Year 9 English Ark Globe Academy

Remote Learning Pack Phase II

Monday 20 April- Friday 1 May

Year 9 English: An Inspector Calls

Please complete all written work in the exercise book provided by the school

Day Title Work to be completed Resource provided

Outcome On-Line Support

1 Act One Read from: “(staring at the inspector) What did you say your name was, inspector?” until “That's enough of that.” Page 16

1. What’s Mr Birling trying to do to the inspector by mentioning his boss?

2. Is Eric a socialist or a capitalist? How do you know?

Page 17 1. How does Birling speak to Shelia? What does

this tell you about the attitudes to young women?

2. Who had a similar reaction to Sheila? What does this tell you about Sheila?

3. ‘Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices.’ How is Eric different to his father? How does the audience feel about him?

Challenge: What do the stage directions reveal about the characters?

Play: An Inspector Calls

Full sentence responses to the questions (1 page)

2 Recap Quiz Birling’s interrogation 1) What does Birling mean when he says he is on

the ‘Bench’? (10)

2) Read the description of the Inspector. What

two descriptions make him seem in control?

(11)

3) What is the most shocking thing about how the

‘young lady’ killed herself? (11)

4) What two stage directions at the top of page

12 show the tension between the Inspector

and Birling? (12)

5) What stage direction on page 12 means that

the photo is only seen by the person the

Inspector is showing it to?

6) What patronising (talking down to someone)

line from Birling on page 13 immediately shows

tension between Birling and Eric?

Play: An Inspector Calls

Full sentence responses to the questions (1 ½ pages)

7) Page 14: The Inspector talks about

responsibility at the top. What does he say?

8) Page 15: Birling shows his attitude to others.

He doesn’t feel he should be looking after his

workers. What does he think it is his

responsibility to look after?

9) How does Eric show on page 15 that he is

different from his dad? Paraphrase.

10) How does Birling show that he doesn’t care

about his workers on page 15?

11) What does Birling do on page 16?

12) Page 16: Again Eric shows he’s different to is

dad. Paraphrase what he says.

13) Who comes in after Birling finishes his story?

14) How do we know that Birling is threatening the

Inspector again on page 16?

3 Mr Birling How is Birling presented in Act 1 of the play An

Inspector Calls? Use resource one to support your writing

Play: An Inspector Calls Resource One

A two page response to the question

4 Act One – Sheila’s Interrogation

Read from: “Gerald: And I don't really see that this inquiry gets you anywhere” to “That's something I have to find out.”

1. What happened to Eva after she left Mr Birling’s employ?

2. “But these girls aren't cheap labour – they're people.” What does this quote tell you about Sheila?

3. What’s the mood/atmosphere in the room at this point and why?

4. Where did she get a job? 5. What does Mr Birling assume about Eva?

Why? 6. Why do you think Sheila is upset? 7. How is Sheila different to Mr Birling? Write 2

paragraphs

Play: An Inspector Calls

Full sentence answers to questions – at least 1 ½ pages

5 Act One – Sheila’s Interrogation

Read from: “Birling: (still angrily) Well – if you don't mind – I'll find out first.” To the end of act one.

1. How does Sheila feel about what she did? 2. Why was Sheila “furious” with Eva? 3. “If she'd been some miserable plain little

creature, I don't suppose I’d have done it. But she was very pretty and looked as if she

Play: An Inspector Calls

Full sentence answers to questions – at least 1 ½ pages

could take care of herself.” Why do you think Sheila did what she did?

4. What did Eva Smith change her name to? 5. What has Gerald done? 6. We here read again and again the words

‘fault’ and ‘responsibility’. What could this suggest about the author’s purpose in writing this play?

7. ‘I expect you’ve done things you might be ashamed of too.’ How does this create tension in Gerald and Shelia’s relationship? What does it hint at?

6 Sheila How does Priestly present the character of Shelia in

Act One of ‘An Inspector Calls’? Use resource 2 to help your writing

Play: An Inspector Calls Resource Two

A two page response to the question

7 Act Two – Gerald’s interrogation

Read from: The beginning of act two until: “Mrs Birling: I don't know what you're talking about, Sheila.” Page 27

1. Where is Gerald sexist here? 2. How is the Inspector not?

Page 28 1. Where do you see the tension in Gerald and

Sheila’s relationship? 2. Where does the Inspector echo Birling’s

words? 3. How does Sheila feel?

Page 29 1. Where does the Inspector give ideas about

collective responsibility? 2. What do we think of Mrs Birling’s entrance?

Why? 3. What is the key message from Priestley? In

the play so far?

