anything related to literature, including writing, analysis, and appreciation of written works

a clear, focused statement in an essay that presents the main argument

tension between younger and older people, often in a family, for example a parent and child

when you embed context into paragraphs rather than including it as a series of isolated facts

Using context effectively in ‘An Inspector Calls’ essays

English

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.

Modern text: third deep dive

What was happening when the text was written?

What were the shared ideas/values of the time?

What influenced the text’s style or genre?

How might the life experiences of the author have influenced the text?

Match the different types of context to the correct description.

You can weave context into your topic sentences.

You only need to weave context into your thesis.

You can weave context when looking at writer's intentions.

You can weave context into your language analysis.

You must weave context into the final sentence of every paragraph.

A pupil asks: "At what moments in my essay can I weave in context?" How could you reply?

Which word or phrase best completes this sentence: 'In an 'An Inspector Calls' essay, you should weave context __________ your essay.'

Which different types of context can we think about including in a 'An Inspector Calls' essay?

presenting it as a series of isolated facts

embedding it into a range of different moments in an essay

having a table of different types of context

including all four types of context into each paragraph

writing a sentence about context at the end of each paragraph

A pupil defines what it means to weave context into a 'An Inspector Calls' essay. Which is the correct definition?

Stating that Priestley was born in 1894 without linking it to the play.

Linking the play to the tradition of expressionism and Priestley's intentions.

Listing historical events from 1912 in relation to a key quotation.

Describing Priestley’s political beliefs.

Which of these is an example of using literary context effectively for an 'An Inspector Calls' essay?

A style that focuses on realism and everyday life.

A style that presents a distorted reality to reflect emotions and ideas.

A form of theatre that aims to entertain without deeper meaning.

A naturalistic representation of working-class struggles.

Which of the following best describes expressionism in theatre?

immerse the audience fully in the world of the play.

encourage the audience to feel strong emotional attachment to the characters

create distance between audience and play, encouraging critical reflection

make theatre purely for entertainment purposes

What is the key aim of Brechtian theatre?

What was the dominant political ideology behind socialist realism?

the text's genre, style and publication history

the dominant attitudes and values when the text was written

what was happening when the text was written

When writing an essay on 'An Inspector Calls', you should include context. We can think of context in four different ways. Match the type of context to its meaning.

The use of dramatic irony to create suspense.

The Inspector’s direct address to the audience to provoke thought.

The symbolic use of lighting to highlight themes of guilt and responsibility.

The realistic portrayal of the Birling's home and their domestic setting.

Which elements of 'An Inspector Calls' can be considered naturalistic?

Is this statement true or false? Propaganda can be described as: information, often biased, used to promote or influence public opinion.

Starter Quiz