Worksheet on An Inspector Calls: Dramatic Techniques and Mythological Themes
English
GCSE
8 questions
~16 mins
1 views0 downloads
About This Worksheet
A worksheet exploring Dramatic Techniques in 'An Inspector Calls' with a thematic link to Mythology, designed for GCSE students to develop analytical and creative skills.
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Worksheet on An Inspector Calls: Dramatic Techniques and Mythological Themes
Subject: EnglishGrade: GCSE
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Untitled Worksheet
Grade GCSE
A
Scene Summary and Context
In J.B. Priestley's 'An Inspector Calls', a tense interrogation unfolds in a Victorian middle-class household. The scene is set with a pivotal moment where the Inspector arrives unexpectedly, disrupting the family’s evening and revealing uncomfortable truths. The play explores themes of social responsibility, guilt, and deception, using a mixture of dramatic techniques such as characterisation, symbolism, and dramatic irony. The Inspector himself functions as a moral enforcer, akin to mythological figures like Nemesis, bringing justice and truth to the surface. The play’s structure, with its cyclical timeline and probing dialogue, heightens tension and invites the audience to reflect on societal morals. For analysis, consider phrases like 'massiveness of the house' to symbolise security, contrasted with 'a chain of events' representing interconnected fate. Priestley's use of language and stagecraft enhances the play's underlying messages about responsibility and morality, reminiscent of mythological tales where gods or heroes confront human flaws.
B
Dramatic Techniques in 'An Inspector Calls'
Answer the questions below related to the dramatic techniques used in the play.
1.
Identify a dramatic device used when the Inspector appears unexpectedly. Explain its effect.
[2 marks]2.
What is the significance of the lighting during the Inspector's entrance?
[2 marks]3.
Describe how Priestley uses dialogue to develop the character of Mrs. Birling.
[4 marks]4.
Explain the role of dramatic irony in the play’s climax.
[3 marks]5.
Select the phrase that best symbolises the moral judgment in the play: 'massiveness of the house', 'a chain of events', 'the sunlight of truth'.
[1 mark]Aa) 'massiveness of the house'
Bb) 'a chain of events'
Cc) 'the sunlight of truth'
C
Mythological Themes in 'An Inspector Calls'
Priestley's play can be linked to mythological themes of justice, fate, and divine punishment. The Inspector resembles mythic figures like Nemesis, who is tasked with rebalancing moral order. The characters’ actions and the play’s cyclical structure evoke mythic stories where human flaws lead to inevitable consequences. Consider the phrase 'a chain of events' as a motif illustrating interconnected fate, comparable to the Greek concept of Moira or the Norse concept of fate. Priestley invites the audience to view societal responsibility through a mythological lens, where divine or moral justice ensures balance and order.
1.
Analyse how the character of the Inspector can be seen as a mythological figure of justice.
[5 marks]2.
Describe the symbolic significance of 'a chain of events' in relation to mythological beliefs about fate.
[2 marks]D
Creative Writing: Mythological Reflection
Write a short myth-inspired monologue from the perspective of the Inspector, reflecting on justice and morality. Use at least three dramatic techniques in your writing.
1.
Compose a 20-line monologue that embodies the Inspector's moral authority, drawing on mythological archetypes.
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Details
- Created
- 12/31/2025
- Updated
- 12/31/2025
- Type
- worksheet