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Year 11 - English

The Inspector as a supernatural figure in 'An Inspector Calls'

An Inspector Calls: perspectives on crime, justice and the role of the Inspector

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils explore how Priestly presents the Inspector and crime and punishment in 'An Inspector Calls'. They first look at different ways of interpreting the Inspector, before then thinking about what messages about crime and punishment Priestly is communicating.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to analyse the Inspector's supernatural qualities.

Key Notes

  • The Inspector's supernatural traits suggest he operates beyond conventional reality, elevating his role.
  • His eerie knowledge and prophetic understanding hint at an otherworldly presence creating tension and unease.
  • The Inspector's mysterious arrival and departure imply a figure beyond human law enforcement.
  • His true identity remains unclear, leading the audience to question his divine or ghostly nature.
  • Priestley uses the supernatural to elevate the moral and social themes including crime, punishment and justice.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • supernatural: beyond the natural world, often linked to magic, ghosts, or divine forces that defy logical explanation
  • transcends: to rise above or go beyond ordinary limits, surpassing human understanding
  • omniscience: knowing and seeing everything, past, present, and future
  • prophetic: foretelling the future with mystical insight, suggesting knowledge of events yet to come
  • divine: relating to a god or supreme being, associated with ultimate moral authority or supernatural power

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • The Inspector is a ghost and his supernatural qualitites should be interpreted literally.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.

The Inspector's supernatural traits suggest he operates beyond conventional reality, elevating his role. His eerie knowledge and prophetic understanding hint at an otherworldly presence creating tension and unease.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'supernatural'

beyond the natural world, often linked to magic, ghosts, or divine forces that defy logical explanation.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: The Inspector is a ghost and his supernatural qualitites should be interpreted literally. Correction: Whilst this is one interpretation, it must be considered alongside the symbolic value of the Inspector's supernatural elements and Priestley's purpose.

More Lessons In This Unit

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