An Inspector Calls Flashcards
Local dialect,
Midlands
Rather provincial in his speech
Mrs Birling
Pompous
A rather cold woman and her husbands social superior
Sheila initially
Pretty girl…very pleased and excited with life
Eric initially
Repetition
Unsure
Not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive
Childish vernacular
Naive
Yes, go on Mummy
Tone of disapproval Have to uphold class distinctions
(Reproachfully) Arthur, you are not supposed to say such things
Connotations of distrust
Stage directions,
(Half serious, half playful) Yes- except for all last summer, when you never came near me
Starts with image of insecurity
Eric suddenly guffaws
Colloquial expresssions
Member of younger gen
You’re squiffy
Tone of distain
Believes that people should talk according to their class
What an expression Sheila! Really, the things that young girls pick up these days
Focus on business
Your father and I have been friendly rivals in business for sometime
Emphatically placed at end
Ultimately, business makes him suitable
For lower costs and higher prices
Tone of approval
Materialistic
I think it’s perfect, now I really feel engaged
Tone of self importance
Blinded by success, makes him overtly optimistic
Narrow view of world
Yes, a very good time - and soon it’ll be an even better time
Dramatic irony
Judgement is not trusted
Prosperity blinds him
Some people say that war’s inevitable. And to that I say- fiddlesticks
Dramatic irony
Not trusted judgement
Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable
Triadic structure
Polysyndeton
Dramatic irony
Performed after WW2
There’ll be peace and prosperity and rapid progress everywhere
Socialists mentioned
He believes that he is the voice of authority
We can’t let these Bernard Shaws and H G Wellses do all the talking
Tone of understanding
Snobbery from upper classes is natural
She comes from an old country family
Foreshadowing
Believes that it is below them
They are respectable citizens
So long as we behave ourselves, don’t get into the police court or start a scandal-eh?
Underlying tension between Mr B and Eric
Mr B thinks that his son does not know the true value of money from hard work
Yes, you don’t know what some of these boys get up to nowadays
Imperatives
Emphasises that individualist responses are paramount
Repetition
A man has to make his own way - has to look after himself
Antithesis to viewers expirience in war
Mythologised view, grating to viewers
As if we were all mixed together like bees in a hive-a community and all that nonsense
Phonetically similar to ghoul Ghostly, mysterious Interest in the morbid Connotations of death Death of the Birling's views on society
Goole
Triadic structure
Careful, considered
Stamps his prescience in the world
Creates at once an impression of massiveness, solidarity and purposefulness
Atmosphere of seriousness
Words carry weight and importance
Weightily, and has a disconcerting habit of looking hard at the person he addresses before actually speaking
Titles
Asserts himself as the dominant
Intimidate, status
Wants Inspector to be subservient
I was an alderman for years and Lord Mayor two years ago and I’m still on the bench
Short sentences
Refuses to be impressed
Doesn’t care
Quite so
No Mr B
Emotive language
Vivid, shows gravity of situation
Evokes response
She’d swallowed a lot of strong disinfectant
Burnt her inside out
Repetition
Lack of empathy
(Rather impatiently) Yes, yes. Horrid business
Hyphens
Add emphasis to name
EP
But her original name-her real name-was Eva Smith
Tone of annoyance
Used to being the social superior
Any particular reason why I should not see this girls photograph, Inspector?
No emotive language
Dismissive, sees them as inferior, no care or consideration
She was one of my employees and then I discharged her
More name dropping
Almost like a reflex
Wants to be the more dominant person
I ought to explain first that this is Mr Gerald Croft- son of Sir George Croft
Normal
Appearance and background are most important to Mr B
A lively looking girl- country bred
Tone of confidence
Unreasonable
Does not consider their needs important
I refused of course
Understanding
Disloyalty to family
Displays sympathy
It isn’t if you can’t go and work somewhere else
Tone of disapproval
Critical, dismissive
Workers are an inconvenience when in trouble
They’d be all broke if I know them
Triadic structure
Hyphens
Pushed Mr B to the edge
Hyphens, Mr B’s inability to see from other POV
She’d had a lot to say-far too much-so she had to go
Hyperbole
How they are asking too much of him
Power has corrupted him, he cannot be reasoned with
If you don’t come down sharply on some of these people, they’d soon be asking for the earth
Respect is key
Implies that Mr B takes from people without asking
Its better to ask for the earth than to take it
Personal pronouns
He sees everyone as equals, undermines father
You said yourself she was a good worker. I’d have let her stay
Hyphens
Express priveledge
Mr B is a self made man, focus on business
That’s something that this public-school-and-varsity life you’ve had doesn’t seem to teach you
Rhetorical question
Callous, rhetorical command
Realistic, knows that the unemployed have few choices, but does not help
Get into trouble? Go on the streets?
