GCSE English Literature Paper 2 ‘An Inspector Calls’ by J.B.
Priestley Knowledge Organiser
Plot Key Characters
Act 1  The Birling family and Gerald Croft are celebrating Sheila’s engagement to Mr Arthur Birling
Gerald.  Capitalist
 Mr B makes pompous speeches outlining his political and social views. He  Arrogant
says we should ignore the ‘cranks’ talking about socialism.  Verbose
 The evening is interrupted by the arrival of Inspector Goole making  Stubborn
enquiries about the suicide of Eva Smith.  Industrialist
 Mr B is questioned and admits sacking her for leading strike action for “Heavy looking, rather portentous
higher wages. man”
 Sheila is questioned and admits having Eva sacked from Milwards due to “A hard-headed practical man of
her jealousy. business”
 Gerald reacts to the news that she changed her name to Daisy Renton. “Just a knighthood, of course.”
“A man has to mind his own
business and look after himself….”
“Look - there’s nothing mysterious
– or scandalous – about this
business…”
Act 2  Gerald is questioned and admits to keeping Daisy as his mistress for six Mrs Sybil Birling
months.  Judgemental
 Mrs B tries to bully the Inspector and to control events.  Draconian
 Sheila starts to realise that the Inspector’s enquiries are well founded, and  Uncompassionate
that her mother might have had some dealings with the girl.  Insincere
 While Eric is out of the room, Mrs B is forced to admit that the girl asked  Chauvinist
for help from her charity, and she refused help. “Rather cold woman… her
 It is revealed that the girl was pregnant. Mrs B lays the blame on the father husband’s social superior.”
of the unborn child. “Please don’t contradict me like
 Suspicion grows that Eric is the father of the unborn child. that”
“It’s disgusting to me.”
“Unlike the other three, I did
nothing I’m ashamed of or that
won’t bear investigation.”
“Girls of _______ class-”
Act 3  Eric returns and confesses that he got a girl pregnant. He also confesses to Mr Gerald Croft
stealing money from his father’s office.  Aristocratic
 Eric blames his mother for the girl’s death.  Secretive
 The Inspector makes a dramatic speech about the consequences of selfish  Traditional
behaviour and social irresponsibility.  Privileged
 The Inspector, having shown that each had a part in ruining the girl’s life,  Evasive
leaves. “Easy, well-bred young man-about-
 Between them, Gerald and Mr B gradually prove that the man was not a town.”
real police inspector. “For God’s sake – don’t say
 A telephone call to the Chief Constable establishes that there is no anything to the Inspector.”
Inspector Goole on the police force. “Sorry – I – well – I’ve suddenly
 A telephone to the Infirmary reveals that there has been no recent suicide. realised – taken it in properly – that
 Eric and Sheila continue to feel guilty about their own, and their family’s, she’s dead.”
behaviour whilst the others shrug it off.
 Mr B answers the telephone: a young woman has just died on the way to “I didn’t feel about her as she felt
the Infirmary. An Inspector is on his way to make enquiries. about me”
“Everything’s all right now, Sheila.
What about this ring?”
Key Characters Key Concepts: Context & Writer’s Intentions
Miss Sheila Birling About J.B. Priestley:
 Intelligent  1914-18: WW1, Aged 20, Priestley serves on the front line in France and is wounded.
 Feminine  1919: awarded place at Trinity Hall, Cambridge to study Literature, History and Politics.
 Emotional  1922: begins to work as a journalist in
 Transformative London.
 Empowered  1934: writes ‘English Journey’ about the poorer parts on Britain.
“But these girls aren’t cheap labour –  1939-45: makes regular wartime radio broadcasts called ‘Britain Speaks’.
they’re people”  1945: writes An Inspector Calls.
“I had her turned out of a job”
“At least I’m trying to tell the truth. I
expect you’ve done things you’re
ashamed of.”
“Why – you fool – he knows!”
“The point is, you don’t seem to have
learnt anything.”
Master Eric Birling 1912 England 1945 England
 Irresponsible  In 1912 the Liberal party is in power  Post WW1 and WW2 had less defined class
 Spoilt under the Prime Minister Herbert distinctions because the WWs had meant that
 Reckless Henry Asquith and the Labour Party, people of all classes were forced to work
 Immature founded by James Kier Hardie, is together and suffer the same tribulations. This
 Transformative beginning to make headway. phenomena is termed social levelling.
