An Inspector Calls is a powerful play packed with social commentary, family drama and moral questions. Even though it was written in 1945 and set in 1912, its themes and messages still feel relevant today. Revising it for your GCSE English Literature exam might feel overwhelming at first, but this guide will walk you through the plot, characters, themes and key quotes, as well as some practical revision strategies.

J.B. Priestley’s An Inspector Calls has been a key part of the GCSE English Literature syllabus for years and, frankly, it’s not hard to see why. On the surface, it’s a well-crafted, single-room drama: a dinner party, a surprise visitor and a mention of a dead girl whose story slowly unravels.

Let’s be honest. Unseen poetry can feel... a bit intimidating. You open the paper, glance at the poem you’ve never seen before and your brain freezes. What if you don’t “get” it? What if it’s weird? What if it’s one of those abstract ones without any punctuation? It’s fine. Really. It’s not about having all the answers. It’s about showing how you think, how you respond and how well you can explore a poem. Not perfectly decode it.