Play: An Inspector Calls

Full sentence answers to questions

8 Act Two – Mrs Birling is back

Read from: “Sheila: we all started like that” to “Inspector: (gravely) we'll see, Mrs Birling.” Page 30

1. Where is Mrs Birling patronising? 2. Where is Mrs Birling a snob? 3. How does Mrs Birling treat the Inspector?

Page 31 1. Rebuking means telling off. How does she

treat the others? 2. How is she similar to Mr Birling?

Page 32 1. Does she know her son well? 2. What do we learn about Eric? 3. What does Sheila know about the Inspector?

Play: An Inspector Calls

Full sentence answers to questions

9 Juxtaposition of Sheila

Read Resource 3 and answer: Who is portrayed more positively – Sheila or her mother and why?

Resource 3 1 ½ page response to

and Mrs Birling

the question using quotes.

10 Act Two – Gerald’s interrogation

Read from: “Enter Birling, who closes door behind him” to “Mrs Birling: it's disgusting to me.” Page 34

1. How does Sheila feel about Gerald? 2. How do you think Mrs Birling would say

“women of the town”? 3. How does Mr Birling try to shelter Sheila?

Page 35 1. What’s the contrast between Mrs Birling and

Sheila? What’s Priestley’s message? 2. How is Mrs Birling innocent/delusional? 3. Why did she go with Gerald?

Page 36 1. Why is Eva Smith/Daisy Renton shaken? 2. What situation is Eva/Daisy in?

Page 37 1. Do you think Gerald is telling the truth? 2. It was “inevitable” – what do you think of

this? 3. How does Sheila react? 4. How does Mrs Birling react?

Play: An Inspector Calls

Full sentence answers to questions

Resource 1 – Mr Birling

Thesis statements:

Birling’s most notable characteristic is his selfishness – his capitalist ideology means that he puts his own interests first.

OR

Birling is ultimately presented as a sexist man preoccupied with his own

masculinity: he mistreats women of all classes.

Quotes

1. ‘unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable!’

Which word tells you Birling is certain?

Why has Priestley used repetition?

What do you think of Birling in this quote?

2. ‘You’re just the kind of son-in-law I always wanted.’

What could the word ‘always’ suggest about Birling’s class status? Why

would this have always been his dream?

Does he really care about his daughter’s happiness?

Model Answer

Priestley presents Birling as a morally corrupt capitalist who cares only for his own business

interests. This is established through Priestley’s use of dramatic irony. In the opening scene,

Birling indulges in a long rant concerning his political views. He makes many assertions,

which the audiences realises are historically incorrect. He asserts that the Titanic is

‘unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable!’ This is hugely ironic, as the audience knows that in fact

the Titanic will sink in April 1912. Furthermore, Birling’s use of the word ‘absolutely’

suggests just how arrogant he is, as this conveys his total certainty in his own views. This

arrogance in Birling’s character is developed when he remarks that in the future there will

be ‘a world that’ll have forgotten all these Capitalist vs Labour agitations’. Birling’s views are

again exposed as facetious through dramatic irony. Through this dramatic irony, Priestly

suggests to his audience the ridiculousness of Birling’s views and thus also the deep flaws in

capitalist ideology. The presentation of Birling as a fool is thus also part of Priestly’s

condemnation of capitalism.

Resource 2 – Sheila

Thesis Statements:

• She is an emotional person, particularly at the end of the act.

• She begins as spoilt and selfish but becomes socially caring.

• She is sympathetic towards Eva Smith and becomes remorseful.

• She doesn’t agree with her father’s capitalist ideology.

Quotes

“but these girls aren’t cheap labour- they’re people”

‘She almost breaks down, but just controls herself.’

‘It was my own fault.’

Relationship with Gerald – ‘Shelia merely nods, still staring at him.’

Success Criteria

Developed opening point, refer to writers’ methods

Embedded quotes

Linking quotes through the phrase ‘this is developed when’

Link to Priestley’s purpose in writing the play.

Resource 3- Juxtaposition of Sheila and Mrs Birling

Sheila

1. “ I think it was a mean thing to do. Perhaps that spoilt everything for her”

2. But these girls aren’t cheap labour – They’re people.

3. Yes, she was lucky to get taken on at Milwards.

4. “it just suited her…just as I was the wrong type…I was absolutely

furious”

Mrs Birling

1. “forget about this absurd business”

2. “I don’t suppose…we can understand why the girl committed Suicide.

Girls of that class…”

3. “you know of course that my husband was Lord Mayor….”

4. “naturally I don’t know anything about this girl”