“Not quite at ease half shy, half  Coal miners took part in the first ever  Following the end of WW2, a Labour
assertive.” labour strikes and secure a minimum government was elected and many social
“Why shouldn’t they try for higher wage for workers. This meant that all reform bills were passed through parliament
wages?” workers must be paid a minimum rate. which led to the construction of the welfare
“I wasn’t in love with her or anything However, many employers did not system including the 1944 Education act, the
– but I liked her – she was pretty and take trade unions seriously. Family Allowances act and the 1945 National
a good sport –”  The Suffragette movement gained Insurance act which created compulsory
“I didn’t even remember – that’s the momentum with activists staging contributions from employees and relief for
hellish thing” increasingly violent protests such as unemployment, death, sickness, and
“You’re not the kind of father a chap smashing shop windows in London’s retirement.
could go to when he’s in trouble.” Oxford Street.  Following WW2 and the social reforms that
Miss Eva Smith  Pre WW1 Britain had a strict social followed, the NHS was founded so that good
 Working class hierarchy in which the people who healthcare should be available to all, regardless
 Determined held the most power were wealthy of wealth.
 Vulnerable white men. The social model was both  Women were praised for their wartime work,
 Emblematic patriarchal and Capitalist. but expected to make way for the returning
 Allegorical  Social mobility was relatively unheard troops. As after WW1, there was an assumption
of – there were some families who that their temporary roles had been specifically
“A lively good-looking girl – country were emerging as ‘new money.’ ‘New linked to wartime. By 1951 the number of
bred… and a good worker too.” money’ was a descriptor for wealth working women had returned almost to the
“She had a lot to say – far too much that had been recently acquired, pre-war level and a bar on married women
– so she had to go.” typically that which a person has working continued in many jobs. Trade unions
“She was very pretty and looked as if earned rather than inherited. still defended higher wages for men, despite an
she could take care of herself.”  The RMS Titanic sank in the early increase in women’s union membership.
“'She was young and pretty and morning hours of 15 April 1912 in the However, the 60s and 70s saw the emergence
warm-hearted and intensely grateful' North Atlantic Ocean, four days into of feminist groups and heightened awareness
“She was pretty and a good-sport” the ship's maiden voyage from of gender inequality – campaigning for more
Southampton to New York City. This rights and greater opportunities saw very many
became the UK’s greatest ever more women aware of their potential and the
maritime disaster and became a need for change.
symbol of how the poor were
mistreated and dismissed by the
wealthy as most of the fatalities were
lower class steerage passengers.
 Wider considerations of the plot (linking AO1 and AO3): Key Characters Key Concepts: Context & Writer’s Intentions
 All of the characters commit one or more of the seven deadly sins (Lust, Avarice Inspector Goole Capitalism Socialism
(greed for money), gluttony (greed for food / drinks), wrath (anger), sloth  Priestley’s mouthpiece An economic and political system in which a A political and economic theory of social organisation
(laziness), envy (jealousy), pride)  Impressive country's trade and industry are controlled by which advocates that the means of production,
 Eva died because of the sins of the Birlings. Eva could be interpreted as a  Commanding private owners for profit, rather than by the distribution, and exchange should be owned or
representation of Jesus.  Social justice state. regulated by the community as a whole.
 The Inspector is used to teach – he’s a didactic or sermonic character. He is  Omnipotent Capitalism advocates the advance of the The basis of Socialism are the ideas of collective
omniscient (knows everything) and appears omnipotent (all powerful) – he “Massiveness, solidity and purposefulness.” individual and the construction of social responsibility, community and equality.
could be viewed as a representation of God. “But after all it’s better to ask for the earth than to take it.” hierarchies based on wealth, status and Socialism advocates the advance of the collective.
 Sheila and Eric begin to learn from the Inspector’s sermonic teachings – they “It’s my duty to ask questions.” power.
could be viewed as representations of the disciples who choose to follow a “A nice promising life there, I thought, and a nasty mess somebody’s made
better path. of it.”
