Literature Coursework

  1. Literature Coursework
  2. Improving AIC
  3. Zooming in on Sheila
  4. Zooming in on Mrs. Birling
  5. Improving arguments

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Literature Coursework

LO: To review our current coursework and prepare it for assessment

Expectations

  1. Bring a working, charged, connected device - ideally a laptop
  2. Read and implement feedback from Mr. Bruges
  3. Keep files ORGANISED and backed-up - "I lost it" is not an acceptable excuse
  4. Deadlines cannot be moved
  5. ChatGPT counts as cheating, and I will be able to tell.

SILENT COURSEWORK TIME

MACBETH AN INSPECTOR CALLS
Question How does Shakespeare explore the Supernatural in the play? How does Priestley present the role of women in the play?
Assessed on: Language analysis & context
(AO2 + AO4)		 Just language analysis
(AO2)
Feedback deadline: February 19th February 19th
Link to text: Macbeth An Inspector Calls

Questions can be changed by you! But speak to me first.

Kickstarting your paragraphs

  • Use this tool to help generate sentence starters and stems to begin your paragraphs.
  • Change the question to focus on specific parts of the play

🛵 Click to Kickstart!

This is an AI-powered tool, so always double-check the responses.

Macbeth key terminology

Score easy context marks by weaving these keywords into your answers (scroll to view):

Word Definition Example
Peripeteia A sudden change in fortune for the protagonist. Macbeth's peripeteia occurs when he learns that he has been made king.
Hamartia A tragic flaw or mistake that leads to the downfall of the hero. Macbeth's hamartia could be argued to be his unchecked ambition.
Anagnorisis A moment when the character makes a critical discovery. Macbeth's anagnorisis happens too late, as he realizes the witches deceived him.
Dramatic irony When the audience knows something the characters do not. The audience experiences dramatic irony when the audience knows Macbeth is doomed, but he still believes in his invincibility.
Aristotelian tragedy A form of drama that presents a serious story about human suffering. Macbeth is an Aristotelian tragedy, showcasing the hero's fall due to his flaws.
Denouement The resolution or conclusion of the story following the climax. The denouement of Macbeth unfolds with his death and Malcolm's ascension to the throne.
Catastrophe The final event in a tragedy leading to the hero's downfall. Macbeth's catastrophe occurs when the armies of Malcolm march on the castle.
Hubris Excessive pride or self-confidence leading to a character's downfall. Macbeth's hubris leads him to reject the warnings of his fate, resulting in his demise.

Improving AIC

LO: to zoom in more closely on the language used in the play

Summarise the main events in each of the thre acts

Act Main events
1 🍷
2 🤰
3 ❓

Why do you think the play is split into 3 acts?

Full Play Text 📖

Act One

  • The Birling family are celebrating Sheila and Gerald Croft's engagement
  • They are interrupted by the arrival of the Inspector, investigating suicide of Eva Smith
  • Mr Birling is spoken to first, he had fired her from factory for striking over pay
  • Next is Sheila: had Eva fired from a shop because of jealousy

Act Two

  • Gerald's connection is revealed: he had given Eva money and a flat
  • Mrs. Birling is then questioned. She had refused to give charity to the pregnant Eva because of "impertinence" - Eva had called herself 'Mrs. Birling'

Act Three

  • Finally, Eric is questioned. He and Eva had had an affair, she became pregnant and refused money he had stolen from the Birling factory
  • The inspector leaves, Gerald realises he was not a policeman and it was all a 'hoax'; but finally the phone rings telling them a girl has died and an inspector is on the way

Priestley bases the play at around 1912 as he makes Mr Birling say “the Germans don’t want to go to war,” and he also mentions the Titanic, “They’ve made unsinkable ships". This adds dramatic irony to the play as the people watching the play know that the German did go to war with the world and that the Titanic actually did sink. Priestley makes Mr Birling say this not only to add dramatic irony but also to give us an idea what time the play was based around. From the beginning of the play, Priestly has engaged the audience of the play with his reference of the key historic moments.

LEVEL 3 - More analysis of language would have benefitted this response, 15 marks.

Priestley introduces Mr. Birling through a speech in which he says "in 1940 – you may be giving a little party like this". Here, Priestley uses dramatic irony to emphasises Birling's ignorance of future events, such as the sinking of the Titanic and the outbreak of the second world war. By repeatedly using the word "you", Priestley also has Birling speak as though he is addressing the audience directly. This causes us to feel critical towards the character, aware that what he says is incorrect and ignorant. The specific date of "1940" links the play to the reality of the audience, contrasting Birling's naivety with the disaster of the Second World War.

Zooming in on Sheila

LO: To consider how we can enhance our language analysis of in drama coursework

Write one sentence about An Inspector Calls for each of these terms:

  • cyclical
  • foreshadowing
  • microcosm
  • "Priestley's play is..." "In Act 1, we see..." "The events are used as as a....."

Can't remember what they mean? Look them up!

