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New
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Year 10
AQA

'An Inspector Calls': understanding context and Priestley’s influences

I can understand the importance of context and use tentative language to make assertions about Priestley's intentions.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 10
AQA

'An Inspector Calls': understanding context and Priestley’s influences

I can understand the importance of context and use tentative language to make assertions about Priestley's intentions.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Contextual information can help to deepen an understanding of a writer’s intentions.
  2. It is a good idea to be tentative with assertions.
  3. Biographical information can give us clues about a writer’s influences.
  4. Although writing in 1945, Priestley was influenced by the attitudes and values of Edwardian society.
  5. Priestley uses the backdrop of 1912 to warn of the dangers of repeating history.

Keywords

  • Intention - the purpose or aim behind someone’s actions or words; what they plan or hope to achieve

  • Critique - to give an opinion or judgement

  • Tentative - not certain or fixed

  • Assertion - a confident statement or claim about something

Common misconception

Any comments about a writer's intentions or choices must be absolute.

Although we may never know for certain, we can use clues like contextual information to develop ideas around intentions and choices. We can also use tentative language to put forward our ideas.


To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: 'An Inspector Calls': understanding context and Priestley’s influences, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

This lesson can be adapted and used as a pre-reading lesson for pupils that have not already read the play.
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Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

You will need access to a copy of ‘An Inspector Calls’ by J.B. Priestley, Heinemann 2014 edition.

content-guidance

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of serious crime
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
  • Depiction or discussion of mental health issues
supervision-level

Supervision

Adult supervision required

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
In which year is 'An Inspector Calls' set?
1712
1812
Correct answer: 1912
2012
Q2.
In which year did J.B. Priestley write 'An Inspector Calls' ?
Correct Answer: 1945, nineteen forty five
Q3.
Starting with the first, put these plot points from 'An Inspector Calls' into chronological order.
1 - The Birlings celebrate Sheila and Gerald’s engagement.
2 - Birling dismisses war and social responsibility in his speech.
3 - Inspector Goole arrives and announces a woman's suicide.
4 - Birling admits firing the woman for demanding higher wages.
5 - Sheila reveals she got the woman dismissed out of jealousy.
6 - Gerald confesses to a past affair with the woman.
7 - Eric admits to exploiting the woman and stealing to support her.
Q4.
What is the name of the woman who is at the centre of the Inspector's investigation in 'An Inspector Calls'?
Correct Answer: Eva, Eva Smith
Q5.
In 'An Inspector Calls' which character first learns about the death from Inspector Goole?
Sheila Birling
Eric Birling
Gerald Croft
Sybil Birling
Correct answer: Arthur Birling
Q6.
In 'An Inspector Calls' who is described as both "shy" and "assertive"?
Gerald Croft
Correct answer: Eric Birling
Eva Smith
Shelia Birling
Sybil Birling

6 Questions

Q1.
The writer of 'An Inspector Calls', J.B. Priestley, was born in...
London
Correct answer: Bradford
Leeds
Birmingham
Plymouth
Q2.
Context can include...
Correct answer: historical time period
Correct answer: biographical information
Correct answer: social and cultural influences
plot summary
character names
Q3.
Which of the following sentences does not use tentative language?
Perhaps he hoped his audience might recognise the need for change.
This may reflect Priestley’s hope for a more just society.
Correct answer: Priestley served as a soldier in World War I.
Arguably, Priestley’s industrial upbringing exposed him to class inequalities.
Q4.
'An Inspector Calls' is set in 1912 which is considered the period.
Correct Answer: Edwardian
Q5.
Which word can be described as: 'to give an opinion or judgement?
Correct answer: critique
assertion
intention
Q6.
In 'An Inspector Calls' which character refers to Eva Smith as a "sort" of girl.
Sheila Birling
Eric Birling
Correct answer: Sybil Birling
Gerald Croft
Inspector Goole