1. To investigate the social and historical context of the play.

2. Hierarchy School Family Film
Year 10 students, Prefects, Headteacher, Teacher, Year 7 students, Student Teacher
Family
Pet, Older sibling, Parents, Younger sibling
Film
Actors, Writer, Director, Studio, Extras, Lighting crew

3. Ideologies
Socialism  a belief that the wealth should be shared equally by people, without being owned by the rich
Social: society, interaction of people, community
Capitalism  a belief that the rich should own the wealth, and choose how much to give and how much to keep
Capital: worth, wealth, economic currency

5. Socialism vs Capitalism
Sort the following statements under the correct heading: What do each of these things mean for individuals in society?
Equal distribution of wealth
Looking after one another
Staggered tax brackets
Everyone pays the same tax
Individual profit
Free education and health service
‘Laissez-faire’ attitude (let it be)
Production for profit
Social hierarchy and class system
Diminished class system

6. Setting of the Play The play was written in 1946 but is set in 1912.
It was written just after the Second World War and set just before the First World War.
J.B. Priestley had lived through both wars, which had an impact on his political beliefs.
The early 20th Century saw the beginning of a movement away from an elite few controlling everything (capitalism) towards a situation where society tried to be more equal (socialism).
There were an increasing number of strikes during this period and in the time after the play is set.
Women were also becoming more insistent in their demands for equality – the suffragette movement becomes particularly militant at this time in history.

7. Social Classes
Lower Class in the 1910’s
Middle Class in the 1910’s
Upper Class in the 1910’s
Wages & Strikes in the 1910’s
J.B. Priestly
Childhood
Military career
Broadcasting
Playwright
Political positions
World War I
Cause
Famous battles
Outcome
Impact on England
Socialism
Origin
Beliefs
History in England
Capitalism
Origin
Beliefs
History in England
World War II
Cause
Famous battles
Outcome
Impact on England
Women’s Rights
Women in 1910’s
Suffragette Movement
American Depression
Cause
Outcome
Impact on England