Full Play Text 📖

Revisiting Sheila

With your partner, draw a timeline of key moments for Sheila over the course of the play, thinking about her actions and interactions with other characters.

Add short quotations for each event

🍷-->💍-->🕵️‍♂️-->🏭-->🛍️-->🤰-->💍-->📞

At which point is Sheila the most important character on the stage? Why?

Sheila, before and after the Inspector

GERALD: (He produces a ring case.)
SHEILA: (excited) Oh – Gerald – you’ve got it – is it the one you wanted me to have?
GERALD: Yes – the very one.
SHEILA: (taking out the ring) Oh – it’s wonderful! Look – mummy – isn’t it a beauty? Oh – darling – (she kisses Gerald hastily.)
ERIC: Steady the buffs!
SHEILA: (who has put the ring on, admiringly) I think it’s perfect. Now I really feel engaged.
MRS BIRLING: So you ought, darling. It’s a lovely ring. Be careful with it.
SHEILA: Careful! I’ll never let it go out of my sight for an instant.

MRS BIRLING: Don’t be childish, Sheila.
SHEILA: (flaring up) I’m not being. If you want to know, it’s you two who are being childish – trying not to face the facts.
BIRLING: I won’t have that sort of talk. Any more of that and you leave this room.
ERIC: That’ll be terrible for her, won’t it?
SHEILA: I’m going anyhow in a minute or two. But don’t you see, if all that’s come out tonight is true, then it doesn’t much matter who it was who made us confess. And it was true, wasn’t it?

How has she changed? Discuss with partner and note down four ways.

Why does Priestley show this transformation?

Zooming in on language

  1. Point → "Priestley wants to..."
  2. Evidence → "We can see this in..."
  3. Analysis → "This suggests..."
  4. Explanation → "By doing this, Priestley emphasises..."

Instead of picking one quotation for a character: pick two from different points in the play and compare!

Zooming in on Mrs. Birling

LO: to forensically focus on the use of language

Find and copy down one quotation for Mrs. Birling from each Act.

Rank your quotes by importance. Which is the most and why?

or

"Mrs. Birling is the only truly honest member of the family."
Do you agree? Why/why not? Support with 3 quotations.

Full Play Text 📖

Mrs. Birling Recap

With your partner, mind-map everything we know about Sybil Birling. Consider: her background, her behaviour, her actions, her speech...

Mrs. Birling is...

Support with quotations

MRS BIRLING: If you think you can bring any pressure to bear upon me, Inspector, you’re quite mistaken. Unlike the other three, I did nothing I’m ashamed of or that won’t bear investigation. The girl asked for assistance. We were asked to look carefully into the claims made upon us. I wasn’t satisfied with the girl’s claim – she seemed to me not a good case – and so I used my influence to have it refused. And in spite of what’s happened to the girl since, I consider I did my duty. So if I prefer not to discuss it any further, you have no power to make me change my mind.

1️. "The girl asked for assistance.”

Mrs. Birling

2️. "The young woman begged for help!”

Mrs Birling (Mr. Bruges version)

Which line shows more compassion? Why? Discuss with partner
Then, note down THREE ways that the two versions differ, and how they change the emotion of the line

Re-write the original line to even more cruel and uncaring.

Ms. Vs Mrs. - considering the two Birlings

Note down the similarities and differences between the two female members of the family.

👵 Sybil Sheila 👧
Similarities:
Differences:

Zooming in on language

How does Priestley explore the attitudes of women in the play?

  1. Point → "Priestley wants to..."
  2. Evidence → "We can see this in..."
  3. Analysis → "This suggests..."
  4. Explanation → "By doing this, Priestley emphasises..."

Instead of picking one quotation for a character: pick two from different points in the play and compare!

Priestley wants to highlight the differences between the generations, through the contrasting attitudes of Sheila and Sybil.
We can see this in the cold and unemotional presentation of Mrs. Birling: "The girl asked for assistance." The use of neutral language, and a short sentence without exclamation shows Mrs. Birling's emotional control and lack of concern for Eva.
By contrast, Sheila is much more personal and emotional when confronted by the Inspector: "[I] am desperately sorry." The use of the first person shows her personal connection, and the emotive adverb desperately also conveys the emotional impact the death has had on her.
By doing this, Priestley further emphasises the gulf between the two generations, with the younger appearing more compassionate and caring.

Improving arguments

LO: to consider how we can strengthen the AO1 of our coursework essays

Finish this sentence.
Through the play, I would argue that Priestley wants us to understand...

Summarise your AIC coursework thesis in two sentences.

Make sure you have your coursework open in front of you, so we can make edits as we go.

Linking to the question

How does Priestley present the roles of women in the play?

(or your tweaked question)

  • I would argue that...
  • Priestley shows the audience how...
  • Through these characters, Priestley emphasises...
  • Overall, Priestley argues that...

Where are your drafts?

Get your laptop and get ready to share your progress

  • Your drafts must be in the Google Folder shared with you last term
  • I will NOT provide feedback or accept any work that is emailed, faxed, posted or handed to me
  • No draft, no feedback