An Inspector Calls N 5 Unit

1. J .B Priestley’s An Inspector CallsN5 Unit

2. Lesson 1

3. Unit Aims In this unit, you will read the play ‘An Inspector Calls’ by J.B Priestley and do the following : • Revisit the definition of and aspects of a play • Learn about the playwright and play’s background Study: • Characterisation • Plot as well as Plot Structure • Theme • Setting

4. Success Criteria: To successfully study this unit you will complete: -A series of group discussion tasks. - A Watching and Listening assessment - An Analysis and Evaluation Reading assessment - A research project on a topic which stems from the play - An assessed group presentation and a Critical Essay centred on the play’s main theme.

5. Pre-Reading Before reading the play we must : Refamiliarise ourselves with the conventions of the genre which make a play different from other texts. Learn important facts about the play and playwright and recognise their importance in enhancing our overall understanding of the play. Be able to recognise clues given by the front cover of the play which help us to gain an early insight into the play’s genre/theme /plot and characters etc.

6. Task 1: Defining a play Working in your groups, use the show me board to write a definition for the following: You have 2 minutes to complete this exercise. Everyone must be prepared to feed back to the rest of the class if required to. What is a ‘play’?

7. What is a play? A play is a form of literature written by a playwright. It consists of scripted dialogue and is arranged into ’Acts‘. Rather than be read like a novel or a poem, a play is intended to be read aloud or ‘performed’ on a stage in front of an audience. Apart from Acts, what other aspects is a play comprised of?

8. Task 2: The distinguishing features of a play As a group, using your show-me-board, write down as many features of a play you can think of (for example, ‘Acts’ would be one). You have 2 minutes to complete this exercise. Everyone must be prepared to feed back to the rest of the class if required to.

9. The main distinguishing features of a play: Acts & scenes Props Stage directions SFX (sound effects) and music. Lighting Dialogue Costume Set

10. J.B Priestley The Playwright

11. Priestley facts: Born: 13th September 1894; Died: 14th August 1984 Mother died in the year he was born. Left school at 16 ‘to write’ and began work in 1910 as a junior clerk at a wool firm.

12. Influences in Priestley’s life and work Priestley said that it was the years 1911 - 1914 that ‘set their stamp’ upon him. - What do you think this means? - Which significant event did these years lead up to? - How might this have influenced Priestley’s work ? He often engaged in political discussions with his father’s socialist friends. - How might these discussions have influenced Priestley and his work?

13. For your information: With the outbreak of WW2 in1939, Priestley continued writing and worked for BBC radio. However, his programmes were cancelled by the British Government for being ‘too critical’ of their actions in the war. An Inspector Calls was written in 1945 and was set in 1912 (before WW1) and was first performed in London in 1946. Using the information you have been given so far, why might Priestley have chosen to set the play in 1912?

14. Task 3: By examining some of the various cover illustrations for the play along with the title it may help you to gain some insight into the genre, theme, plot line and the characters in ‘An Inspector Calls’.

15. Copy the following headings into your jotter. Make sure that you leave a space underneath each one ( a few lines) so that you can make notes based on the title of the play, Example 1 and/or 2and/or 3 for each. • Clues which indicate the plot • Clues which suggest the play’s genre c) Clues which suggest the play’s theme(s) • Clues which give you information on the characters who may feature The play covers needed for this task feature on the next slide.

16. Play Covers: Predictive task Example 1 Example 2 Example 3

17. Lesson 2

18. Task 1: You are about to receive a copy of the blurb which features on the back of the play. A) Read it then decide whether any of your observations from the previous task were accurate. B) Glue the blurb into your jotter then annotate the extract by highlighting and making notes on the words and phrases which give you more information on PLOT, GENRE, THEME & CHARACTER. Be ready to feed back to the class.

19. Blurb Arthur Birling, a prosperous manufacturer, is holding a family dinner party to celebrate his daughter’s engagement. Into this cosy scene intrudes the harsh figure of a police inspector investigating the suicide of a young working-class woman. Under interrogation, every member of the family turns out to have a shameful secret which links them with her death.

20. Key words and Phrases: Arthur Birling, a prosperous manufacturer, is holding a family dinner party to celebrate his daughter’s engagement. Into this cosy scene intrudes the harsh figure of a police inspector investigating the suicide of a young working-class woman. Under interrogation, every member of the family turns out to have a shameful secret which links them with her death.

21. Task 2: Assessment For this task you are going to use your watching and listening skills to answer a variety of questions based on a modern stage production of the play and learn more about it in the process.

22. Assessment: The clips you will watch are: • a trailer for Stephen Daldry’s 2009 version of the play • a clip of Daldry talking about the play. These will help offer further insight into what the play is about and its main theme. You will get to see each clip twice before answering the accompanying questions. Links to the clips can be found on the next slide.

23. Links to clips Clip 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7jGR61PM6k Clip 2: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-reviews/6239688/An-Inspector-Calls-at-the-Novello-Theatre-review.html

24. Process: 1. - Watch Clip 1 - 2 minutes for notes - Watch Clip 1 again - 2 minutes for notes 2. Repeat process for Clip 2 + 3. 40 minutes to answer assessment questions.

26. Lesson 3

27. Dramatic and Stylistic Features An Inspector Calls is a well made play in that it has been carefully constructed to arouse suspense and tension using the following structure: • Exposition (the opening) • Rising Action • Climax/Turning Point • Falling Action • Denoument Copy the above points & diagram into your jotter.

