An Inspector CallsLesson 11

Friday 26th February 2021

What you’ll need..

• An open word document or paper/exercise book and pen• A copy of the play• A reading book

You do not need to send this work to your Friday teacher.

Learning purposes

• Recall prior knowledge of the plot so far.• Consider the conclusion of the text.• Explore whether or not characters have learned from the Inspector.

Prior learning:1. See next slides.

• Future learning:• Recall key events from the text.• Explore key relationships.

Knowledge check!

1. What is a vice? Can you give an example?

2. Name one of the seven deadly sins and a character associated with it.

3. What is a prophetic figure? Who is one in the play?

LP: Recall prior knowledge of the plot so far.

What is a vice? Can you give an example?immoral or wicked behaviour’a bad or unhealthy habit’

Example: excessive drinking, gambling.

Name one of the seven deadly sins and a character associated with it.Greed, gluttony, lust, envy, wrath, sloth, pride.Greed- Mr. Birling

What is a prophetic figure?A character that can predict future events- The Inspector.

Starter (3 minutes)

• We will be reading the end of the play today. Using the images below, make a prediction on what you think will happen.

The Inspector’s speech• We are going to re-read the Inspector’s

speech as it is his most important line from the play (pg. 56).

• A copy of the speech can also be found on the Remote Learning.

LP: Recall prior knowledge of the plot so far.

The Inspector’s Speech

3 MINUTE CHALLENGE!Can you identify:

qTricolonThree phrases/clauses building to a climax.

qRepetitionqEthos

Persuading through your reputation- making friends with the audience.

EXT. Choose one technique. What is the effect?

The Inspector’s Speech

3 MINUTE CHALLENGE!Can you identify:

qTricolonThree phrases/clauses building to a climax.

qRepetitionqEthos

Persuading through your reputation- making friends with the audience.

EXT. Choose one technique. What is the effect?

The Inspector’s speech

But just remember this. One Eva Smith has gone – but there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us, with their lives, their hopes and fears, their suffering and chance of happiness, all intertwined with our lives, and what we think and say and do.

1) Why do you think the Inspector starts with a simple sentence? What is the effect

of this? 2) What is the effect of using ‘One’ Eva Smith?

3) Why does the Inspector use common names ‘Eva Smiths and John Smiths’

What is the Inspector trying to achieve in this last sentence?

10 minutes

The Inspector’s speech

But just remember this. One Eva Smith has gone – but there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us, with their lives, their hopes and fears, their suffering and chance of happiness, all intertwined with our lives, and what we think and say and do.

Priestley opens with a simple sentence on the speech before the Inspector’s departure to emphasise the lasting

impact that he wants to have on the Birlings.When “One” is used, Eva Smith is being objectified, he is showing that there are many people like her.

The Inspector wants to make the Birlings realise this.

There is still an opportunity for the Birlings to change the way they treat people, Priestley uses common names to show how universal the suffering of the working class is – it is not just women, but also men who experience this

pain.

This complex sentence shows the huge gap in between the rich and the poor and the Inspector is overpowering

in how he is making the Birling’s feel guilty and responsible.

LP: Recall prior knowledge of the plot so far.

The Inspector’s speech

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.

Why has Priestley used ‘we’?Ext. How does this sentence condemn

Capitalist behaviour?

What example of Dramatic Irony can you find here?

Hint: Dramatic irony is when the audience knows something the characters in the play do not.

LP: Recall prior knowledge of the plot so far.

The Inspector’s speech

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.

The Birlings have clearly lost touch with any sense of community they had, highlighting the self-centered behaviour of capitalists.

The repetition of ‘we’ serves to bring us all together.

Dramatic irony is incorporated, as the audience of Priestley’s time would be aware that WW1 and 2 occurred as a result of untrustworthy promises and selfish acts, it is almost as if he is describing these wars as “fire and blood and anguish”.

Act Three (pg. 59-72)

• We are going to finish reading the rest of the play.

• Write down the name of one of the Birlings, or Gerald, in your book/paper• As we are reading, make notes on whether they have changed or if

they are the same as when we first met them.

LP: Consider the conclusion of the text.

