context

• when are where was Priestley born?

  Bradford, 1894
• what happened to Priestley during WW1?

  he survived a gas attack.
• why did Priestley leave Cambridge university?

  to be a writer in London.
• how was Priestley raised?

  brought up around his father's circle of friends who were all socialists.
• what were men expected to do in 1912 (middle class)?

  work to support their "perfect family" and to protect women, especially their wives and daughters.
• what were women expected to do in 1912 (middle class)?

  marry into money so they didn't have to work, and plan parties, visit friends, and have children. They didn't do domestic jobs.
• what was the relationship between parents and children like in 1912 (middle class)?

  parents were in charge of the family and children were expected to be obedient and unquestioning.
• what happens to the Birling family's hierarchy once the Inspector arrives?

  it's destroyed; without their parent's influence, Eric and Sheila can think for themselves.
• who were allowed to vote in 1912?

  only men who owned property.
• who were allowed to vote in 1945?

  all men and women over 21.
• the world wars made people question what about Britain?

  social structure: socialism and other left wing ideas which call for more equal sharing out of wealth and power became more popular.
• what did the Labour party focus on improving in 1948?

  the welfare system to look after the needs of the poorest in British society; like the development of the NHS in 1948.
• what political view was Priestley?

  socialist
• what university was Priestley accepted in to?

  Cambridge
• which war did Priestley fight in?

  WW1
• why was Priestley's radio show cancelled by the BBC?

  for being too critical of the British government.
• how were attitudes towards women different in 1945?


  women were able to vote, many were housewives but the war had given women the taste of what it was like to have a job, they were now less likely to go into prostitution.
• how were attitudes towards women the same in 1945?

  men and women didn't have equal pay, many women were housewives and were still regarded second best to men.
• how were attitudes towards proletariat/the unemployed different in 1945?

  working conditions were better and some benefits were available for the unemployed.
• how were the social classes different in 1945?

  after the war, the difference between the lower and upper classes was smaller.
• what year is 'An Inspector Calls' set in?

  1912
• what year was 'An Inspector Calls' written?

  1945
• what is the Welfare State?

  free education and free medical care.
• what happened in 1945 in terms of political parties?

  Labour win a landslide victory.
• what is the proletariat class?

  ordinary, working class people
• why were many women in 1912 forced to prostitution?

  due to being poor and they had very few job oppurtunities.
• what was job security like for workers in 1912?

  not very good, if you got fired thwn you wouldn't get any references which made getting another job very difficult.
• how were women treated in 1912?

  women couldn't vote and were regarded second best to men, lower class women were paid less than lower class men.
• which characters represent capitalism?

  Mr and Mrs Birling
• what characters represent socialism?

  Inspector Goole and Eva Smith
• in 1910s, what percentage of rich individuals owned the majority of Britain's wealth?

  1%
• why did Priestley set his play in 1912 when it was written in 1945?

  to emphasise the difference between classes across the 2 time periods. It encourages the audience to understand more socialist views.