An Inspector Calls Essay Writing Skills

Drama 3. Choose a play which you feel has a dramatic final scene. Describe briefly what happens and explain how effective the ending is in bringing to a conclusion the central concerns of the text.

Writing an Introduction Use TART Title- “An Inspector Calls” Author- J. B Priestly Relate to question- The ending is vital in helping us to understand the play. Theme- It deals with a theme of responsibility.

Example Introduction J. B Priestly’s excellent drama ‘An Inspector Calls’ is set in 1912, a time when people were taught to look out for themselves and not consider others. The play highlights the destructive consequences we face in a world where people don’t look out for one another. This is xlear in the ending as a full family realise that together they have contributed to the horrific death of a young woman. The ending, in particular, was vital in understanding Priestly's theme of responsibility.

Pear Paragraphs P- In the beginning, the Birling’s do not believe that they have done anything wrong. E- “I don’t come into this suicide business” A- This highlights tat Mr Birling does not feel responsible for Eva Smith’s death, even when he discovers that he had sacked the girl. This shows that he in an inconsiderate man who cannot understand how his actions may have affected another persons life. R- This is important as by the ending we see a clear divide between the character who are willing to accept some blame and the characters who refuse to.

P- Unlike her daughter Sheila, Mrs Birling cannot sympathise with the dead Eva Smith as she is a working class girl. E- “You Must’nt try to build up a kind of wall between us and that girl.” A- Sheila seems to understand that the families lives are entwined with Eva’s. She understands that her family have played a role in the girls death and feels remorseful. This highlights the difference between the older and younger generation. The young Sheila- whose generation would go on to create more socialist laws after WW1- understands that we must look out for one another. The upper class Mrs Birling, however, does not. R- This is important as in the end the family realise that they have all played their part in killing the girl, however Sheila seems to have been able to understand this from the beginning.

Your Turn P- Mrs Birling blames the man who impregnated Eva Smith for her suicide. E- “First, the girl herself. … Secondly, I blame the young man who was the father of the child… He should be made an example of.” A- (What does this tell us about the characters? Setting? Theme?) R- Why is this important in understanding the ending?

Your Turn P- Towards the end of the play it becomes very important that some characters take responsibility for their actions whereas others do not. E- “The point is, you don’t seem to have learnt anything.” A- R-

Your Turn Select a very important quotation from the ending of the play and complete a PEAR paragraph- P- E- A- R-

Homework Essay Question Choose a play which deals with important issue. Say what the concern is and go on to show how successfully or unsuccessfully it is dealt with by at least one of the characters. Complete this essay using TART and PEAR. Select quotations from the key quotation slides. This should take approximately 1 hour.