Comprehension Task (10 minutes)

• Write your answers in full sentences.1. Who does Sheila think gave Eva the final push that finished her?2. Who does Birling think the Inspector probably is?3. What does Gerald reveal about the Inspector? How does he know this?4. Why does Eric not feel like ‘sitting down and having a nice cosy talk’?5. How does Gerald defend the Birlings (and not Sheila and Eric)?6. Who was the only character not to see a photograph of Eva?7. Was there a real suicide? How do they find this out?8. What does Birling believe the whole story is?9. Who is pretending everything has gone back to normal? Why do you

think this is?

Comprehension Task- Answers

1. Mrs Birling2. A socialist or some sort of crank3. He’s not a real police inspector. Gerald spoke to a police sergeant he

knows who says there isn’t an Inspector Goole on the force. 4. Eva Smith is still dead as a result of how they treated her.5. Gerald says ‘there’s no real evidence’ that they drove Eva to commit

suicide. He says there’s no proof the photograph Goole used was the same he showed each of them.

6. Gerald7. No- they call up the infirmary8. ”Just a lot of moonshine” – nonsense9. Mr & Mrs Birling and Gerald- they represent the Capitalists/older

generation and lack social responsibility.

Reflections: the end of the play

• What do you think about the conclusion of the play?

• Are you happy with how it ended?

• How would you have improved upon the ending if you were Priestley?

LP: Consider the conclusion of the text.

Character transformations• Who has changed by the end of the play compared to when we first

met them?• Why?

• Who has not changed by the end of the play?• Why not?

• Complete the Venn diagram on the next slide.

LP: Explore whether or not characters have learned from the Inspector.

Character transformations

Has changed Hasn’t changedSheila- from being spoiled and using her temper to get her own way to sympathising with Eva and becoming more assertive to her parents.

Eric- from being drunk and silly in the opening scene to regretting his treatment of Eva Smith and becoming more assertive to his parents.

Gerald-Admits his affair but doesn’t regret Eva’s death by the end of the play

Mr & Mrs Birling- both refuse to learn/take on board the Inspector’s lesson

EXT. Have a closer look at your Venn diagram. How does this relate to Priestley’s views on social change? (Context)

Character analysis

1- Choose a character (you can choose the same one as before).

2- Find evidence from when we first meet them and the end of the play to show whether or not they have transformed and why you think that might be.• Explain your ideas in full sentences.• This should be a short reflection of 3 lines, not an analytical

paragraph, but you need to make sure you have evidence for your points.

LP: Explore whether or not characters have learned from the Inspector.

Plenary- Plot recap.

• Test your knowledge of the plot so far!

• Complete the worksheet on Remote Learning and fill in the blanks.

TASKAct 1

• The play is set in April ______ in Brumley, Midlands, UK. The Birling family and _________________ are celebrating Sheila’s engagement to Gerald. Sheila’s father, __________________ , is pleased because the marriage means ___________________. Crofts Ltd. Is a rival company to the Birlings and he hopes they can join together in business. The doorbell rings unexpectedly and ____________________ arrives saying he is investigating the death of a young woman named Eva Smith who has committed suicide. Inspector Goole first shows Arthur Birling a photograph of the young girl, he initially denies recognising her, but then remembers firing her in 1910 for ___________________________________. Birling refuses to take any _______________ for Eva’s death.

• Inspector Goole then interrogates Sheila. Sheila remembers getting Eva fired from _____________, an upmarket department store where Eva worked after being fired from Birling’s. Sheila complained to the manager because Eva smirked to another shop assistant when Sheila was trying on a dress. Sheila _______ her actions and feels guilty and responsible for Eva’s death. The Inspector then reveals that Eva Smith changed her name to _______________. Gerald acts suspiciously and looks guilty when hearing this name. Sheila confronts him when the Inspector leaves the room, and he reveals that he had _________________.

Act 2

• Gerald explains this to the Inspector, but says he hasn’t seen her since he ended their relationship back in Autumn 1911. Sheila gives her _________________ back to Gerald. The Inspector then turns his attention to Mrs _________ Birling, who confesses that she also had contact with Eva, when she approached her charity to ask for help. Eva was desperate and pregnant but help was ___________ by Mrs Birling. She tells Eva and later the Inspector that the father should be held entirely responsible.

