1. GCSE English Literature Unit 1 Modern Texts
An Inspector Calls
by J B Priestley
LO: Can I explore how language contributes to the writer’s presentation of characters, ideas and themes
Key words:
Social Superior, Inferior, Social and Personal Responsibility, Dramatic Irony
It would be advisable if you bought your own copy of the play so that you can write notes in your book.

2. An Inspector Calls Mrs Birling - YouTube
Before you watch the clip about me, jot down everything you know and then add extra detail to your notes!
What do we know about Mrs Birling?
Personality
Values
As a wife
As a mother
As a person

3. What is she really like? unrepentant proud cold superior spiteful
Find a quote or an example in the play to support these adjectives
superior
spiteful
arrogant
aloof
hypocritical
defensive
Self-righteous

4. Mrs Birling Personality Evidence
Build up a character profile of Mrs Birling using the table below. Find quotes and examples to support your ideas.
Personality
Evidence
Worksheet Ten accompanies this slide.

5. Dramatic irony
Dramatic irony is the technique where a writer allows the audience to know more than a character in the novel or play.
There is then a contrast between the character's limited understanding of his or her situation and what the audience knows.
Priestley uses dramatic irony throughout the play.
Can you find any examples of dramatic irony in the exchange between the Inspector and Mrs Birling at the end of Act 2?

6. …Therefore, you’re quite wrong
Priestley’s use of dramatic irony affects our opinion of Mrs Birling. We know that Mrs Birling thinks highly of herself but we realize that in fact she is unkind and uncharitable. This helps us to understand that many of her other attitudes and opinions may be wrong too. And, she is about to blame her own son.
…Therefore, you’re quite wrong
to suppose I shall regret what I did.47
I blame the young man who was the father of the child she was going to have……..make sure he is compelled to confess in public his responsibility.
Select one of her quotes and explain how Priestley uses dramatic irony to make Mrs Birling look foolish. [look at the next example]

7. What does this quote reveal about Mrs Birling’s values
What does this quote reveal about Mrs Birling’s values? How does it feed into Priestley’s themes and ideas?
‘She was giving herself ridiculous airs’ [46] This was said by Mrs Birling about Eva Smith’s attitude when she applied for charity at Mrs Birling’s organisation. It highlights Mrs Birling’s arrogant and superior attitude to the working class. She believes she is much better than them and does not even consider them as people worthy of help. Ironically, she is meant to chair a charitable organisation but fails to understand the meaning of charity. Priestley is suggesting that the Upper Class – Capitalists in 1912 – were self-centred…………………

8. Exam essay question: [H] How do you respond to Mrs Birling in An Inspector Calls? How does Priestley make you respond as you do by the ways he writes? marks
You will need to think carefully about this question, it is all about how you – the audience feel about Mrs Birling.
Plan your answer carefully:
* Think, how do you feel about her?
Bullet point your ideas
What methods does Priestley use to present her?
Find egs. to support your views
AO 2
Explain how language, structure and form contribute to writers’ presentation of characters, ideas, themes and settings

9. What must I do to achieve my target?
You must support your views with close reference to context and Priestley’s ideas:
A grade- I can explore in detail how I respond to Mrs Birling, exploring key quotes and the dramatic techniques Priestley uses to present her.
B grade – I can explain how I respond to Mrs Birling, using key quotes and the dramatic techniques Priestley uses to present her.
C Grade: I can comment on what I think of Mrs Birling. I can find some quotes to support my views.

10. Exam essay question: [F] How does Priestley present Mrs Birling in An Inspector Calls? Write about:  what Mrs Birling says and does  the methods Priestley uses to present the Inspector (30 marks)
You will need to think carefully about this question, it is all about what sort of a person I come across as.
Plan your answer carefully:
* Bullet point your ideas
What methods does Priestley use to present her?
Find egs. to support your views
AO 2
Explain how language, structure and form contribute to writers’ presentation of characters, ideas, themes and settings

11. What must I do to achieve my target?
You must support your views with close reference to context and Priestley’s ideas:
C Grade: I can explain what I think of Mrs Birling. I can find some quotes to support my views and explain how the language Mrs Birling uses reflects her character.
D Grade: I can comment what I think of Mrs Birling. I can find some quotes to support my views.
E Grade: I can describe Mrs Birling and the things she does in the play.