Inspector Calls
Year 11 English Literature Revision - An Inspector Calls
*Read the play again carefully
*Complete the activities at the back of the book
*Do detailed plans of some of the essay questions
*Memorise (short) key quotes you can use in the exam
*Mind map characters and themes
Top tips
Check how many marks are available for each question
Read the question carefully – What, where focus
How questions – comment on language
Imagine tasks – you must use language that shows the character and reflect the character’s perspective at the time.
Try to pin point where in the text you are being asked to comment on.
Try to explain your responses in as much detail as possible and try to comment on the effect of specific words on the reader / audience.
Don’t forget to comment on stage directions, body language and reported clauses wherever possible.
Timing and planning. Do both please (plan points, find quotes, consider paragraphing for all longer tasks)
Summary
Act 1- The Birlings have just finished a dinner celebrating Sheila’s engagement to Gerald Croft, (the son of one of Arthur Birling’s business rivals). Arthur Birling makes a speech giving his views on the world and then Gerald, Birling and Eric have a chat about current affairs. Their evening is interrupted by the Inspector, who tells them that a young woman (Eva Smith) has died at the Infirmary after swallowing disinfectant. Arthur is the first to be interrogated and he admits that he sacked Eva as punishment for he having been on strike. Arthur Birling’s ruthless business sense is clear here as he fails to see he has done anything wrong and that his sole duty is to “keep labour costs down”. The Inspector says that it is not just Arthur who is responsible for Eva and begins to interrogate Sheila who recalls having a shop girl sacked from Milwards department store. She is horrified and embarrassed that her vanity and jealousy contributed to the girl’s death. The Inspector mentions that after this, Eva changed her name to
*Read the play again carefully
*Complete the activities at the back of the book
*Do detailed plans of some of the essay questions
*Memorise (short) key quotes you can use in the exam
*Mind map characters and themes
Top tips
Check how many marks are available for each question
Read the question carefully – What, where focus
How questions – comment on language
Imagine tasks – you must use language that shows the character and reflect the character’s perspective at the time.
Try to pin point where in the text you are being asked to comment on.
Try to explain your responses in as much detail as possible and try to comment on the effect of specific words on the reader / audience.
Don’t forget to comment on stage directions, body language and reported clauses wherever possible.
Timing and planning. Do both please (plan points, find quotes, consider paragraphing for all longer tasks)
Summary
Act 1- The Birlings have just finished a dinner celebrating Sheila’s engagement to Gerald Croft, (the son of one of Arthur Birling’s business rivals). Arthur Birling makes a speech giving his views on the world and then Gerald, Birling and Eric have a chat about current affairs. Their evening is interrupted by the Inspector, who tells them that a young woman (Eva Smith) has died at the Infirmary after swallowing disinfectant. Arthur is the first to be interrogated and he admits that he sacked Eva as punishment for he having been on strike. Arthur Birling’s ruthless business sense is clear here as he fails to see he has done anything wrong and that his sole duty is to “keep labour costs down”. The Inspector says that it is not just Arthur who is responsible for Eva and begins to interrogate Sheila who recalls having a shop girl sacked from Milwards department store. She is horrified and embarrassed that her vanity and jealousy contributed to the girl’s death. The Inspector mentions that after this, Eva changed her name to