Understanding & Analysis of the Ending to An Inspector Calls
The final moments of An Inspector Calls are among the most heavily discussed and analysed in modern drama, making them a goldmine for top-tier essay arguments. Whether you are studying for AQA, Edexcel, OCR, or any other exam board, mastering the ending is essential for demonstrating the high-level critical understanding examiners look for in Grade 9 responses.
In this video, we go beyond a simple plot summary to break down the ending using advanced literary frameworks. I’ll introduce you to two key diagnostic questions you should ask of any dramatic conclusion, before exploring how Priestley uses the final twist to interrogate moral versus criminal responsibility. We’ll also examine how the ending intersects with dramatic genres (specifically Realism and the traditional "Well-Made Play") and unpack the fascinating influence of Dunne's and Ouspensky's time theories on the play's cyclical structure.
Timestamps
0:00 Introduction
1:20 Two key questions to ask about the ending
2:03 what happens in the ending of An Inspector Calls?
3:54 how the ending links to the themes of moral responsibility and criminal responsibility
11:31 how the ending of the play links to the genre of realism
13:52 how the ending of the play links to time theorists
16:12 how the ending of the play links to the genre of the well-made play
This video is on my YouTube channel. However, there are a few benefits to watching it here instead:
- You can register to keep a track of which videos you’ve watched
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- There may or may not be no ads, but I can neither confirm nor deny and I definitely didn't tell you if YouTube asked, OK?
There are also resources to help you in the Study Materials section:
An Inspector Calls Vocabulary Bank
The words in this vocabulary bank will help you to develop a more sophisticated and high level understanding of the key ideas and concepts in 'An Inspector Calls'.
As well as providing a range of words, their definitions and an example sentence, this book also suggests a number of activities that you can use to revise and put the vocabulary into practice.
Bonus - it's completely free!
An Inspector Calls AQA GCSE Model Answers (Coming soon!)
This resource will have model answers for multiple years of AQA past papers, giving you the ability to see what high grade essays look like for a range of essay questions.
An Inspector Calls Edexcel IGCSE Model Answers (Coming soon!)
This resource will have model answers for multiple years of Edexcel past papers, giving you the ability to see what high grade essays look like for a range of essay questions.
An Inspector Calls Flipped Learning (Coming soon!)
This resource is designed for teachers and students: it is a workbook designed to be completed alongside all of my An Inspector Calls videos. It is essentially a structured way for you to take notes and ensure that you are squeezing every ounce of advice my videos have to offer.
I fully intend to add more videos and study materials on this play. If there's something in particular you're looking for, then register and get in touch to let me know what would help you.
