GCSE English Literature Unit 1 Modern Texts

GCSE English Literature Unit 1 Modern Texts

An Inspector Calls by J B Priestley

LO: to explore how Priestley uses context to present characters and themesAn Inspector Calls - In Context (Part 1 of 2) - YouTube

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

Key words:Context, responsibility, morality, community, consequences

Eva Smith

The first we hear of Eva Smith is the inspector’s description of her death.

Two hours ago a young woman died in the Infirmary. She’d been taken there this

afternoon because she’d swallowed a lot of strong disinfectant. Burnt her inside out, of

course.

Like a lot of these young women who get into various kinds of trouble, she’d used more than one

name. But her original name – her real name – was Eva Smith.

What do you think the inspector means by ‘a lot of these young women who get into various kinds of trouble’?

Eva Smith

What were Eva’s grievances?

When Eva loses her job she is faced with a bleak future.

Any similarities with 1912?

Act 1- Eva Smith’s story

After Mr Birling sacks Eva1) Once Eva leaves the works how long is

she unemployed?2) What quote describes Eva’s situation?

(p18)3) Why doesn’t Eva go back to her parents?4) How long do Eva’s savings last?5) Where was Eva living?6) Why didn’t Eva Smith just go on the

dole?

Write a diary entry for Eva Smith once she is sacked from Mr Birling’s factory.

Include:• What conditions were like at the

factory and how you felt about Mr Birling’s attitude to the workers and wages.

• What was it like being on strike over Christmas and why you returned to work.

* How you felt at being sacked and what options you have

Success Criteria

B - confident and developed interpretations of texts engagement with writers’ ideas and attitudes understand and respond to different viewpoints relate to historical, social and cultural contexts

C - clear evidence of understanding significant

meanings of the text

ability to explain writers’ ideas clearly

understanding of different viewpoints

reference to historical, social and cultural

contexts