28. We are now ready to begin reading the play. Pay particular attention to the detail given in the Exposition of the play. The opening of a well made play serves as an introduction, providing more information on: • The main characters • The background and context • The themes and ideas of the play

30. Lesson 4

31. Act 1: Post Reading task You have now completed your reading of Act 1. Using your knowledge of the play so far, you should be able to correctly answer the questions which will follow to convey your understanding of : • Characterisation • Plot as well as Plot Structure • Theme • Setting • Dramatic features of a play (Stage directions etc) To do this you will need to revisit Act 1 of the play.

32. Conditions: Answer each question individually and be prepared to feed back to the rest of the class.

33. Act 1: Key Questions (Setting/Character) 1. When was the play written? 2. When is the play set? 3. Where does the action of the play take place? 4. Which fictional, industrial city is the play set in ? 5. Where in this city is the Birlings’ house located? Explain what this suggests about the wealth and status of the Birlings. 6. Mr. Birling is described as being ‘a prosperous manufacturer’. What do you think this means?

34. Act 1: Staging and Atmosphere 7. What type of furniture adorns the room? 8. What kind of mood did Priestley want this furniture to create? 9 . Priestley specifies instructions with regard to lighting. How is it meant to be before the arrival of the Inspector? 10. How is the lighting meant to change after the arrival of the Inspector? What does this type of lighting remind you of? 11. Make a list of props that hint at the upper middle class status of the Birlings. 12. Which phrase in these opening stage directions creates a sense of foreboding?

35. Characters: First Impressions Task 1: Go through each of the characters in the play (including the Inspector) and write down at least 2 adjectives to describe each one. Remember: Adjectives are describing words i.e. ‘bossy’.

36. First Impressions Task 2: Next, justify your answer by providing evidence from the play. This may be taken from stage directions, the character’s words or even be something that is said about one character by another. Remember if you are taking something directly from the text you must use quotation marks (“ ”).

37. Lesson 5

38. Theme In this lesson you are going to explore the play’s key theme (responsibility) by looking at it in the context of your own life. Working individually and as part of a group you are then going to complete a range of activities which allow you to examine your own attitude to responsibility. Everyone must participate at all times in group discussion and show that they can contribute in a meaningful way.

39. Task A: Individual Task On your own rank the following statements in order with those you feel you have most responsibility over at the top and the least, at the bottom. You have 5 minutes to work individually to complete this task.

40. Think about it: Are there any statements from the list that you think apply not only to the individual, but the ‘collective’ i.e. you along with the rest of society ?

41. Task B: Discussion Now, working with others in your group decide on the three statements you, as a collective, feel you attribute the greatest amount of responsibility to and the three you feel you attribute the least amount of responsibility to. You should have 6 altogether and each person must be ready to justify the group’s reasoning behind each of their chosen statements. You have 10 minutes to complete this task.

42. Task C: Discussion If every person were to put the interest of themselves and their family above all others, how would it affect the larger community? You have 5 minutes to complete this task and every member of the group should be prepared to feedback to the rest of the class.

43. Task D: The Case of the Crisps... (discussion)

44. Task Scenario: If a stranger were to pass you by and think nothing of dropping a crisp packet on the ground, what would be your reaction? Would you shout at them to pick it up? Would you ignore it? Would you stop and pick it up? Discuss.

45. Lessons 6 - 8

46. Task 1: Now that you have read and completed the necessary questions on Act 1 of the play, you are going to begin Act 2. To properly consolidate your knowledge of Act 2, it will be split into sections and you will be given a series of questions to answer on your understanding of each section.

47. Pages 27-32 • What is the mood in the dining room at the start of Act II? • Why do Gerald and Sheila react ‘bitterly’ to each other? • The Inspector is described as taking charge ‘massively’ – what impression of the Inspector do you think the writer wants to create by using this word? • How has the Inspector affected Sheila – think actions and dialogue. • Why does Sheila stare at the Inspector ‘wonderingly and dubiously’? • What truth does Sheila reveal about Eric? • Sheila tries several times to warn her mother about what she is saying (page 30; page 32). • Write down 2 things Sheila says. • What point is she trying to make?

48. Pages 33-40 • What is Mrs Birling’s attitude to Eva Smith? • Write some stage directions to show how each of the characters: • Mr. Birling • Mrs Birling • Sheila • The Inspector... reacts to Gerald’s story. • Explain what Sheila means when she says: “No, he’s giving us the rope – so that we’ll hang ourselves”. • Write a short summary of Gerald’s involvement with Daisy Renton. • Write a short paragraph or bullet-point list which sums up what we know about Eva/Daisy so far.

49. Pages 41-49 • On page 41 Sheila sums up the involvement of each member so far – make a note of what she says. • Write down three words to describe Mrs Birling’s manner when she is telling her story. • How is the Inspector's attitude to Mrs. Birling, and his manner of questioning her, different to how he questioned Sheila? • What clue gives away Eric’s involvement with Eva to Sheila? • Why is Mrs. Birling’s final reaction in the act ‘frightened’? • What is the mood in the dining room as Eric re-enters? • Now quickly reread Act 2 and make sure that you have added ALL the entrances and exits to the table at the back of your jotter.

50. Homework task: From the play, find at least 2 quotations for each of the characters which reveals their attitude towards: Eva Smith and/or Responsibility and/or Eachother For each quotation (which should be consist of speech/stage directions) you must provide an explanation of what this shows about the character’s attitude towards the appropriate aspects listed above.