No emotive language
No regrets
The girl had been causing trouble in the works. I was quite justified
Empathy, human response
Its just I can’t help thinking about the girl
Acts as a mirror when B’s do not acknowledge her death
Brings back to reality
Pretty?
She wasn’t pretty when I saw her today
Antithesis to MC and Sheila
No prospects
Desperate
Both her parents were dead
She hadn’t been able save much out of what Birling and company had paid her
Informative tone
Opens Sheila’s eyes to the truth and the consequences of living selfishly
There are a lot of young women living that sort of existence in every city
Italics
Emphasis that they should be treated better
Genuine and naive
But these girls aren’t cheap labour, they’re people
Reflects back words, guilt with death
A nasty little mess you’ve made of it now
A nice little promising life there, I thought, and a nasty mess somebody’s made of it
Hyphens
Hide a drink problem
I’m sorry-but you see-we we’re having a little party-and I’ve had a few drinks, including rather a lot of champagne-and I’ve got a headache
Personal pronouns
Above all of the laypeople
Were respectable citizens and not criminals
Foreshadows actions
Crime does not discriminate in terms of social class
Sometimes there isn’t as much difference
Tone of regret
Faces up to responsibilities
No, not really. It was my own fault
Even high status people have restrictions
Sheila wants freedom from others
Mother had been against it and so had the assistant
Tautology? Social class does not dictate clothes Insecurities
She was the right type for is, just as I was the wrong type
Appearances are deceiving
Superficial, petty
But she was very pretty and looked as if she could take care of herself
Triadic structure
Won’t let her escape from her punishment of regret
Yes, but you can’t. Its too late. She’s dead
EP of name
Force recognition
So first, she changed her name to Daisy Renton
Rhetorical question
Barrage of questions
Accusatory tone
Were you seeing her last spring and summer, during that time when you hardly came near me and said you were so busy? Were you?
Short sentences
Coward
Hides behind social status
All right. I knew her. Lets leave it at that
Sibillance
Cunning
Read their expressions
Dramatic entrance, raise tension
The door slowly opens and the Inspector appears, looking steadily and searchingly at them
Short sentence
Direct command
Strong minded
Stands up to them
(To the Inspector) Then I’m staying
Triadic structure emphasises impact of actions on her
Emotive language
Appeals to conscience
A girl died tonight…who never did anybody any harm. But she died in misery and agony - hating life-
Stage directions
Realises that social status means nothing
(Hesitantly) I know it sounds silly-
Foreshadowing ending
Sheila is aware of consequences
You’ll be sorry for afterwards
A vehicle for a wider perspective on the world
Younger gen, open minded
Older gen, foolish, immature
They’re more impressionable
Tone of distain
Distant from her, unrelatated
Girls of that class
Repetition of impertinent
Used when social status is undermined
That- I consider- is a trifle impertinent
Patronising tone
People should act according to their status
Excitable silly mood
Revelation
Reveals that she does not know her family
You must know it’s not true
Harsh consonants
Older, boring, coarse, dull
Hard eyed dough faced women
Antithesis
Triadic structure
Common description
She was very pretty-soft brown hair and big dark eyes
Triadic structure
Make her more innocent and vulnerable
She looked young and fresh and charming and altogether out of place down there
Connotations of predatory nature
Corrupt
Dodgy
Obscene fat carcass
Tone of sympathy
She empathises with Gerald
I know, Somehow he makes you
Metaphor Social class does not separate you from others
Your daughter isn’t living on the moon
Reversal of roles,
He offers info
Not ashamed
Is there anything else you want to know?
