An Inspector Calls Flashcards: 7 Powerful Ways To Learn Quotes, Themes And Context Faster – Stop Rote Memorising And Start Actually Understanding The Play

Why “An Inspector Calls” Feels So Hard To Revise

If you’re revising An Inspector Calls, you’ve probably hit at least one of these:

• Too many quotes to remember
• Confusing themes (responsibility, class, gender, guilt…)
• Context notes everywhere (Priestley, 1945 vs 1912, socialism vs capitalism)
• Essays that need specific quotes, not vague memories

This is exactly where flashcards shine – if you use them properly.

And instead of spending hours typing every card by hand, you can let an app like Flashrecall do the heavy lifting for you:

👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

Flashrecall makes flashcards automatically from text, PDFs, images, YouTube links and more, then uses spaced repetition and active recall to help you actually remember everything – quotes, themes, and context – without burning out.

Let’s walk through how to build An Inspector Calls flashcards that actually get you grades, and how to do it way faster with Flashrecall.

Step 1: Build Quote Flashcards The Smart Way (Not Just Copy-Paste)

You don’t need 200 random quotes. You need targeted, exam-useful ones.

What to put on quote cards

• Character + situation
• A mini prompt like:
• “Sheila – responsibility – Act 2 quote”
• “Inspector – social responsibility – final speech”

• The quote
• 1–2 bullet points on meaning / effect / technique

> Sheila – responsibility – how she changes?

> “I know I’m to blame – and I’m desperately sorry.”

> - Shows Sheila accepting moral responsibility

> - Contrast with her parents’ refusal

> - Adverb “desperately” shows genuine guilt and emotional growth

How to make these quickly with Flashrecall

Instead of typing every card manually:

1. Paste your quote list or class notes into Flashrecall.

2. Let Flashrecall auto-generate flashcards from the text.

3. Tweak or add your own notes on analysis on the back of each card.

You can also take a photo of your revision guide page and let Flashrecall turn it into cards automatically – perfect if your teacher gave you a great sheet but you don’t want to type it all out.

Step 2: Turn Themes Into Question Cards You Can Actually Answer

Themes are where most marks come from, but they’re also what people revise the least clearly.

Key themes you should have flashcards for

• Social responsibility
• Class and social status
• Gender roles
• Generational divide (young vs old)
• Guilt and blame
• Time and inevitability
• Capitalism vs socialism

How to structure theme cards

• “How does Priestley present [theme]?”
• “How is [theme] shown through [character]?”
• “Which quotes show [theme] in Act [number]?”

• 2–3 key points
• 2–3 key quotes
• Context link (if relevant)

> How does Priestley present social responsibility in An Inspector Calls?

> - Inspector as Priestley’s mouthpiece: “We are members of one body.”

> - Contrast between younger generation (Sheila/Eric) accepting blame vs older (Mr & Mrs Birling) refusing it.

> - Set in 1912 but written in 1945 – warns audience not to repeat selfishness that led to war.

In Flashrecall, you can:

• Type these manually, or
• Paste your class notes on “themes” and let Flashrecall auto-split them into multiple cards for you.

Step 3: Use Context Flashcards To Level Up Your Essays

Context is where you can stand out. Most students only memorise 1–2 Priestley facts.

Make flashcards on:

• Priestley’s political views (socialism)
• Why 1912 setting matters (pre-war, Titanic, class system)
• When it was written (1945, post-WW2, welfare state beginnings)
• Audience reaction then vs now

> Why did Priestley set An Inspector Calls in 1912 but write it in 1945?

> - 1912: confident upper classes, Titanic “unsinkable”, no welfare state.

> - 1945 audience knew about WWI, WWII, and Titanic sinking – they see Birling as foolish.

> - Priestley warns that ignoring social responsibility leads to disaster.

You can grab a PDF of your revision guide or a teacher’s context handout and drop it into Flashrecall – it will create cards for you automatically so you don’t have to.

Step 4: Don’t Forget Character Flashcards (Especially Development)

Each major character should have multiple cards, not just one:

• Traits
• Key quotes
• How they change
• How they link to themes

Example character card (Sheila)

> How does Sheila change from the start to the end of the play?

> - Starts naive and materialistic: “Look – mummy – isn’t it a beauty?”

> - Accepts blame: “I know I’m to blame – and I’m desperately sorry.”

> - Becomes morally aware and socially responsible, opposing her parents.

> - Represents hope for the younger generation.

Example character card (Mr Birling)

> How does Priestley present Mr Birling?

