AN INSPECTOR CALLS: Complete Essay Plan That Fits EVERY Possible Question

Summary

The video presents a flexible essay plan for J. B. Priestley’s An Inspector Calls, built around eight short quotations that can be adapted to questions about characters and themes.

Exam approach

• The exam question will focus on either a character or a theme, with no extract to rely on.
• Students therefore need to learn quotations and analysis in advance. The presenter argues that, with good preparation, having no extract gives students more control over the evidence they use.
• The key is not just memorising quotations, but learning how to interpret and adapt them to different questions.
• Main areas for revision include the Birling family, Gerald Croft and Inspector Goole, as well as themes such as class, capitalism, socialism, responsibility, gender and patriarchy.

Eight adaptable quotations

1. “Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable” — Mr Birling

   • Birling says this about the Titanic before the Inspector arrives.
   • The Titanic can symbolise wealth, status, progress and capitalism.
   • The line creates dramatic irony because the audience knows the Titanic sank. It can also foreshadow the challenge to Birling’s assumptions that the Inspector represents.
   • The quotation links to the family’s belief that their wealth and status make them untouchable, and to the Inspector’s challenge to capitalist individualism.

2. “Well-bred young man” — Gerald

   • The word “bred” is associated with raising or training someone.
   • Gerald’s upbringing can be seen as shaped by his wealthy family and social class, limiting his freedom despite his privilege.
   • The quotation can support discussion of the restrictive side of wealth and patriarchy, and the influence of social expectations on Gerald’s behaviour.

3. “Quite young and pretty” — Sheila

   • Sheila asks this about Eva Smith after learning that a young woman has died.
   • Her question suggests that she initially measures a woman’s value by her appearance and youth.
   • The quotation can be used to discuss how patriarchal values shape women’s views of themselves and one another, as well as Sheila’s initial participation in attitudes she later challenges.

4. “Fire and blood and anguish” — Inspector Goole

   • The Inspector warns the family of the consequences of refusing to change.
   • The forceful three-part phrase can be read as a warning of punishment for moral wrongdoing or of future conflict and suffering.
   • It supports arguments about responsibility, accountability and the need for social change.

5. “Girls of that class” — Mrs Birling

   • The plural “girls” groups working-class women together rather than treating Eva as an individual.
   • This can be read as dehumanisation: the upper classes stereotype poorer people and use those assumptions to excuse their treatment of them.
   • The quotation can be applied to class prejudice, gender, capitalism and the characters’ attempts to avoid responsibility.

6. “A man has to make his own way, look after himself and his family” — Mr Birling

   • The presenter focuses on the order of ideas: individual success comes first, followed by concern for family.
   • The line expresses Birling’s individualism and his view of masculine responsibility. The state of his family, however, suggests the personal cost of prioritising wealth and ambition.
   • It can be used to discuss capitalism, patriarchy, family relationships and the contrast between Birling’s values and the Inspector’s message.

7. “We are members of one body” — Inspector Goole

   • The Inspector uses the body as a metaphor for society: people are interconnected, and harm to one person affects everyone.
   • “Members” suggests that everyone has a part to play and a responsibility to contribute.
   • The quotation links to solidarity and the rejection of divisions based on class, wealth or gender.

8. “A good sport” — Eric

   • Eric’s description of Eva reduces her to an object associated with his pleasure rather than recognising her as a person.
   • The quotation can be used to discuss the dehumanising effects of patriarchy and male privilege.
   • The family’s reactions are also significant: they seem more disturbed by Eric taking money than by the harm done to Eva.

Recommended revision method

1. Write down the eight quotations and place them at the centre of a page or revision map.
2. Add the main characters and themes around them.
3. Practise explaining how each quotation relates to different characters and themes.
4. Write practice paragraphs using these links rather than relying only on past papers.
5. Identify your strongest quotations and interpretations, then prioritise them in the exam.

The presenter’s preferred four adaptable quotations are “unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable,” “quite young and pretty,” “fire and blood and anguish,” and “we are members of one body.”

Speakers and sources

• Speaker: Mr Everything English
• Literary work: J. B. Priestley’s play An Inspector Calls