 The older Birlings and Gerald are ignorant and refuse to listen to the teachings “You see, we have to share something. If there’s nothing else, we’ll have to
of the Inspector. They are nihilistic and will cause their own downfalls because share our guilt.”
they refuse to accept new moral codes. “One Eva Smith has gone – but there are millions and millions and millions
 The Titanic reference is foreshadowing the family’s downfall and the falling of of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us.”
the class system. Eva is the iceberg that causes the family to sink into despair. “Fire and blood and anguish”

Central Themes
Subject Terminology Character name analysis
Dialogue A conversation between two or more people Mystery
Arthur Means bear king suggesting that Birling is clumsy and arrogant. He rules with brute
Monologue A long speech by one character Social responsibility force.
Stage directions An instruction in the text of a play indicating the movement, position, or tone of an actor, or the sound Truth and lies Sybil Means prophetess (which is usually associated with being able to see into the future and
effects and lighting. doing god’s work) which creates irony since she has very little foresight being the last to
Hypocrisy
Dramatic irony When the audience is aware of something that the characters are not realise the truth about Eric and lacks in Christian morals.
Foreshadowing Hinting at (usually negative) events that are yet to happen Wealth, power and Sheila Means blind which is ironic since Sheila is the first to realise the importance of the
Props Theatrical property. An object used by actors during a performance influence Inspector’s visit.
Cliff-hanger An ending to a scene, act or text that is unresolved and creates tension Rights and responsibilities Eric Means ever ruler, which creates irony since Eric is mollycoddled by his mother and his
Characterisation The creation or construction of a fictional character. father sees him as incapable to run the family business.
Public versus private lives
Symbolism The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. Gerald Means rule of the spear which could be linked to how he is a more sophisticated ruler
Morality versus legality than Arthur but also the spear is closely related in physical appearance to the sceptre
Euphemism A mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when
referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing. Young versus old carried by kings and aristocracy.
Coup de theatre A dramatically sudden action or turn of events, especially in a play. Capitalism versus Eva Means living one which is ironic since she is deceased. It also creates an allusion to Eve
Morality play A kind of allegorical drama having personified abstract qualities as the main characters and presenting Socialism of the bible being the first woman and the enactor of the original sin (first sin) which
a lesson about good conduct and character, highlights Eva’s role as a symbol or microcosm of all lower class women.
Microcosm A small scale version of a larger idea or concept Individual versus
Smith Taken from the occupation of being a blacksmith linking Eva to the working classes
Allusion A reference to something that audiences are expected to be aware of or know Collective responsibility
Goole Goole is a homophone of ghoul meaning ghost, which suggests that the Inspector is a
Juxtaposition A harsh contrast created for the effect of emphasis or exaggeration Love, sex and consent supernatural character.
Cyclical narrative A narrative in which the start and end are connected in some way e.g. through setting, similar events Gender roles and relations Daisy Literally a small white flower linking to ideas of beauty, fragility and purity or innocence.
etc. Renton Contains “rent” which means either to pay someone for the use of something hinting at
Three unities play Unities, in drama, are the three principles derived by French classicists from Aristotle’s Poetics; they Guilt
prostitution or to separate two parts violently or tear linking to how Eva is destroyed
require a play to have a single action represented as occurring in a single place and within the course of
Edna Means kernel or seed which links to the idea that everything is grown from the working
a day. These principles were called, respectively, unity of action, unity of place, and unity of time.
classes even though they’re seen as small and insignificant

TIER 2 VOCABULARY FOR DISCUSSING AN INSPECTOR CALLS

Didactic Intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive.
Polemic A strong verbal or written attack on someone or something.
Omniscient Knowing everything; godlike
Omnipotent All powerful
Parable A simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels.
Allegorical Constituting or containing allegory (a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one).
Altruistic Showing a disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others; unselfish.
Hypocritical Behaving in a way that suggests one has higher standards or more noble beliefs than is the case.
Penitent Feeling or showing sorrow and regret for having done wrong; repentant.
Domineer Assert one's will over another in an arrogant way.
Impoverish Make (a person or area) poor.
Patriarchy A society which is ruled by and for the benefit of males