J.B. Priestly's An Inspector Calls is a defining play of the period between World Wars I and II. This play calls into question the relationships between the high and low classes during this time. Change was coming.
In many ways, modern history began just after World War II. Priestly's play, An Inspector Calls, gives us a good insight into the national mood of England just before the war broke out. The old order was about to be swept aside.
These notes provide a brief overview of the plot of An Inspector Calls. All the action of the play takes place over one evening in the Birling household. A young lady has died and Inspector Goole seeks the truth.
During the course of the play, the audience is introduced to the Birling family as well as the mysterious Inspector and the shadow of Eva Smith/Daisy Renton. This MindMap gives us an insight into their characters.
This is the promotional video from a recent production of An Inspector Calls. From the video, the viewer can get a feel for the era in which the play is set. This was the England that would forever change following the cataclysmic events of WWII.
An Inspector Calls is a play of ideas. There is no great action on stage and the characters only discuss what has gone before. Dialogue fuels the drama. These flashcards will detail some memorable quotes from the play.
An Inspector Calls covers a lot of thematic territory. This was a time of flux in England. The old class systems would greatly change following the war, as well as attitudes to women and the fate of the lower echelons of society.
Okay, time to review. Take this quiz to test your understanding of JB Priestly's pre-war drama. Questions are designed to help in your revision of the play. Good luck and don't be afraid to get questions wrong the first time. That's how we learn.
