1. To explore the different themes of the play and their representation
Sunday, 02 December 2018
An Inspector Calls Act 1
To explore the different themes of the play and their representation
Themes

2. Act One: Reading Parts Stage Directions Mr Birling Gerald Sheila
Mrs Birling
Edna
Eric
Inspector

3. Understanding Act 1 How does Birling sound selfish in this act?
How do the other characters react to his involvement?
Are any of them sympathetic towards Eva Smith?
What do you think the Inspector’s role is?
What is different about the way Sheila responds to that of her father?
Are they right in the way they reject/accept responsibility? Why?
How can we link these ideas to the context of the play?

4. Setting the Scene
Look at the opening stage directions of the play, the Inspector’s entrance (page 11) and the end of Act One (page 26).
What is the atmosphere at the start of the play?
How does the atmosphere change after the Inspector enters?
What is the atmosphere at the end of Act One?

5. What is a theme? An underlying message, or 'big idea' in a story
A belief about life that the writer is trying to convey in the writing of a novel, play, short story or poem
It goes beyond cultural barriers, and is usually universal in nature
It touches on the human experience, regardless of race or language
It is what the story means

6. Themes in An Inspector Calls
Wealth & Power
Generations
Blame & Responsibility
Political & Social Classes
Morality
Gender

7. Definitions

8. Themes in Act 1

9. Home Learning: Act 1 Questions
What is Birling’s attitude to the future and the progress he foresees? What are we meant to think of his attitude? Why?
Why does the front door bell ring when it does?
Why does Birling start to ‘move restlessly’?
What is the mood in the room when Sheila enters? How does Sheila react to the Inspector’s news?
Why does Sheila react so violently to the photograph? How is Sheila’s reaction different to other characters’?
How is Sheila affected by her realisation?
Why do you think Priestley chose to have Sheila and Mr Birling interrogated in the same Act, one after the other?
What does the Inspector mean by a ‘chain of events’?
Answer questions in full sentences