1. Social and Cultural Background
WALT understand the social and cultural background to the play ‘An Inspector Calls.’
(Where are you now on the arrow? Mark it with a B)
MOST
will be able to recognise the influence these aspects may have on the play.
SOME
Will be able to explore the effect J.B.Priestley’s own experiences may have on the play.
ALL
Will be able to understand some aspects of the social and cultural background to the play.

2. Starter - Challenge yourselves!
ALL: Imagine you are a 19 year child. Your father controls who you see and speak to, all your money, who you date, what you wear, your freedom. Create a mind map of words to describe how you would feel.
MOST: Imagine you are the wife of a wealthy businessman. You run a charity that helps poverty stricken young women with no where to turn to for help. A working class woman comes to you pregnant saying the father has disowned her. The baby belongs to your son, the heir to the family fortune. If the news got around, your reputation would be ruined. Write a paragraph describing how you feel about the news and what you will do about it.
SOME: Imagine you are the daughter of a wealthy, well-known businessman. He is forcing you to marry a man you do not love. Write a paragraph describing how you feel about the situation.
EXTENSION: Write a paragraph explaining why women might be viewed as lower than men in Edwardian England.

3. An Inspector
Calls
J.B.Priestley
Lesson 1

4. Lesson Objectives
To understand the social and cultural background of An Inspector Calls
Lesson
Objectives
Lesson Outcomes
(Expected progress…) To identify key aspects of the social and cultural background of the play.
(Better than expected progress…) To explore the influence of key social and cultural aspects and how they may relate to the play.

5. Starter
Select an opinion and write down your response inside your exercise books. Be prepared to justify your response.
Do you believe that everybody should look after one another? Or Do you believe that everybody (each individual) should only look after themselves?
Extension: What may benefits of working together as a community be?
-What may the benefits of looking after yourself and your family be?
Challenge: What kind of society may we create with these views in mind? (Consider attributes such as kindness, wealth, stability…)

6. Consider what you think they may mean.
Key Themes
An Inspector Calls is a political play. To understand it fully you will need to discover what is meant by the following words.
Consider what you think they may mean.
Socialism
Capitalism

7. Key Themes – add to your information.
Socialism
A political theory or system in which the means of production and distribution are controlled by the people and operated according to equity and fairness rather than market principles.
Capitalism
An economic system based on the private ownership of the means of production and distribution of goods, characterised by a free competitive market motivated by profit.

8. Socialism vs. Capitalism
Task 1). Using the definitions of Socialism and Capitalism, list the main differences between the two ideologies. (Use a list or a colum chart)
Task 2). Using the information you have received, explain which party adheres to (follows) Capitalism and which one adheres to Socialism. You must explain your answers using full sentences.
Success Criteria:
-I am able to identify the basic principles of Socialism and Capitalism.
-I can identify which political party follows a specific ideology.
-I am able to consider the differences between the two ideologies.
Challenge: Do you believe that a Capitalist society (looking after yourself) is more successful than a Socialist society (providing for everybody)?
-State your reasons for your opinions.

9. Socialism
In the play, the country is run by a Capitalist goverment who believe that each person was to look after themselves – this resulted in unequal treatment of people such as the working/labouring class.
When Labour came to power for the first time (just before the play was published) they established the idea of Socialism into main stream politics. This meant:
Everyone should think of others; not just themselves.
Everyone should work together for the greater good and wellbeing of society.
Everyone should be offered the chance to be treated equally.
“The establishment of a system of society based upon the common ownership and democratic control of the means and instruments for producing and distributing wealth by and in the interest of the whole community.”
The Socialist party of Great Britain.

10. J.B. Priestley’s background
You are now going to explore the
background of the writer: J.B. Priestley.
You will be doing this by playing dominos.
You will have 5 minutes.
If you complete the task sooner than the time allocated, you must attempt the extension task.
Extension:
-Which events in Priestley's life do you believe may have influenced the play An Inspector Calls? Note down the most significant parts of his life.

11. The name of his first school was Christ the King R.C Primary School
2nd April 1992
Where was Mr Park born?
Mr Park was born in Burnley
What was the name of his first school?
How do they work?
What was the name of his secondary school?
The name of his first school was Christ the King R.C Primary School

12. J.B.Priestley Key terms Key words/terms: Bradford – A Yorkshire town.
Clerk – A worker who performs office duties.
Critic – Somebody who judges or appraises.
Strife – Bitter, sometimes violent, conflict or struggle.
Truce – An agreed break in a dispute or fight.
Suffragette – Awoman campaigning for women’s rights e.g. the vote.
Order of Merit – Award recognising great service in the armed forces, science, arts, and literature.

