Plot and Action
Plot summary: What happens in An Inspector Calls?
Act One: Meeting the characters, Act Two: More revelations, Act Three: The Inspector leaves but the mystery continues, Revision focus: Character timelineAct One, part 1: Celebrating the engagement (pp. 1–7)
Summary, Why is this section important?, Key characters: The Birlings and Gerald, Top tip: Writing about Gerald’s motives, Exam focus: Writing about Mr Birling, Key setting: The dining room, Key context: Wealth and businessAct One, part 2: A confidential chat (pp. 8–11)
Summary, Why is this section important?, Key theme: Status and ambition, Key quotation: Dramatic devices, Aiming high: Make links to wider themesAct One, part 3: An Inspector interrupts (pp. 11–16)
Summary, Why is this section important?, Key characters: Mr Birling and the Inspector, Key quotation: Asking for the earth, Key structure: The chain begins, Exam focus: Writing about Eva SmithAct One, part 4: Sheila’s link in the chain (pp. 16–21)
Summary, Why is this section important?, Key theme: Community responsibility, Key characters: Sheila and Eva, Key quotation: Sheila’s alarm, Aiming high: Comment on the photograph as a deviceAct One, part 5: Sheila’s confession (pp. 21–6)
Summary, Why is this section important?, Key theme: Guilt, Key form: An exit, a secret, a climax, Key language: Repetition, Revision focus: The Inspector’s wordsAct Two, part 1: Guilty feelings (pp. 27–9)
Summary, Why is this section important?, Key theme: Sheila and Gerald – true love?, Key quotation: Attitudes to women, Key character: Sheila’s growing awareness, Aiming high: Comment on the Inspector’s roleAct Two, part 2: Enter Mrs Birling (pp. 29–32)
Summary, Why is this section important?, Key characters: Mrs Birling and Sheila, Key quotation: Impressing the young, Exam focus: Writing about Eric’s problemsAct Two, part 3: Gerald’s revelations (pp. 32–40)
Summary, Why is this section important?, Key language: Euphemism, Key context: Edwardian respectability, Key quotation: The Inspector’s power, Exam focus: Writing about Daisy RentonAct Two, part 4: Sheila opposes her mother (pp. 40–2)
Summary, Why is this section important?, Key language: Stage directions, Key context: Position and principle, Key structure: Mrs Birling sees the photograph, Key quotation: Airs and graces, Revision focus: Sheila’s changing natureAct Two, part 5: Mrs Birling’s idea of charity (pp. 42–9)
Summary, Why is this section important?, Aiming high: Class prejudice, Key structure: Dramatic effectAct Three, part 1: Eric’s link in the chain (pp. 50–2)
Summary, Why is this section important?, Key theme: Family relationships, Exam focus: Writing about the Inspector in chargeAct Three, part 2: Almost a father (pp. 52–3)
Summary, Why is this section important?, Key language: A choice of words, Key character: The further decline of Eva SmithAct Three, part 3: The Inspector’s heartfelt words (pp. 53–6)
Summary, Why is this section important?, Key quotation: The Inspector’s warning, Key character: Eric’s contrary nature, Key structure: Dramatic tension and climax, Exam focus: Writing about the Inspector’s speechAct Three, part 4: Raking over the remains (pp. 57–61)
Summary, Why is this section important?, Key theme: The generation gap, Key quotation: The Inspector’s identity, Exam focus: Writing about different viewpointsCharacters
Eva Smith/Daisy Renton
Eva Smith/Daisy Renton’s role in the play, Exam focus: Writing about Eva SmithThe Inspector
The Inspector’s role in the play, The Inspector’s importance to the play as a whole, Exam focus: Writing about the Inspector, Top tip: ‘Goole’ or ‘Ghoul’Mr Birling
Mr Birling’s role in the play, Mr Birling’s importance to the play as a whole, Exam focus: Writing about Mr Birling, Top tip: Position and power, Aiming high: Character developmentThemes, Contexts and Settings
Themes
Equality, Exam focus: Writing about effects, Responsibility, Aiming high: Comment on Edna, Love and marriage, Key quotation: Mr and Mrs Birling’s marriage, Revision focus: Gerald, Eric and Daisy Renton, Time, Aiming high: Comment on the timing of the playContexts
J. B. Priestley, Social rank, Political and working life in 1912, Key quotation: Hunger, Top tip: Place and peopleForm, Structure and Language
Structure
Overview, The Inspector’s involvement in the structure, Eva Smith’s journey, Top tip: Writing about twists in the play, Exam focus: Writing about effectsProgress Booster
Planning your answer
Plan quickly and efficiently, Stage 1: Generate ideas quickly, Stage 2: Jot down useful quotations (or key events), Stage 3: Plan for paragraphs