Act 3

• ________ is revealed as the baby’s father. He stole money from Mr Birling’s office to provide money for Eva. The Inspector tells them that they are all partly to blame for Eva’s death and warns them of the consequences of________________________________. He says “If men will not learn that lesson they will be taught it in _________________________.” After Inspector Goole leaves, the family begin to suspect that he was not a real _______________. A phone call to the Chief Constable confirms this. Next, they phone the infirmary to find that no suicide case has been brought in. The family are all massively ______________ and congratulate themselves that it was all a hoax and they can carry on their lives as normal. This attitude upsets Sheila and Eric. The phone rings, Mr Birling announces that a girl has just died on her way to the _______________ and a police inspector is coming to question them.

Fill in the blanks using the following words below:

q regretsq 1912q closer links with the Crofts.q an affair with Daisy/Evaq Ericq engagement ringq relievedq Inspector Gooleq Responsibilityq Arthur Birlingq Fire and blood and anguishq police inspectorq Daisy Rentonq Gerald Croftq Millward’sq Sybilq Organising a strike over

worker’s payq Infirmaryq Refusedq People not being responsible

for each other

ANSWERS

Act 1

• The play is set in April ______ in Brumley, Midlands, UK. The Birling family and _________________ are celebrating Sheila’s engagement to Gerald. Sheila’s father, __________________ , is pleased because the marriage means ___________________. CroftsLtd. Is a rival company to the Birlings and he hopes they can join together in business. The doorbell rings unexpectedly and ____________________ arrives saying he is investigating the death of a young woman who has committed suicide. Inspector Goole first shows Arthur Birling a photograph of the young girl, he initially denies recognising her, but then remembers firing her in 1910 for ___________________________________. Birling refuses to take any _______________ for Eva’s death.

• Inspector Goole then interrogates Sheila. Sheila remembers getting Eva fired from _____________, an upmarket department storewhere Eva worked after being fired from Birling’s. Sheila complained to the manager because Eva smirked to another shop assistant when Sheila was trying on a dress. Sheila _______ her actions and feels guilty and responsible for Eva’s death.

• The Inspector then reveals that Eva Smith changed her name to _______________. Gerald acts suspiciously and looks guilty whenhearing this name. Sheila confronts him when the Inspector leaves the room, and he reveals that he had _________________.

Act 2

• Gerald explains this to the Inspector, but says he hasn’t seen her since he ended their relationship back in Autumn 1911. Sheila gives her _________________ back to Gerald.

• The Inspector then turns his attention to Mrs _________ Birling, who confesses that she also had contact with Eva, when she approached her charity to ask for help. Eva was desperate and pregnant but help was ___________ by Mrs Birling. She tells Eva and later the Inspector that the father should be held entirely responsible.

Act 3

• ________ is revealed as the baby’s father. He stole money from Mr Birling’s office to provide money for Eva. The Inspector tells them that they are all partly to blame for Eva’s death and warns them of the consequences of________________________________. He says“If men will not learn that lesson they will be taught it in _________________________.”

• After Inspector Goole leaves, the family begin to suspect that he was not a real _______________. A phone call to the Chief Constable confirms this. Next, they phone the infirmary to find that no suicide case has been brought in. The family are all massively ______________ and congratulate themselves that it was all a hoax and they can carry on their lives as normal. This attitude upsets Sheila and Eric. The phone rings, Mr Birling announces that a girl has just died on her way to the _______________ and a policeinspector is coming to question them.

1912 Gerald CroftArthur Birling closer links with the Crofts

Inspector Goole

organising a strike over worker’s pay responsibility

Millward’s

regrets

Daisy Rentonan affair with Daisy/Eva

engagement ring

Sybilrefused

Ericpeople not being responsible for each other

fire and blood and anguish

police inspector

relievedinfirmary

Directed Reading

• Complete 30 minutes reading of a book of your choice.• Make sure you write your notes into your reading logs, or a piece of

paper.

Extension Task: Watch ‘An Inspector Calls’

• As you are watching, develop a character profile for one of the characters within the play.• https://estream.ttsonline.net/View.a

spx?id=382~3A~JLR8x6• Draw the character of your choice

and then annotate the image with key ideas, quotes and characteristics related to them.