GCSE English Literature Unit 1 Modern Texts

An Inspector Calls by J B Priestley

LO: Can I explore how language contributes to the writer’s presentation of characters, ideas and themes

It would be advisable if you bought your own copy of the play so that you can write notes in your book.

Key words:Social Superior, Inferior, Social and Personal Responsibility, Dramatic Irony

An Inspector Calls Mrs Birling - YouTube

• What do we know about Mrs Birling?

• Personality• Values• As a wife• As a mother• As a person

Before you watch the clip about me,

jot down everything you know and then add extra detail to your notes!

What is she really like?

proud

superior

cold

spiteful

arrogant

hypocritical

aloof

defensiveSelf-righteous

unrepentant

Find a quote or an example in the play to support these adjectives

Mrs Birling

Personality Evidence

Build up a character profile of Mrs Birling using the table below. Find quotes and examples to support your ideas.

Dramatic ironyDramatic irony is the technique where a writer allows the audience to know more than a character in the novel or play.There is then a contrast between the character's limited understanding of his or her situation and what the audience knows.Priestley uses dramatic irony throughout the play.

Can you find any examples of dramatic irony in the exchange between the Inspector and Mrs Birling at the end of Act 2?

Priestley’s use of dramatic irony affects our opinion of Mrs Birling. We know that Mrs Birling thinks highly of herself but we realize that in fact she is unkind and uncharitable. This helps us to understand that many of her other attitudes and opinions may be wrong too. And, she is about to blame her own son.

…Therefore, you’re quite wrongto suppose I shall regret what I did.47

I blame the young man who was the

father of the child she was going to

have……..make sure he is compelled to

confess in public his responsibility.

Select one of her quotes and explain how Priestley uses dramatic irony to make Mrs Birling look foolish. [look at the next example]

What does this quote reveal about Mrs Birling’s values? How does it feed into Priestley’s themes and ideas?

‘She was giving herself ridiculous airs’ [46]This was said by Mrs Birling about Eva Smith’s attitude when she applied for charity at Mrs Birling’s organisation. It highlights Mrs Birling’s arrogant and superior attitude to the working class. She believes she is much better than them and does not even consider them as people worthy of help. Ironically, she is meant to chair a charitable organisation but fails to understand the meaning of charity.

Priestley is suggesting that the Upper Class – Capitalists in 1912 – were self-centred…………………

Exam essay question: [H]How do you respond to Mrs Birling in An Inspector Calls? How does Priestley make you respond as you do by the ways he writes? 30marks

Plan your answer carefully:* Think, how do you feel about her?• Bullet point

your ideas

• What methods does Priestley use to present her?

• Find egs. to support your views

AO 2Explain how language, structure and form contribute to writers’ presentation of characters, ideas, themes and settings

You will need to think carefully about this

question, it is all about how you – the audience feel about Mrs Birling.

What must I do to achieve my target?You must support your views with close reference to context and Priestley’s ideas:

B grade – I can explain how I respond to Mrs Birling, using key quotes and the dramatic techniques Priestley uses to present her.C Grade: I can comment on what I think of Mrs Birling. I can find some quotes to support my views.

A grade- I can explore in detail how I respond to Mrs Birling, exploring key quotes and the dramatic techniques Priestley uses to present her.

Exam essay question: [F]How does Priestley present Mrs Birling in An Inspector Calls?Write about: what Mrs Birling says and does the methods Priestley uses to present the Inspector. (30 marks)

Plan your answer carefully:

* Bullet point your ideas

• What methods does Priestley use to present her?

• Find egs. to support your views

AO 2Explain how language, structure and form contribute to writers’ presentation of characters, ideas, themes and settings

You will need to think carefully about this

question, it is all about what sort of a person I

come across as.

What must I do to achieve my target?You must support your views with close reference to context and Priestley’s ideas:

D Grade: I can comment what I think of Mrs Birling. I can find some quotes to support my views.E Grade: I can describe Mrs Birling and the things she does in the play.

C Grade: I can explain what I think of Mrs Birling. I can find some quotes to support my views and explain how the language Mrs Birling uses reflects her character.