the single setting focuses the audience's attention
The play is also known as a 'whodunit?'
This is a play in which a mystery is unraveled and a criminal revealed!
An Inspector calls is a Morality PlayThis was a type of play performed in the middle ages, its purpose was to instruct the audience on the ‘correct’ way to live, behave and treat others
Social issues
- People were expected to know their place in society and stick to it and moving from one section of the class system to another was frowned upon by those in power.
- Workers were subservient, they worked long hours for little money. Employers wanted to make as much money as they could – at the sacrifice of their workers.
- Women were relatively powerless – they were lesser to men, in terms of work, money and social standing.
- Priestly was part of the socialist movement that later merged with the Labour government.
Consider the benefits available in our society today.
Many of the things you see below did not exist:
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Social Inequality – age and gender
During the whole of the nineteenth century, women had no political rights, though there had been some movement in other areas to advance the rights of women.
•In 1839, a law was passed which stated that if a marriage broke down and the parents separated, children under seven years of age should stay with their mother. •In 1857, women could divorce husbands who were cruel to them or husbands who had left them. •In 1870, women were allowed to keep money they had earned. •In 1891, women could not be forced to live with husbands unless they wished to. |
However, just because these laws were passed, it does not mean that equality was being exercised.
The general attitude of Victorian England was that women belonged at home, looking after their family. As a result, there were very few paid jobs for women.
This view was supported by Queen Victoria (1837-1901) - she hardly did anything to advance the cause of women. In 1870, Queen Victoria had written "let women be what God intended, a helpmate for man, but with totally different duties and vocations."
The general attitude of Victorian England was that women belonged at home, looking after their family. As a result, there were very few paid jobs for women.
This view was supported by Queen Victoria (1837-1901) - she hardly did anything to advance the cause of women. In 1870, Queen Victoria had written "let women be what God intended, a helpmate for man, but with totally different duties and vocations."
Priestly wrote the play in 1945 – but set it in 1912
How is this expressed within the play?
While Arthur and Sybil refuse to accept responsibility for their actions toward Eva Smith…
Eric and especially Sheila are shaken by the Inspector’s message and their role in Eva Smith’s suicide.
The younger generation is taking more responsibility, perhaps because they are more emotional and idealistic, but perhaps because Priestley is suggesting a more communally responsible socialist future for Britain.
Eric and especially Sheila are shaken by the Inspector’s message and their role in Eva Smith’s suicide.
The younger generation is taking more responsibility, perhaps because they are more emotional and idealistic, but perhaps because Priestley is suggesting a more communally responsible socialist future for Britain.
• Where is the play set?
• When is the play set? • What is being celebrated at the beginning of the play? • Who is celebrating? • What sort of mood are the family in? • Find 3 adjectives which describe Mr Birling. • What does he do for a living? • Who disrupts the dinner party? •Why? • Give the 2 other names that Eva Smith called herself. • What did Mr Birling do to Eva? •Find 3 adjectives to describe Inspector Goole. •What did Sheila do to Eva? •What causes Sheila to give Gerald back the ring? • What is Mrs Birling’s involvement in Eva’s story? |
• Who does Mrs Birling blame for Eva’s problems?
• Why did Eva refuse to take money from Eric? • Choose 3 adjectives which describe Sheila Birling? • What information is received when Gerald telephones the hospital? • Who are the most affected by the news of their involvement in Eva’s death? • Which characters remain unchanged at the end of the play? • Which character is the first to realise that the Inspector is unusual? • Which character got Eva pregnant? • How does history repeat itself at the end of the play? |