Year 11 - English
'An Inspector Calls' and the morality play tradition
'An Inspector Calls': Priestley's theatrical strategy; politics, genre, and form
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Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils look at how Priestly uses dramatic forms to present his ideas. They look at naturalism and expressionism, before thinking about how the play fits with Brechtian theatre and the morality play tradition. They finally write about how Priestly uses form to present his ideas.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain how 'An Inspector Calls' draws on the morality play tradition.
Key Notes
- Morality plays personify virtues and vices to teach moral lessons.
- Priestley uses the Inspector as the embodiment of virtue.
- Eva Smith represents social injustice, subverting the 'everyman' protagonist.
- The Birlings act as vice characters, highlighting moral failings of the upper class.
- The play's structure mirrors a morality play, leading to judgment and reflection.
Vocabulary To Learn
- virtue: behaviour that reflects high moral standards
- vice: immoral or wicked behaviour
- allegorical: having symbolic or deeper meaning
- hubris: excessive pride or self-confidence, often leading to arrogance and a disregard for others or consequences
- antagonistic: opposing or actively resisting something, often in a hostile or combative manner
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Texts can only be compared to others from the same time period or literary movement.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Morality plays personify virtues and vices to teach moral lessons. Priestley uses the Inspector as the embodiment of virtue.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'virtue'
behaviour that reflects high moral standards.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Texts can only be compared to others from the same time period or literary movement. Correction: In reality, comparing texts across different periods or movements can enrich understanding, as themes, ideas, and literary techniques often transcend time.
More Lessons In This Unit
- 'An Inspector Calls' as Brechtian theatre and socialist realism Study Guide
- Considering 'An Inspector Calls' as a political text Study Guide
- Narrative voice and subjective truth in 'An Inspector Calls' Study Guide
- Naturalism and expressionism in 'An Inspector Calls' Study Guide
- Using context effectively in 'An Inspector Calls' essays Study Guide
- Writing a response on 'An Inspector Calls' and theatrical traditions Study Guide
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