Questions on Act 1 of An Inspector Calls

Last updated: 15/11/2023
Contributor: Teachit Author
Questions on Act 1
Main Subject
Key stage
Category
Drama: Modern drama
Resource type
Homework
Revision
Student activity
Author
J.B. Priestley
Time period
Post-1900
Title
An Inspector Calls

A comprehensive set of questions on the first 11 pages from the beginning of J.B Priestley's play to consolidate students' understanding of Act 1 of An Inspector Calls. 

The questions guide students through the exposition of the play and are sectioned according to each of the main characters: Mr Birling, Eric, Gerald, Sheila and Mrs Birling.

There are questions that help students address issues of context, allowing them to consider the implications of the period, including impending world war, the sinking of the Titanic and the exploitation of cheap labour by wealthy people, such as the Birling family.

An essential piece of guidance for students studying for GCSE English Literature, this helpful resource enables them to interrogate issues that are essential to a thorough An Inspector Calls Act 1 analysis.

Browse additional An Inspector Calls by JB Priestley resources in the An Inspector Calls section.

 

 

Example questions from the teaching resource: 

  1. Why does Mr Birling go on about the Port?
  2. Why does he fail in what he tries to do?
  3. What does Sheila mean by ‘purple faced old men’?
  4. Do you know what ‘reproachfully’ means?  Use a dictionary to check if you are not sure. 
  5. What does Mrs Birling criticise Arthur for?
  6. Does this show anything about Mrs Birling's character?

All reviews

Have you used this resource?

5

22/03/2021

5

30/09/2020

5

25/05/2020

Hi Lisa
Sorry to say that our contributor hasn't written a set for the other acts. If you end up making your own, please consider sending them to the site for everyone to benefit!
Best wishes

Helen Stacey, Teachit English Editor

22/05/2019

5

22/03/2021

5

30/09/2020

5

25/05/2020

Hi Lisa
Sorry to say that our contributor hasn't written a set for the other acts. If you end up making your own, please consider sending them to the site for everyone to benefit!
Best wishes

Helen Stacey, Teachit English Editor

22/05/2019

Thank you - I found this useful. Have you created the same for the other Acts?

Lisa Seymour

14/05/2019

Hi Sarah,
Sorry you found it unhelpful not having the edition marked on the resource. I have now added this. If you don't have this edition, the questions run chronologically from the start of the play.
Kind regards

Helen Stacey, Teachit English Editor

22/10/2018

Which version of the text do the page numbers relate to? This isn't made clear, rendering the resource quite unhelpful.

Sarah Duncombe

19/10/2018

5

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