Setting And Context Flashcards
1
Q
What is meant by class?
A
Way of grouping people in society based on social status and wealth. Upper , middle , working.
2
Q
What is the upper class?
A
- have the most money and status
- born into established families, born with wealth
- own land and property
- often dukes, sirs and lords
3
Q
What is the middle class?
A
- recently earned money
- usually well educated with a good profession (doctors or lawyers)
- upper dislike middle as have similar wealth but middle do not have the social status
4
Q
What is the working class?
A
- poorest in society
- work for others
- low wages and work doing manual labour
- some are unemployed
5
Q
What is capitalism?
A
- right wing
- individualism
- free markets
- individuals own businesses
6
Q
What is socialism?
A
- left wing
- collectivism
- state interventionism
- state owned businesses , distribution of wealth
7
Q
Who was J.B Priestley ?
A
- born 1894 , middle class suburban family
- fought in ww1, spent months in hospital injured and fought alongside men of all classes
- economic depression after war, Priestley was influenced by his fathers socialist views
- had a radio show during ww2 , presenting his views. It was taken down.
- wrote AIC in 1945, he was a novelist , player writer, essayist and political commentator until his death in 1984
8
Q
How does the timing of the play effect how it was written?
A
- ww1 and ww2 were major contributors to the erosion of classism and gender divisions
- labour had grown massively winning election in 1924 and winning a landslide in 1945 with clement atlee. His government established the welfare states , NHS and new housing estates
9
Q
What were the midlands like in 1912?
A
- key area of industrial revolution
- growth of factories meant more workers
- low wages in country side
- unhygienic work
- increase in low skilled workers meant factory workers could get rich
- conditions were improving but no benefits if people lost jobs or fell ill
10
Q
Gender equality in 1912?
A
- women considered weaker sec , brought up to raise children and marry
- patriarchy
- men dominated all aspects of life
- men and women had specific roles
- women in wealthy families expected to look after children
- domestic women took low paying jobs and were payed less than men
11
Q
Political movements in 1912?
A
- trade unions , securing higher pay and better conditions for workers. National strike in 1912 secured the minimum wage for coal miners.
- suffragettes campaign
- labour party gaining support
12
Q
Attitudes towards morality in 1912?
A
- central to society , as church was still a massive influence
- middle class wanted to appear respectable
- towns had temptations like sex, gambling and alcohol. Men enjoyed themselves and hid it from their families.
13
Q
How should stage directions be written about ?
A
- what certain things symbolise
- how they effect the play
- how they show characters thoughts
14
Q
How does Priestley describe the dining room set ?
A
- show billings as having a high social class
- large expensive furniture
- all characters seated shows relaxed mood, edna is standing as she is inferior
- suburban house (town , city ) means they are not upper class and explains why birling is so desperate for the knighthood
- stage isn’t warm , family is missing love
15
Q
How do props reflect the family?
A
- champagne glasses shows wealth
- table with no table cloth , shows wealth