13. Activity 1: J.B.Priestley
J.B.Priestley was born in 1894.
He was born in Heaton, Bradford.
He called Heaton an ‘ultra-respectable’ suburb of Bradford.
His parents were middle class.
His first job was as a Jnr clerk in a wool company.
He joined the Army during WW1.
He was declared unfit after a gas attack.
He read Modern History and Political Science at Cambridge.
By 1922 he was a journalist and critic.
1930s: he became concerned with social problems and industrial strife.
1940: presented Postscripts where he expressed left-wing political views.
Conservatives complained about his programme and axed it.
1941: Priestley and friends found the socialist Common Wealth Party.
After WW2 he continued as a writer.

14. Activity 1: J.B.Priestley
1945: the play was called ‘An Inspector Calls.’
First performed in Russia 1946.
First UK performance October 1946.
1957: ‘Russia, the Atom and the West’ led to the formation of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
He was interested in the concept of time, as seen in his article ‘Man and Time.’
Priestley wrote an introduction to Antonia Raeburn’s ‘The Militant Suffragettes’ in 1973.
1977: awarded the order of Merit.
He wrote 2 autobiographical volumes in later years.
Priestley died in 1984.

15. Lesson Objectives
To understand the social and cultural background of An Inspector Calls
Lesson
Objectives
Lesson Outcomes
(Expected progress…) To identify key aspects of the social and cultural background of the play.
(Better than expected progress…) To explore the influence of key social and cultural aspects and how they may relate to the play.

16. The Play: Historical Context
The play is set in England1912: Which significant historical event took place two years later?
This was a time of strikes, food shortages and political tension.
The play was written in 1945: Which significant historical event concluded in this year?
The play’s moral message = we should think of others, work together and be treated equally. Which political ideology does this adhere to (follow)?
The play is set in the fictional town of Brumely; a Northern town similar to Bradford. Bradford had many factories, owned by rich people who paid very little for the back breaking work.
-Why do you think Priestly set his play in this fictional town?

17. The Historical Context
An Inspector Calls was written in 1945 just after the second world war, a time of great change and opportunity. Through the play J B Priestly encouraged his audiences to take the opportunities for progress available to them. He wanted the public to reject the values of early twentieth century Britain and build a new, more equal society out of the ruins of the second world war.
Priestley sets his play 33 years earlier in 1912, the era of the Titanic, just before World War One. This was before the days of the welfare state; Britain was a country of great social inequality and deeply divided by class. This was part of the cause of the General Strike in the 1920’s and the rise in importance of the ideas of HG Wells and G B Shaw.
Click on the link above to watch an episode from Andrew Marr’s The Making of Modern Britain to gain an insight into life in early C20th Britain.
Click here to watch an episode of Andrew Marr's The Making of Modern Britain - A New Dawn

18. Check your understanding
When was An Inspector Calls written?
What was happening in Britain at this time?
When is An Inspector Calls set?
Why did Priestly set his play in this era?
What were Priestley’s political beliefs?
Explain the differences between Socialism and Capitalism.
Success Criteria:
-I have identified some key facts about the play (written/set/political ideas)
-I can identify some influences (of Priestley's political beliefs and life events).
-I am able to consider the differences between the two ideologies.
(Expected progress…) To identify key aspects of the social and cultural background of the play.
(Better than expected progress…) To explore the influence of key social and cultural aspects and how they may relate to the play.

19. What families lived on during Edwardian Times
Working Class Budget
Middle Class Budget
£1.12 per week
£5.75 per week
Rent
0.33
0.66
Social Club
0.01
Rates and Tax
0.23
Funeral insurance
0.04
Servant’s wages
0.34
Coal
Washing
0.50
Wood and lamp oil
0.03
Food and cleaning materials
1.50
Soap and soda
Repairs, replacements
0.19
Meat
0.16
Wine, beer, spirits
0.17
Husband’s dinners
0.15
Coal, gas
0.38
All other food
Total
0.96
3.97
Leftover
1.78

