Context Flashcards
When did World War I take place?
World War I: 1914-1918.
What does World War I relate to in the play?
Highlights naivety/complacency before the war.
What is the audience impact of World War I in the play?
Mr. Birling’s ignorance.
What is Priestley’s intent regarding World War I?
Criticize upper-class ignorance; advocate for social change.
When did World War II take place?
World War II: 1939-1945.
What does World War II relate to in the play?
Written post-WWII, emphasizing social responsibility.
What is the audience impact of World War II in the play?
Receptive to cooperation message.
What is Priestley’s intent regarding World War II?
Highlight collective responsibility and mutual support.
How did the world wars affect British society?
Increased opportunities for women, changed class dynamics.
What does the change in British society relate to in the play?
Reflects dismantling of class structures.
What is the audience impact of the world wars on British society?
Empathy for class struggles.
What is Priestley’s intent regarding the impact of the world wars?
Advocate for social equality.
When did women over the age of 30 gain the right to vote in the UK?
Women’s right to vote: 1918.
What does women’s right to vote relate to in the play?
Shows progress in women’s rights.
What is the audience impact of women’s right to vote?
Importance of gender equality.
What is Priestley’s intent regarding women’s right to vote?
Promote fairness and equal treatment.
When did women gain equal voting rights with men in the UK?
Equal voting rights: 1928.
What does equal voting rights relate to in the play?
Continued progress in women’s rights.
What is the audience impact of equal voting rights?
Encourage advocacy for women’s rights.
What is Priestley’s intent regarding equal voting rights?
Illustrate gender injustices, call for reform.
How did women’s roles change during the world wars?
Women in workforce: Took on traditionally male roles.
What does the change in women’s roles relate to in the play?
Importance of valuing women’s work.
What is the audience impact of women’s roles changing during the world wars?
Recognize women’s contributions.
What is Priestley’s intent regarding women’s roles during the world wars?
Everyone deserves respect and opportunities.
What was the class system like in early 20th century Britain?
Highly stratified class system.
What does the class system relate to in the play?
Criticizes rigid class hierarchy.
What is the audience impact of the class system in early 20th century Britain?
Empathy for working class.
What is Priestley’s intent regarding the class system?
Social responsibility transcends class boundaries.
How is the class system portrayed in ‘An Inspector Calls’?
Birlings: Upper-middle class, Eva Smith: Working class.
What does the class system portrayal relate to in the play?
Highlights disparities/tensions between classes.
What is the audience impact of the class system portrayal?
Greater empathy for less fortunate.
What is Priestley’s intent regarding the class system portrayal?
Mutual respect and responsibility across classes.
What was the significance of the coal strikes in the early 20th century?
Coal strikes: Struggle for better wages/working conditions.
What does the coal strikes significance relate to in the play?
Exploitation faced by Eva Smith.
What is the audience impact of the coal strikes?
Support for fair labor practices.
What is Priestley’s intent regarding the coal strikes?
Emphasize dignity for workers.
When did the General Strike of 1926 take place?
General Strike: May 3-12, 1926.
What does the General Strike relate to in the play?
Reminds audience of workers’ rights struggles.
What is the audience impact of the General Strike?
Highlight social justice importance.
What is Priestley’s intent regarding the General Strike?
Advocate for improving working conditions.
When did the Titanic sink?
Titanic sank: April 15, 1912.
What does the Titanic sinking relate to in the play?
Symbolizes upper-class hubris.
What is the audience impact of the Titanic sinking?
Critique of Birling’s ignorance.
What is Priestley’s intent regarding the Titanic?
Criticize complacency/arrogance.
Why is the Titanic significant in the context of ‘An Inspector Calls’?
Titanic: Symbol of upper-class hubris/complacency.
What does the Titanic’s significance relate to in the play?
Mr. Birling’s naive confidence.
What is the audience impact of the Titanic’s significance?
Highlight Birling’s ignorance.
What is Priestley’s intent regarding the Titanic’s significance?
Critique false security/optimism.
When did the Holocaust take place?
Holocaust: 1941-1945.
What does the Holocaust relate to in the play?
Emphasizes consequences of prejudice, reminds audience of intolerance horrors.
What is the audience impact of the Holocaust?
Importance of social responsibility, prevent similar atrocities.
What is Priestley’s intent regarding the Holocaust?
Call for humanity, reject discrimination, highlight need for collective morality.
When was the NHS founded?
NHS founded: July 5, 1948.
What does the founding of the NHS relate to in the play?
Symbol of collective welfare.
What is the audience impact of the NHS founding?
Importance of social reforms.
What is Priestley’s intent regarding the NHS?
Show positive impact of social policies.
How did government help change after World War II?
Post-WWII: Extensive social reforms, welfare state creation.
What does the government change relate to in the play?
Necessity of equitable society.
What is the audience impact of government changes after WWII?
Understand need for government intervention.
What is Priestley’s intent regarding government changes after WWII?
Address social inequalities.
What are Priestley’s messages in ‘An Inspector Calls’?
Social responsibility, interconnectedness, empathy, reject arrogance.
What is the audience impact of Priestley’s messages?
Reflect on actions/responsibilities.
What is Priestley’s intent regarding his messages?
Inspire a just/caring society.
