Social Class

General Essay Plan

Social Class

  • Thesis statement

    • An idea

      • Layer 1

      • Layer 2

      • Layer 3

    • Reason for idea

      • Layer 1

      • Layer 2

      • Layer 3

    • Evidence for idea

      • Layer 1

      • Layer 2

      • Layer 3

  • Layer 1

    • Topic sentence

    • Quotes

    • Context

  • Layer 2

    • Topic sentence

    • Quotes

    • Context

  • Layer 3

    • Topic sentence

    • Quotes

    • Context

Question Bank

Question Topic

Year

Document

Status

Importance of social class

2018

Theme & Context

Past Paper

Society as unfair

2021

Theme & Context

Past Paper

Inequality leading to tragedy

2022

Theme & Context

Past Paper

Mrs Birling and social class

2024

Character & Relationships

Past Paper

Ideas about power

2025

Theme & Context

Past Paper

Relationship: Eva & Mr Birling (Social injustice)

N/A

Character & Relationships

Extra

Relationship: Eva & Mrs Birling (The poor)

N/A

Character & Relationships

Extra

Relationship: Sheila & Mrs Birling (Class)

N/A

Character & Relationships

Extra

Mrs Birling's attitudes toward the poor

N/A

Character & Relationships

Extra

Inspector: Equality and injustice

N/A

Character & Relationships

Extra

Past Paper Questions

2018

(2018) How does Priestley explore the importance of social class in An Inspector Calls?

Write about:

  • some ideas about social class in the play

  • how Priestley presents the importance of social class.

[30 marks]

AO4 [4 marks]

2021

(2021) How far does Priestley present society as unfair in An Inspector Calls?

Write about:

  • what can be seen as unfair in the play

  • how far Priestley presents society as unfair.

[30 marks]

AO4 [4 marks]

2022

(2022) ‘Priestley shows how inequality in society leads to tragedy.’

How far do you agree with this view of An Inspector Calls?

Write about:

  • what happens in the play

  • how Priestley presents what happens in the play.

[30 marks]

AO4 [4 marks]

2024

(2024) How does Priestley use the character of Mrs Birling to explore ideas about social class?

Write about:

  • what Mrs Birling says and does

  • how Priestley presents Mrs Birling.

[30 marks]

AO4 [4 marks]

2025

(2025) How does Priestley present ideas about power in An Inspector Calls?

Write about:

  • some of the ideas about power that are shown in the play

  • how Priestley presents ideas about power.

[30 marks]

AO4 [4 marks]

Indicative content

Examiners are encouraged to reward any valid interpretations. Answers might, however, include some of the following:

AO1

  • details of Mr Birling and his attempts to use his social status to intimidate the Inspector

  • details of the Inspector’s power over others, e.g. controlling who sees the photograph

  • details of Mrs Birling’s use of her position on the charity committee to influence the committee

  • details of Eric and Gerald's abuse of their power and wealth to exploit Eva Smith

  • details of Eva's lack of power in Edwardian society

AO2

  • the presentation of Mr and Mrs Birling through their reactions to the Inspector

  • the differing presentations of the characters' power over Eva Smith, e.g. relation to the Inspector

  • the use of stage directions and lighting to show the Inspector's authority / presence

  • the use of language by the different characters to exert authority or show power

  • the way the characters' use of language shifts throughout the play

AO3

  • ideas about how class dictates power and status in a capitalist society

  • ideas about differences in power between men and women in Edwardian society

  • ideas about the lack of power for the working classes / lower classes

  • ideas about different manifestations of power

Extra Questions

Eva Smith, Mr Birling & Social Injustice

How does Priestley use the relationship between Eva Smith and Mr Birling to explore ideas about social injustice in An Inspector Calls?

Write about:

  • some ideas about social injustice in the play

  • how Priestley presents the relationship between Eva Smith and Mr Birling throughout the play

[30 marks]

AO4 [4 marks]

Eva Smith, Mrs Birling & The Poor

How does Priestley use the relationship between Eva and Mrs Birling to explore different attitudes towards the poor in An Inspector Calls?

Write about:

  • how the relationship between Eva and Mrs Birling is presented throughout the play

  • what some of their attitudes towards the poor are

[30 marks]

AO4 [4 marks]

Sheila, Mrs Birling & Class

How does Priestley use the relationship between Sheila and Mrs Birling to explore different attitudes towards class in An Inspector Calls?

Write about:

  • how Priestley presents the relationship between Sheila and Mrs Birling

  • what some of their attitudes to class are

[30 marks]

AO4 [4 marks]

Mrs Birling & The Poor

How does Priestley use Mrs Birling to explore different attitudes towards the poor in An Inspector Calls?

Write about:

  • what Mrs Birling says and does throughout the play

  • what some of her attitudes towards the poor are and how they contrast with others

[30 marks]

AO4 [4 marks]

The Inspector, Equality & Injustice

How does Priestley use Inspector Goole to explore ideas about equality and injustice in An Inspector Calls?

Write about:

  • what the Inspector says and does throughout the play

  • what some of these ideas about equality and justice are

[30 marks]

AO4 [4 marks]