An Inspector Calls

Question 1

What are the 7 key themes of An Inspector Calls?

Answer 1

Capitalism vs socialism
Responsibility
Social change
Sexism/the patriarchy
The generation gap
Wealth and power
Morality vs legality

Question 2

Why does Priestley include Arthur Birling in the play?

Answer 2

To present the ignorance of Capitalists in 1912 and to show the audience that capitalists and capitalism cannot be trusted.

Question 3

Why does Priestley include Sybil Birling in the play?

Answer 3

To show the ignorance of capitalists and to show the corrupt nature of 1912 society.

Question 4

Why does Priestley include Sheila Birling in the play?

Answer 4

To show the positive character development from capitalist to socialist.

Question 5

Why does Priestley include Eric Birling in the play?

Answer 5

To mirror the awful social “norms” in society at the time and to emphasise how poor Mr. and Mrs. Birling are at being parents

Question 6

Why does Priestley include Gerald Croft in the play?

Answer 6

To show how men treated women at the time and to show the contrast between new and old money.

Question 7

Why does Priestley include the inspector in the play?

Answer 7

To present Priestley’s socialist ideas and to expose the corrupt nature of 1912.

Question 8

‘Lower costs…’

Answer 8

‘… and higher prices’ -Mr. Birling

Question 9

‘A man has to…’

Answer 9

‘…make his own way’
‘…mind his own business’
-Mr. Birling

Question 10

Give a quotation from Mr. Birling that shows his hatred toward socialism.

Answer 10

‘Mixed up together like bees in a hive’

Question 11

Give a quotation from Mr. Birling that shows how he treats women.

Answer 11

‘She had a lot to say, far too much, so she had to go’

Question 12

‘If you don’t come down…’

Answer 12

‘…sharply… they’d soon be asking for the Earth’
-Mr. Birling

Question 13

Give a quotation from Mr. Birling that show the theme of responsibility in the play.

Answer 13

‘I can’t accept any responsibility. If we were all responsible for everything that happened to everybody we’d had anything to do with, it would be very awkward wouldn’t it?’

Question 14

Give three quotations for Mrs. Birling that demonstrate her lack of remorse for Eva Smith’s death.

Answer 14

‘I consider i did my duty’
‘I did nothing I’m ashamed of’
‘I’ve done nothing wrong and you know it’

Question 15

‘As if a girl…’

Answer 15

‘…of that sort would every refuse money’ - Mrs. Birling

Question 16

‘It was simply a piece of…’

Answer 16

‘…gross impertinence’

Question 17

Give a quotation from Mrs. B that demonstrates the key theme of power and wealth.

Answer 17

‘So i used my influence to have it refused’

Question 18

Give a quotation from Sheila Birling that shows her initial materialistic views.

Answer 18

(After being given the ring)
‘Now i really feel engaged’

Question 19

Give a quotation from Sheila Birling that show her ‘excuse’ for her actions.

Answer 19

‘If she was some miserable, plain little creature, I don’t suppose I would have done it’

Question 20

Give three quotations from Sheila Birling that show her remorse for Eva’s death.

Answer 20

‘And if i could help her now, I would’
‘I felt rotten about it at the time, and now i feel a lot worse’
I’ll never, never do it again to anybody’

Question 21

‘But these girls…’

Answer 21

‘…aren’t cheap labour, they’re people’

Question 22

‘So nothing really happened…’

Answer 22

‘…So there’s nothing to be sorry for, nothing to learn’

Question 23

Give a quotation for Eric Birling that shows how poor Mr. Birling was at parenting.

Answer 23

‘Because you’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble - that’s why’

Question 24

Give a quotation from Eric Birling that shows the awful social ‘norms’ of society in 1912.

Answer 24

‘Well, I was in that state when a chap easily turns nastily - and i threatened to make a row’

Question 25

'(nearly at breaking point) You killed...'

Answer 25

'...them both - damn you, damn you -' -Eric Birling

Question 26

Give a quotation from Gerald Croft that shows his remorse for Eva's death.

Answer 26

'She didn't blame me at all. I wish to God she had now. Perhaps I'd feel better about it'

Question 26

Give a quotation from Eric Birling that shows his remorse for Eva's death.

Answer 26

'My God - I'm not likely to forget'

Question 27

Give a quotation from Gerald Croft that shows men's attitudes towards women in 1912 society.

Answer 27

'I hate those hard-eyed, dough-faced women'

Question 28

'I became the most...'

Answer 28

'...important person in her life' - Gerald Croft

Question 29

'She looked young...'

Answer 29

'...and fresh and charming and altogether out of place down there'

Question 30

'After all y'know,...'

Answer 30

'we're respectable citizens and not criminals'

Question 31

What did Mr. Birling do in the 'chain of events' leading to Eva's suicide?

Answer 31

When Eva asked for a pay rise for all of the workers at his factory due to them all struggling for money, Mr. Birling fired her and left her unemployed and alone.

Question 32

What did Mrs. Birling do in the 'chain of events' leading to Eva's suicide?

Answer 32

When Eva came for help from Mrs. B's charity when she found out that Eric was stealing money to help raise their child, Mrs. B turned her away just for calling herself Mrs. Birling instead of actually caring for her.

Question 33

What did Sheila Birling do in the 'chain of events' leading to Eva's suicide?

Answer 33

When Sheila was shopping at Milward's where Eva was working, she was jealous of how pretty Eva looked compared to her. She used her authority to have Eva fired.

Question 34

What did Gerald Croft do in the 'chain of events' leading to Eva's suicide?

Answer 34

He found Eva in the Palace Bar being cornered by Alderman Meggarty and 'saved' her. He gave her a place to stay and they had a secret affair going on for a while (Gerald was with Sheila at the same time). However, he dropped her and left her alone when it suited him.

Question 35

What did Eric Birling do in the 'chain of events' leading to Eva's suicide?

Answer 35

He found her at the Palace Bar where he had gotten drunk. He took her back to her place and SA'd her which got her pregnant. He then stole money from Birling and Co. to look after them but Eva found out.

Question 36

'We are members...'

Answer 36

'...of one body. We are responsible for each other... if men will not learn that lesson they will be taught in fire and blood and anguish' -Inspector Goole

Question 37

What does the inspector say that Sheila did to Eva?

Answer 37

'You used the power you had...to punish the girl just because she made you feel like that'

Question 38

Why does the Inspector say he blames all of the character for Eva's death?

Answer 38

'What happened to her then may have determined what happened to her afterwards and what happened afterwards may have driven her to suicide. a chain of events'

Question 39

How does the Inspector respond to Mr. B saying: 'If you don't come down sharply.. they'd soon be asking for the earth'?

Answer 39

'It's better to ask for the Earth than to take it'

Question 40

What does Sheila say to Gerald about his relationship with Eva?

Answer 40

'You were the wonderful Fairy Prince. You must have adored it, Gerald'

Question 41

What does the inspector say about Mrs. Birling's actions towards Eva?

Answer 41

'I think you did something terribly wrong - and that you're going to spend the rest of your life regretting it.' 'You slammed the door in her face'

Question 42

What does the Inspector say Eric did to Eva?

Answer 42

'You used her for the end of a stupid drunken evening, as if she were an animal, a thing, not a person.'

Question 43

'One Eva Smith as gone...'

Answer 43

'...but there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us...'

Question 44

What does Mr. B say about the Titanic that shows his ignorance and how, as an audience member, we cannot trust his words.

Answer 44

'The Titanic... she sails next week.. and unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable