Materials 1 Inspector

 2024

● How does Priestley present selfishness and its effects in An Inspector Calls?

● How does Priestley use Gerald to explore ideas about love and relationships?

2023

● How does Priestley present what life is like for women in An Inspector Calls?

● How does Priestley present the different ways older and younger characters

respond to the Inspector?

2022

● How does Priestley explore the importance of social class?

● How does Priestley present differences between the older and younger

generations?

2021 (November resit/COVID-adjusted series)

● How does Priestley present the Inspector’s influence over the Birling family?

● How does Priestley present Eric’s attitudes to responsibility?

2020 (November series due to COVID disruption)

● How does Priestley present Mr Birling?

● How does Priestley present different attitudes between the older and younger

generations?

2019

● How does Priestley explore the role of women?

● How does Priestley use the Inspector to suggest ways society should change?

2018

● How does Priestley present the theme of responsibility?

● How does Priestley present differences between Sheila and Mrs Birling (Sybil)?

What keeps coming up?

Looking at the pattern, AQA repeatedly rotates these:

Themes

● Responsibility

● Social class

● Gender / women

● Generational conflict

● Selfishness vs social duty

● Society / change

Characters

● Inspector

● Mr Birling

● Eric

● Gerald

● Sheila / Mrs Birling comparisons

What’s less used recently (worth revising hard for future papers)

These are due a return:

● Eva Smith / symbolism

● Sheila as a changing character

● Capitalism vs socialism

● Guilt / confession

● Power / control

● Mrs Birling as hypocrisy / class prejudice

If you’re revising for mocks or the real thing, I’d focus especially on Sheila, Eva Smith,

power, guilt, and Priestley’s socialist message — those are classic AQA gaps.