An Inspector Calls is a core part of GCSE English Literature. Revise the key concepts and common mistakes below, then lock them in with the free games.
Key concepts
Dramatic ironyAudience sees Birling's confidence as ridiculous.
Sheila's arcFrom spoilt fiancee to social conscience.
Eric's arcFrom drunken son to admitting cruelty.
Sybil's denialRefuses charity to a 'girl of that sort'.
Gerald's compromiseHelps expose hoax theory; tries to slip back.
Older vs youngerGenerational divide is structural to the play.
Morality playDrama designed to teach a moral lesson
SocialismBelief in shared wealth and collective responsibility
CapitalismEconomic system based on private profit
Inspector GooleMysterious figure who interrogates the Birlings
Eva SmithWorking-class woman whose suicide drives the plot
Cyclical endingFinal phone call restarts the lesson.
Welfare state1945 reforms Priestley supported.
AllegoryEva = millions of working women.
Common mistakes to avoid
Questions where students often pick the tempting wrong answer — make sure you know the right one:
What does analysing a novel involve?✗ Summarising the plot of the story. ✓ Examining how the writer uses character, structure, language and themes.
Is setting just where a story happens?✗ Yes, setting is only background detail. ✓ No — it can build atmosphere, reflect themes and shape character.
Practise An Inspector Calls — free games
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