‘An Inspector Calls’ by JB Priestley: Takeaway Revision Menu
No.
Key Theme /
Character from the
Novel
1
Context of the
novel
2
Arthur Birling
3
Sybil Birling
Key pages in
play
CGP Revision Pages
Use GCSE Bitesize
English Literature
Website
CGP 1-3, 6, 36-41,
CGP 3, 4-5, 6-14, 2223
CGP 3, 4-5, 10-14,
24-25,
Possible tasks and essay questions
1. Practice questions page 45
2. How does Priestley present the family life of the Birlings in ‘An Inspector Calls’?
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3.
4.
5.
6.
1.
2.
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3.
4
Sheila
5
Gerald Croft
6
Eric
7
The Inspector
Am I?
Practice questions page 15-17, 34-35
What do we learn about Arthur Birling from the first act of the play?
Does Arthur Birling accept responsibility for his actions at the end of the play?
How does Priestley present Arthur Birling?
Practice questions page 15-17, 34-35
Sybil is perhaps the most unsympathetic character of them all. How does
Priestley present the character of Sybil to the audience during the play?
How does Priestley show, in his presentation of Mrs Birling, that she often
pretends to be something she is not?
Practice questions page 15-17, 34-35
Does Sheila accept responsibility?
How does Priestley present the change in Sheila during the course of the play?
How do you think this change reflects some of Priestley’s ideas?
CGP 3, 4-5, 7-14, 2627, 49
1.
2.
3.
34-43
CGP 3, 4-5, 6, 8-9,
14, 30-31
29, 44-50,
59, 61
CGP 3, 4-5, 8, 11-14,
28-29
66-82
CGP 3, 4-5, 7-14, 1821, 49, 50
1. Practice questions page 15-17, 34-35
2. Gerald says ‘Everything is all right now Sheila (Holds us the ring). What about
this ring?’ How does Priestley present the changing relationship between Sheila
and Gerald over the course of the play?
3. ‘The Birling family don’t seem to consider Gerald’s affair as shameful as Eric’s
relationship with Daisy Renton’. Does Priestley’s portrayal of Gerald encourage
the audience to feel more sympathetic towards Gerald than Eric?
1. Practice questions page 15-17, 34-35
2. What are the differences between Arthur and Eric in the play?
3. How does Priestley present Eric in the play?
1. Practice questions page 15-17, 34-35
2. What function does the Inspector have in the play?
3. What is the role of the Inspector and how does Priestley use him to carry the
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8
Eva Smith / Daisy
Renton
9
62-65
CGP 3, 4-5, 7-14, 3233, 50
Responsibility
33, 76-82,
84-91
CGP 43, 44
10
Judgement and
Blame
98-106
CGP 42,
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
11
The Setting
P 3-4, 98
CGP
12
Dramatic devices
and stagecraft
13
Women
1. Practice questions page 50-51
2. What do we learn about the Birling family from the opening stage directions?
3. Remind yourself of the stage directions at the start of the play. In the rest of
the play, how does Priestley present and develop some of the ideas shown
there?
1. Practice questions page 50-51
2. How does Priestley use dramatic devices in the opening Act to engage the
attention of the audience?
3. How and why does Priestley use dramatic irony in the play?
4. Why has Priestley ended the play the way he has?
5. How does Priestley show that tension is at the heart of the Birling family?
1. Practice questions page 45-46
14
Social Class
CGP 47-48
CGP 41
CGP 38-39
1.
2.
3.
1.
2.
3.
message of the play?
Practice questions page 15-17, 34-35
What do you think is Eva Smith’s function in the play?
Eva Smith is never on stage. How does Priestley present Eva Smith in the play?
Practice questions page 45-46
Which character is most responsible for Eva’s death?
Arthur Birling says ‘If we are 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 the play?
Practice questions 45-46
Which character do you think feels the most responsible? Give reasons
Explore which character you think feels the least responsible
Explore Priestley’s use of blame, guilt and responsibility in the play
Priestley criticises the selfishness of people like the Birlings. What methods
does he use to present this selfishness?
1. Practice questions page 45-46
2. What is Priestley’s message about the treatment of different of the lower class?
3. How important do you think social class is in the play and how does Priestley
present ideas about social class?
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Complete any of the questions on the Practice Question pages!