20. The Play: Context
 On your own, reread the character list and the detailed stage directions on pages 1 and 2, and then answer the following questions.
-Support your answers with brief quotations where applicable.
1. The play was written in:
 1946
 1912
 1945
2. The play is set in:
3. How many acts are there in the play?
 One
 Two
 Three
4. The action of the play takes place in:
 a living room
 a dining room
 a bedroom
5. The first British performance of the play was in:
 1946
 1912
 1945
6. Prior to this, the play had been performed in:
 Turkey in 1911
 China in 1944
 Russia in 1946
7. The play is set in the fictional, industrial city of:
 Brumley
 Bradford
 Birmingham
8. The Birlings’ house is described as being:
 in the city centre
 in the suburbs
 close to Mr. Birling’s factory
Explain what this suggests about the wealth and status of the Birlings.
9. Mr. Birling is described as being ‘a prosperous manufacturer’. This means that Mr. Birling:
 is good at making things
 is a successful and wealthy factory owner
 is very wealthy

21. VS 1912 (SET) 1945 (WRITTEN) WW1 would start in two years time.
Mr Birling’s optimistic view that there would not be a war is completely wrong.
WW2 ended 8th May People were recovering from nearly 6 years of warfare, danger and uncertainty.
Strong distinctions between upper and lower classes.
Class distinctions had been greatly reduced due to the 2 wars.
Women were subservient to men. No real role except wife and mother (high class).
As a result of the wars, women had earned a more valued place in society.
Ruling classes felt nothing need to change with the ruling of the country.
Great desire for social change. After 2WW Labour won victory over the Conservatives – Socialism began. VS

22. An Inspector Calls
After reading the stage directions at the opening of the play, make notes on what they tell us about the Birling family.
Consider the following:
The furniture
The house
The characters

23. Edwardian England: the facts!
Why is context important? (AO3)
To help you fully understand the text as personal
views, beliefs, events and attitudes from the period
will have influence the content, plot and themes of
the play. To fully understand An Inspector
Calls you will need to understand what happened
in Britain at the time it was set.

24. Employment
With the Capitalists in control, England had NO welfare system i.e. no dole/income support if you were unemployed.
For those lucky enough to be employed, there were no unions or laws that helped and protected people at work.
There was no minimum wage.
There was no National Health Service (NHS) for free healthcare
The average number of hours worked was up to 65 (nowadays we only work on average is the legal limit without consent)
Employers often mistreated their staff; reducing breaks/time off!
Factory owners paid pittance for back breaking, excruciating work.
People who tried to take a stand against the pay would find themselves out of a job, as there were plenty of people
waiting in the unemployment line to take up the jobs.

25. Men and Women Women had fewer rights than men at the time.
They hadn’t yet won the right to vote.
They were not expected to work unless they were the lower class.
The lower class women would have to work to survive; they were seen as cheap labour.’
The higher class women were simply expected marry.
The eldest male of any home would be the breadwinner and also be the person in charge at home: their word was LAW.
A wife or daughter would never argue or answer back to the husband or the eldest son.
Women were subservient to men.

26. Equality
During Edwardian England there was a divide between the rich and the poor: Upper, Middle, Lower class system.
87% of all the money in England belonged to only 5% of the population.
The Upper classes believed there was no need to change anything about the way the Capitalists ran the country.
Divisions:
Rich vs Poor
Employed vs Unemployed
Men vs Women
Parents vs Children

27. 1912 vs. 1945: Importance?
Priestley deliberately chose to set his play in 1912.
He chose this because the date represented an era that was very different to when he was writing in 1945.
In 1912, there were rigid class and gender boundaries that made sure that nothing would ever change.
Yet, by 1945, most of those class and gender divisions had been broken.
Priestley wanted to make the most of these changes.
Through his play, An Inspector Calls, he encourages people to seize the opportunity given to them by the end of the war, to build a better, more caring society.

28. What is the Socialst
Common Wealth Party?

29. Homework:
Find out what the Socialist Common Wealth Party was and write a brief explanation in your book.
Due: NEXT LESSON

30. Founded July 1942
Left wing party
Concerned about those who are disadvantaged.
Believed the class system was wrong.
Wanted to create a more equal society.
Believed in democracy and political morality.
Supported Socialism: the idea of everyone helping each other.

31. Social and Cultural Background
WALT understand the social and cultural background to the play ‘An Inspector Calls.’
(Where are you now on the arrow? Mark it with a A)
MOST
will be able to recognise the influence these aspects may have on the play.
SOME
Will be able to explore the effect J.B.Priestley’s own experiences may have on the play.
ALL
Will be able to understand some aspects of the social and cultural background to the play.