An Inspector Calls Background and Context

True or false: JB Priestley was born into a working class family. (a)  

• True
• False

In what year was the play first performed?

Mathematical Equivalence

ON

Answer explanation

The play was first performed in 1945, imagine how the audience would have reacted to some of Birling's comments about war.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.8.7

CCSS.RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10. RL.11-12.10

Why is the year An Inspector Calls was first performed significant to its social message?

• (1929) It coincided with the Great Depression, emphasizing economic struggles.

• (1940) It was written before WWII ended, making its themes outdated.

• (1918) It reflected a desire for a return to Victorian-era values.

• (1945) It addressed concerns about rebuilding a more just and equal society after the war.

Who wrote 'An Inspector Calls'?

• J.C Priestly

• Charles Dickens

• J.B Priestley

• William Shakespeare

Answer explanation

Remember it is PriestlEy. So many pupils mis-spell Priestley's name on the exam!

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RI.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.K.6

In what year was the play set?

Mathematical Equivalence

ON

Answer explanation

The play was set over 30 years prior to being written. Priestley uses the power of hindsight.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.8.7

CCSS.RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10. RL.11-12.10

Which war did Priestley fight in? (a)  

• World War I
• World War II
• Crimean War
• The Gulf War

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

What happened to Priestley when fighting in the war?

• He was captured as a prisoner of war.

• He was badly injured when a mortar exploded in the trenches.

• He was blinded.

• He never went to fight in the war.

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.1

CCSS.RI.3.1

CCSS.RL.1.1

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RL.3.1

Which of these ideals is central to the system of capitalism?:

• Helping other people

• Money and business

• Sharing out the workload

• Stopping war

Answer explanation

Is a system where people can become as rich as they want. Companies make their money through profit. A factory owner buys something for £5 but sells it to the public for £10. The factory owner decides what to do with the money made from the sale: keep or reinvest. There is very little say by the Government over what happens with that money. It is yours to keep; it is ‘private’.

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.7

CCSS.RL.11-12.7

CCSS.RL.9-10.7

CCSS.RI.8.7

CCSS.RI.9-10.7

What catastrophic event happened in 1912?

• The Spanish Flu Pandemic

• The Titanic sank

• World War I

• World War II

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.9

CCSS.RL.8.9

The Suffragettes believed ...

• Men were superior to women.

• Women should stay at home and look after the family.

• Women should be allowed to vote.

• Women shouldn't be allowed in court.

Answer explanation

Although they did support women's rights more broadly, the Suffragettes MAIN aim was to gain the vote for women.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2