> - Arrogant capitalist: “The Germans don’t want war.” / “Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable.”

> - Used for dramatic irony – audience knows he’s wrong.

> - Symbol of selfish capitalism and upper-class complacency.

In Flashrecall, you can even chat with your flashcards if you’re unsure:

• Ask something like, “Explain how Sheila links to responsibility again?”
• Get a clear explanation based on your existing cards and notes.

Step 5: Use Spaced Repetition So You Don’t Forget Everything Before The Exam

Most people cram for a few hours, feel “okay-ish”, and then forget 80% a week later.

Flashrecall has built-in spaced repetition with automatic study reminders so you review cards just before you’re about to forget them.

How it works in practice:

• Day 1: You create or import your An Inspector Calls flashcards.
• Day 1: Flashrecall quizzes you using active recall (you see the question, try to answer from memory).
• Then Flashrecall schedules each card for review based on how well you knew it.
• You get gentle notifications like “Time to review An Inspector Calls quotes” – so you don’t have to remember to remember.

This is way more effective than scrolling your notes or highlighting random lines.

And yes, it works offline, so you can revise on the bus, at school, wherever.

Step 6: Turn Past Papers And Essays Into Flashcards

One of the most underrated tricks: use your own essays and feedback.

What to do

• Take a photo of your teacher-marked essay.
• Import it into Flashrecall as an image or PDF.
• Turn key feedback points into cards, like:
• “What should I add when talking about the Inspector’s final speech?”
• “Which quotes should I use for gender + Mrs Birling?”

> What did my teacher say I should improve in my essay on responsibility?

> - Add more context about Priestley’s socialism.

> - Use at least 2 quotes for the Inspector.

> - Link young vs old generation more clearly.

You can also:

• Paste a past paper question into Flashrecall
• Then make a few idea cards: intro plan, key quotes, structure

Over time, you’re basically building a personalised exam toolkit inside the app.

Step 7: Set Up A Simple Daily “An Inspector Calls” Routine

You don’t need 3-hour revision marathons. You just need consistency.

Try this:

• Open Flashrecall
• Do your An Inspector Calls reviews first (spaced repetition will show what’s due)
• Add 2–3 new cards from class or your notes

• Add a new theme or character set (e.g. one week on gender, one on class)
• Chat with your flashcards if anything still feels fuzzy
• Try a mini timed plan for an essay question, using only what you remember from cards

Because Flashrecall works on iPhone and iPad and works offline, you can fit this into dead time: bus rides, breaks, waiting around, etc.

Why Use Flashrecall Instead Of Just Paper Cards Or Basic Apps?

You can use paper, but here’s what Flashrecall gives you on top:

• Instant card creation from:
• Text
• Images (photos of notes or textbooks)
• PDFs
• YouTube links (great if you watch An Inspector Calls analysis videos)
• Typed prompts
• Active recall built in – it always shows you the question first
• Spaced repetition + auto reminders – no manual scheduling
• Chat with your flashcards when you’re stuck
• Fast, modern, clean interface (so you actually want to open it)
• Free to start – you can try it without committing to anything

Grab it here and start turning your An Inspector Calls notes into something your brain will actually remember:

👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

Quick Recap: Your “An Inspector Calls” Flashcard Game Plan

• Make quote cards with meaning + technique, not just raw quotes
• Create theme cards that force you to explain and link ideas
• Add context cards (Priestley, 1912 vs 1945, audience reaction)
• Build character cards focusing on change + themes
• Turn essays and feedback into cards so you don’t repeat mistakes
• Use spaced repetition in Flashrecall so nothing fades before exams
• Keep it short and consistent – 10–15 minutes a day is enough if you start early

Do this, and you won’t just recognise quotes in the exam – you’ll actually know how to use them.

And you don’t have to build everything from scratch. Let Flashrecall do the boring part so you can focus on understanding the play:

👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the fastest way to create flashcards?

Manually typing cards works but takes time. Many students now use AI generators that turn notes into flashcards instantly. Flashrecall does this automatically from text, images, or PDFs.

Is there a free flashcard app?

Yes. Flashrecall is free and lets you create flashcards from images, text, prompts, audio, PDFs, and YouTube videos.

How do I start spaced repetition?

You can manually schedule your reviews, but most people use apps that automate this. Flashrecall uses built-in spaced repetition so you review cards at the perfect time.

How can I study more effectively for this test?

Effective exam prep combines active recall, spaced repetition, and regular practice. Flashrecall helps by automatically generating flashcards from your study materials and using spaced repetition to ensure you remember everything when exam day arrives.

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