AQA An Inspector Calls Past Paper Questions: A Comprehensive Guide
Finding and understanding past paper questions for AQA's An Inspector Calls is crucial for exam success. This guide will not only provide examples but also offer strategies for tackling these questions effectively, helping you achieve a top grade.
Understanding the Exam Structure:
Before diving into specific questions, it’s vital to understand the AQA An Inspector Calls exam structure. You’ll typically encounter a range of question types, testing your understanding of:
- Character analysis: Exploring the motivations, relationships, and development of key characters like Inspector Goole, Sheila Birling, Eva Smith/Daisy Renton, and the Birling family.
- Themes and ideas: Analyzing the play's central themes such as responsibility, social class, capitalism, and the impact of industrial society.
- Dramatic techniques: Identifying and evaluating Priestley's use of dramatic devices such as dramatic irony, foreshadowing, and the Inspector's role in driving the narrative.
- Contextual understanding: Linking the play to its historical context (post-WWI Britain) and exploring its relevance to contemporary society.
- Literary analysis: Applying appropriate critical terminology and analytical skills to discuss the text’s language, structure, and form.
Examples of Past Paper Question Types (and How to Approach Them):
1. Character Analysis Questions:
Example: "How does Priestley present Sheila Birling as a changing character throughout the play?"
Approach: To answer this, you would:
- Identify key moments of Sheila's development: Trace her journey from a privileged, somewhat spoiled young woman to someone who shows genuine remorse and a newfound social consciousness.
- Analyze Priestley's techniques: Discuss how Priestley uses language, actions, and dialogue to reveal Sheila's transformation (e.g., her initial defensiveness, her eventual acceptance of responsibility).
- Support your points with textual evidence: Use specific quotations and scene references to illustrate your arguments.
- Consider contrasting characters: Comparing Sheila's development to other characters (like her parents) can strengthen your analysis.
2. Theme-Based Questions:
Example: "Explore how Priestley presents the theme of social responsibility in An Inspector Calls."
Approach:
- Define social responsibility: Explain what social responsibility means in the context of the play.
- Identify key scenes and characters: Analyze scenes where social responsibility is central (e.g., the Inspector's questioning of each family member, Eva Smith's experiences).
- Discuss Priestley's techniques: How does Priestley use dramatic irony, symbolism, or dialogue to emphasize the importance (or lack thereof) of social responsibility?
- Consider different perspectives: Examine how different characters understand and respond to their social responsibilities (or lack thereof).
- Contextualize the theme: Discuss how the play's message about social responsibility relates to the social and political climate of post-WWI Britain.
3. Dramatic Techniques Questions:
Example: "How effectively does Priestley use dramatic irony to create suspense and tension in An Inspector Calls?"
Approach:
- Define dramatic irony: Explain what dramatic irony is and how it functions in literature.
- Identify specific instances: Locate examples of dramatic irony throughout the play.
- Analyze the effect: Discuss how these instances of dramatic irony contribute to suspense, tension, or other aspects of the play.
- Consider the audience's response: Discuss how the audience's knowledge of information that the characters don't have contributes to the play's overall effect.
4. Contextual Questions:
Example: "To what extent is An Inspector Calls a product of its time?"
Approach:
- Understand the historical context: Research post-WWI Britain: its social classes, economic conditions, and prevalent social attitudes.
- Connect the play to the context: Discuss how the play reflects the social and political issues of its time.
- Consider Priestley's socialist views: Discuss how Priestley's own beliefs shaped the play's message.
- Analyze the play's relevance today: Explore how the play’s themes resonate with contemporary society.
Accessing Past Papers:
You can usually find past papers on the AQA website or through other reputable educational resources. Practicing with these papers under timed conditions is essential for exam preparation. Remember to always check the mark scheme to understand the expectations and assess your own responses. Good luck!