Hero terminology
Elevated to a hero
She was-very gallant
Displays stoicism and moral superiority
Similar to Milwards dismissal, acceptance
But she knew it couldn’t last
Antithesis to feckless spending during strike
She lived very economically
Hyphens
Speech fragmented by emotion
In that case- as I’m rather more- upset- by this business than I probably appear to be- and - well, I’d like to be alone for a while
Sheila’s transformation
Relationship has changed
You and I aren’t the same people who sat down to dinner here
Mature language
Displays greater understanding
Don’t interfere please Father
Encapsulate message of play
Public men have responsibilities as well as privileges
Echoes Inspector
Openly accuses them
It means that we’ve got no excuse now for putting on airs
Repetition of member
She has power
EP Mrs B’s social power
A member- a prominent member
Deserving, traditionally used to distinguish between poor who physically cannot help themselves and the undeserving who shouldn’t be helped
Helping deserving cases
Listing crimes
Believes that social status extends to punishing of the unworthy
Symbol of identity
First, she called herself Mrs Birling
Hypocrisy of upper classes revealed
A charity is being prejudiced
Behavior is a factor
That prejudiced me against her case
Not responsible
Cold, callous response
But I think she had only herself to blame
Monosyllabic and duosyllabic words
Embarrassment, unmentionable in front of Sheila
You know very well why she wanted help
Italics
Tension
Internal conflict between Mrs B and I
You have no hope of not discussing it
Eva did not deserve help
Callous, acted in full knowledge of desperation
Unlike the other three, I did nothing I’m ashamed of
Even more callous
Judges people to support her moral position
Selfish
I used my influence to have it refused
Mono and duosyllabic
Spells it out
Impact
This girl was going to have a child
Impersonal pronouns
Loses identity
Tone of distain
Ill tell you what I told her
Moral compass was a privilege for the higher classes
She was claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that were simply absurd in a girl in her position
Connotations of ill repute
Displays more moral integrity that Birlings
As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money
Info dragged out of her
Audience have time to figure it out
Whodunnit genre
That’s the story she finally told
Priestly deals with her with a trap of her own making
Foreshadows punishment that all will face if they do not act responsible
Then he’d be entirely responsible
Social position allows her to humiliate and punish him
Compelled to confess in public
Gives her a chance to figure it out and reflect
No hushing up, eh? Make an example of the young man, eh? Public confession of responsibility?
Ellipses Thinking Stage directions Vulnerable More human reaction
(Understanding now)But surely…I mean…it’s ridiculous
Hyphens
Fear
Look Inspector, you’re not trying to tell us that-that my boy-is mixed up in this?
All acts start with a question
You know don’t you?
Italics accusatory
Bicker like children
You told her
Believes that families should stand up for each other
If you’d had any sense of loyalty
Phsycologically distraught
(Miserably) could i have a drink first
Euphemism for smashed
Irresponsible behavior
I was rather far gone
Hyphen, ashamed
Takes responsibility
I was in a state when a chap easily turns nasty- and I threatened to make a row
Displays moral integrity
More than Birlings
Said I didn’t love her
Stage direction
Animalistic, harsh lexical choice, extreme anger
(Savagely)
Stage direction
Priority, what affects them
(Shocked)You stole money!
Impulse, main concern. Himself
I’ve got to cover this up as soon as I can
Lack of trust
Distance between them
Because you’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble
Stage direction
Emotional strain of secret
(Nearly at breaking point)
Hyphens
Stabs of pain, accusatory
Savage in condemning mother
And you killed her-and the child she’d have had too-my child-your own grandchild-you killed them both-damn you, damn you
Stage direction
Out of control
Mother is complacent, no empathy
(Almost threatening her) you don’t understand anything, you never did. You never even tried
Whodunnit genre
Forces them to reflect
But each of you helped to kill her
Repetition
No moral integrity
Money cannot buy forgiveness
Only business terms
I’d give thousands, yes thousands
Breaking the fourth wall by addressing Birlings and perhaps the audience too
Repetition
Scale of numbers
There are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us
Literally, 1community
Metaphorically, bible, New Testament reference
Idea of judgement and punishment
We are members of one body
Old Testament prophecy of hell
Terrifying imagery
True prediction, wars happened
They will be taught it in fire blood and anguish
Eric has changed
Takes responsibility
No respect for parents
Well, I don’t blame you. But don’t forget I’m ashamed of you as well
Stage direction
Italics
Openly displays lack of respect
(Scornfully) that’s all
Drive home generational differences
You don’t seen to have learnt anything
Role reversal
Reflects I’s tone
Sheila and Eric are more mature
Its you two who are being childish- trying not to face up to the facts
Acted as a mirror, revealed their actions and the consequences
He was our police inspector alright
Personal pronouns
Proud
Bolster sense of truth
I was going to do this anyhow. I’ve had my suspicions all along
Stage directions
Dramatic pause
(He puts down the telephone and looks at the others)
Only to parents
No humiliation
Trick reduces seriousness
This makes a difference
Display of bravado
I’d have a asked him a few questions before I allowed him to ask any
Italics
Spells it out for the audience
Audience works it out
But how do you know it’s the same girl
Stage directions raise tension
As he waits, the others show their nervous tensions.
Tone of celebration
Embraces hoax, mocks it
I wish you could have seen the look on your faces when he said that
Personal pronouns
Thinks he knows best for her
Money and possession fix all
You’d better ask Gerald for that ring you have back to him.. Then you’ll feel better
Triadic structure of increasing seriousness
So, nothing really happened. So there’s nothing to be sorry for, nothing to learn
Juxtaposing idea
Reversed roles
Tension between gens
The famous younger generation who know it all
Cyclical structure
Final revalation
Consequences of not being responsible
And a police inspector is on his way here- to ask some- questions-
