'An Inspector Calls' and the morality play tradition
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how ‘An Inspector Calls’ draws on the morality play tradition.
Key learning points
- 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.
Keywords
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 misconception
Texts can only be compared to others from the same time period or literary movement.
In reality, comparing texts across different periods or movements can enrich understanding, as themes, ideas, and literary techniques often transcend time.
Teacher tip
You may wish to share some extracts from traditional morality plays for comparison, such as 'Everyman', 'The Castle of Perserverance' and even 'King Lear'.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of ‘An Inspector Calls’ by J.B. Priestley, Heinemann 2014 edition.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of mental health issues
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the style of theatre with its correct definition.
focuses on emotional experiences, often with exaggerated characters
depicts life realistically with true-to-life dialogue and settings
encourages critical thinking on social issues using alienation
promotes socialist ideals, showing heroic working-class figures
Q2.A theatrical tradition can be defined as:
Q3.Which is an example of literary context?
Q4.In his final speech in 'An Inspector Calls', which word does The Inspector not use?
Q5.'Alienation' is an important technique used in which style of politlcal theatre?
Q6.Which answer best describes how The Inspector functions as a moral omniscient figure in 'An Inspector Calls'? Arguably...
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is a key characteristic of a morality play?
Q2.Which character in 'An Inspector Calls' best represents virtue in the morality play tradition?
Q3.In a traditional morality play, what role does the 'everyman' character serve?
Q4.How does Priestley arguably modernise the morality play in 'An Inspector Calls'?
Q5.What functions do vice characters serve in morality plays?
Q6.Match the character from 'An Inspector Calls' to their associated vice in the morality play tradition:
hubris
envy
anger
pride
lust
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: 'An Inspector Calls' and the morality play tradition, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: 'An Inspector Calls' and the morality play tradition, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 English lessons from the ‘An Inspector Calls’: Priestley’s theatrical strategy; politics, genre, and form unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.