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how can i get a grade 9 on this english literature essay?

I am stuck on Grade 6-7, no matter how hard I try. Here is a practice paragraph I did. I just wanna know where i keep going wrong lol

How does Priestley present the character of Inspector Goole and why is he significant?

In the morality play of An Inspector Calls, J.B. Priestley uses Inspector Goole as a mouthpiece for the socialist views on how inequality must be abolished from society in order to avoid long-term conflict, as well as the ideas that every individual in society must work together in order to prevent tragedy.

At the beginning of the play, Inspector Goole interrupts the celebratory dinner regarding the financially motivated marriage of Sheila Birling and Gerald Croft. Once the Inspector walks in, the relaxed atmosphere is disrupted by his harsh and rough character, which is evident as the “pink and intimate” lighting depicted in the beginning switches to a much more “brighter and harder” lighting. The key metaphor “intimate” personifies the light as it depicts it as if it were a human with “intimate” and comforting behaviours. Soon, the Inspector walks in and disturbs this “intimate” and comforting environment as he sets a “brighter and harder” environment. This juxtaposes against the “intimate” and peaceful environment created by the rich Birling family. The key verb “harder” juxtaposes and contrasts against the “intimate” lighting in order to bring a sense of reality into the play. The “intimate” lighting is very unrealistic and optimistic, as lighting is not usually this behaviour, which is then contrasted by a discomforting and logical “harder” lighting. The audience would link the idea that the “intimate” lighting must be removed by the “harder” lighting in order to face reality and life’s consequences. As this story was set in the Edwardian era of 1912, this idea illustrates how the ignorance in society and not focusing on society’s problems results in war and conflict. Therefore, Priestley uses the “intimate” lighting to symbolise ignorance by the upper class which is soon disrupted by the socialist mouthpiece of Inspector Goole as he creates a “harder” environment to remove this ignorant bubble. This makes the wealthy and rich audience feel compelled to step out of this bubble and feel responsible to change their ways in the corrupt society.
Original post by imhomo2017
I am stuck on Grade 6-7, no matter how hard I try. Here is a practice paragraph I did. I just wanna know where i keep going wrong lol

How does Priestley present the character of Inspector Goole and why is he significant?

In the morality play of An Inspector Calls, J.B. Priestley uses Inspector Goole as a mouthpiece for the socialist views on how inequality must be abolished from society in order to avoid long-term conflict, as well as the ideas that every individual in society must work together in order to prevent tragedy.

At the beginning of the play, Inspector Goole interrupts the celebratory dinner regarding the financially motivated marriage of Sheila Birling and Gerald Croft. Once the Inspector walks in, the relaxed atmosphere is disrupted by his harsh and rough character, which is evident as the “pink and intimate” lighting depicted in the beginning switches to a much more “brighter and harder” lighting. The key metaphor “intimate” personifies the light as it depicts it as if it were a human with “intimate” and comforting behaviours. Soon, the Inspector walks in and disturbs this “intimate” and comforting environment as he sets a “brighter and harder” environment. This juxtaposes against the “intimate” and peaceful environment created by the rich Birling family. The key verb “harder” juxtaposes and contrasts against the “intimate” lighting in order to bring a sense of reality into the play. The “intimate” lighting is very unrealistic and optimistic, as lighting is not usually this behaviour, which is then contrasted by a discomforting and logical “harder” lighting. The audience would link the idea that the “intimate” lighting must be removed by the “harder” lighting in order to face reality and life’s consequences. As this story was set in the Edwardian era of 1912, this idea illustrates how the ignorance in society and not focusing on society’s problems results in war and conflict. Therefore, Priestley uses the “intimate” lighting to symbolise ignorance by the upper class which is soon disrupted by the socialist mouthpiece of Inspector Goole as he creates a “harder” environment to remove this ignorant bubble. This makes the wealthy and rich audience feel compelled to step out of this bubble and feel responsible to change their ways in the corrupt society.


I'm getting a grade 8 in literature at the moment, and to me, I feel like there could be some deeper analysis of A03 (context). For example, when Sheila retaliated against her father, she opposed the stereotypical gender norms that could lead to the suffragette movement that initiated in 1902. Also, I think you have focused on the words intimate and harder too much. I would suggest choosing a different quote with a stronger analysis because this quote is widely used by students and is quite an easy quote. Try going through and looking for strong quotes that people don't usually use and maybe as your teacher for some grade 9 examples.
Hope this helps! :smile:
Reply 2
I got 9s in English lit and lang. I agree with the above reply. Also, I'd suggest that you try to include multiple approaches to the same quote and try and include AO3 throughout the paragraph not 'bolted' on the end as my teachers used to say as well as continuously referencing Priestley's purpose.
For example, "an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness":
This is a triple of nouns, this repetition of size and unwaveringness emphasises the Inspector's 'solidity'; this could contrast our expectations of a working-class man in the presence of a middle-class family, especially inside their home, which again reinforces this sense of control and asserted power. Priestly may have intended to project the power and influence of the working class to promote socialist reform, especially in the shadow of WW2 when class divisions crumbled as men and women were forced to fight as one nation. Furthermore, the use of sibilance (repetition of the 's' sound) could imply a sense of deviousness or understatement in the Inspector about the way they compel the Birlings to admit their sins later in the play. This would again demonstrate Goole's impressive investigative ability and power over the Birlings. In this way, Priestly might be encouraging an audience of 1945 to take matters into their own hands and campaign for social justice (a key theme within the play), this is magnified when compared to the ignorant and parochial claims of Birling earlier in Act 1 such as "the Germans don't want war" which induce dramatic irony for the audience and may be purposed to represent the complacent nature of the middle and upper classes of the Edwardian period.
[You could prob write more but at this point, I'd move on to another quote just to be able to display a comprehensive knowledge of the play]

Also, you want to make a thematic approach towards the quote at least once in your essay.
I would create flashcards with quotes and colour-code them with different themes e.g. gender, social injustice, ignorance etc. Create flashcards with high-level adjectives to describe each of the characters e.g. the Inspector is assertive, omniscient, honourable, almost brutal succinct (to the point).

Hope this helps, if you need anything else, pm me. I can message you resources if you'd like. Good luck!

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