Thetford Grammar School
An Inspector Calls
Revision Guide
Here are the past questions for the most recent examinations going back to June 2014
A common style of question says ‘ How does Priestly show x…’
The keyword here is ‘show’ or ‘present’
This is a special style of question and in plays that means a number of specific types of
quotes should be remembered. They are:
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Stage directions
What a character says in the beginning, middle and end of the play
What a character says in their key speech e.g Sheila, Inspector, Mr Birling
What another character says about them
Other things to remember are:
The main themes which are: Social responsibility, society,
Always try to mention these themes at the end of a paragraph.
Tasks to do at home.
Have you looked at your timeline?
Can you summarise the story
Can you link a theme to a character?
Can you trace 4 changes in a character’s development between pg1 and the end?
Can you remember the 7 rhetorical devices?
Have a go at responding to the question or talking it through with your parents.
January 2011 Higher
Question 17 How does Priestley show that tension is at the heart of the Birling family? (30
marks)
OR
Question 18 Priestley criticises the selfishness of people like the Birlings. What methods
does he use to present this selfishness? (30 marks)
June 2011 Higher
An Inspector Calls has been called ‘a play of contrasts’. Write about how Priestley presents
some of the contrasts in the play. (30 marks)
OR
How does Priestley present the change in Sheila during the course of the play
An Inspector Calls? How do you think this change reflects some of Priestley’s ideas?
(30 marks)
January 2012 Higher
Arthur Birling says, ‘If we were 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 An Inspector Calls? (30 marks)
OR
How do you respond to Gerald in An Inspector Calls? How does Priestley make you
respond as you do by the ways he writes? (30 marks)
June 2012 Higher
What do you think is the importance of Inspector Goole and how does Priestley present
him? (30 marks)
OR
Remind yourself of the stage directions below from the start of Act 1 [from ‘The dining room...’
to ‘.....pleased with themselves.’]
In the rest of the play, how does Priestley present and develop some of the ideas shown
here? (30 marks)
January 2013
In Act 2 of An Inspector Calls, Sheila says to her mother, Mrs Birling, “But we really must
stop these silly pretences”.
How does Priestley show, in his presentation of Mrs Birling, that she often pretends to be
something she is not? (30 marks)
OR
How important do you think social class is in An Inspector Calls and how does Priestley
present ideas about social class? (30 marks)
June 2013
Remind yourself of the ending of the play from ‘The telephone rings sharply.........’
to ‘......the curtain falls’.
How do you respond to this as an ending to An Inspector Calls and how does
Priestley make you respond as you do by the ways he writes? (30 marks)
OR
In the opening stage directions, Priestley refers to Eric as ‘not quite at ease, half shy,
half assertive’.
How does Priestley present these and other ideas about Eric in An Inspector Calls?
(30 marks)
June 2014
How Does Priestley present ideas about gender in An Inspector Calls?
Or
What do you think is the importance of Eva Smith in An Inspector Calls and
how does Priestley present her?
Good quotes
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Who said the following and how could they be used in an essay question?
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unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable.
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You seem to be a nice well-behaved family – We think we are –
A man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own
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A chain of events
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Of course he knows. And I hate to think how much he knows
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Women of the town?
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." She felt there'd never be anything as good again for her -
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Public men, Mr. Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges.
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We don't live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each
other. And I tell you that the time will soon come when, if men will not learn
that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish. Good
night.
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I suppose we're all nice people now.
How many others can you remember? Complete the chart below
Name
Quotation
Significance