An Inspector Calls Grade 9 Key Words

Question 1

What is the meaning of autonomy? + example sentence

Answer 1

The right of a person to self-govern, or to make their own choices.
E.g. When Eric forced himself on Eva, he stripped her of her autonomy, mirroring the way the autonomy of the lower classes were often minimised by the upper classes.

Question 2

What is the meaning of bigotry? + example sentence

Answer 2

An intolerance of any belief or opinion that differs from one’s own
E.g. Mr Birling’s bigotry prevents him from seeing Eva as a human being with the ability to suffer as he can, leading to his mistreatment of her.

Question 3

What is the meaning of bourgeoisie? + example sentence

Answer 3

The middle classes. This term is typically used to refer to the materialistic and self-serving interests of the middle classes.
E.g. The Birling family are representative of the way the bourgeoisie exploited the proletariat.

Question 4

What is the meaning of capitalist? + example sentence

Answer 4

Someone who believes in the economic and social concept of capitalism, which prioritises privately-owned, for-profit businesses. Capitalists tend to be against the idea of government intervention to help the poor.
E.g. Mr Birling represents capitalist ideals, including the overarching belief that profit is a priority.

Question 5

What is the meaning of complacency? + example sentence

Answer 5

A smug satisfaction in one’s own achievements, often paired with a blatant unawareness of external danger imposed on them or others.
E.g. Mr Birling’s complacency is evident in his contentment with the status quo and the value he places on the way society is set up.

Question 6

What is the meaning of conscience? + example sentence

Answer 6

A moral sense of right and wrong
E.g. Inspector Goole’s questioning develops Sheila’s conscience, and the guilt she feels serves as evidence that her conscience would prevent something like this from happening again in the circumstances.

Question 7

What is the meaning of conservative? + example sentence

Answer 7

Someone who favours private ownership and traditional social concepts. There is a lot of overlap between conservatives and capitalists.
E.g. It is abundantly clear that Mr Birling is a conservative; his prioritisation of money and profit serve as evidence of his support for private ownership.

Question 8

What is the meaning of conservative party? + example sentence

Answer 8

A centre-right wing British political party known for favouring private ownership and traditional social concepts.
E.g. Mr Birling clearly agrees with the ideology of the Conservative Party, and we can see this in the way he prioritises profit over the conditions of his workers

Question 9

What is the meaning of cyclical structure? + example sentence

Answer 9

When a text begins and ends in the same place with the same idea or theme.
E.g. The plot is cyclical; an inspector calls at the beginning of the text, and after Inspector Goole has questioned the family and left again, a real inspector calls to interrogate the family

Question 10

What is the meaning of degrade? + example sentence

Answer 10

To treat someone with disrespect or to belittle them.
E.g. Mrs Birling’s treatment of Eva Smith is based on degradation; she turned her away from the support of her charity because she believed Eva’s pregnancy out of wedlock was evidence of loose morals.

Question 11

What is the meaning of dehumanise? + example sentence

Answer 11

To regard someone as less than human and to deprive them of their status as a person.
E.g. Mrs Birling repeatedly dehumanises the working classes by referring to it as “that class”, creating distance between the lower classes and their status as people

Question 12

What is the meaning of dichotomy? + example sentence

Answer 12

A division into two opposite groups to emphasise their differences.
E.g. Priestley juxtaposes the characters of Mr Birling and Inspector Goole to create a dichotomy of viewpoints on the structure of society

Question 13

What is the meaning of didactic? + example sentence

Answer 13

Intending to teach the reader a lesson, often a moral one
E.g. ‘An Inspector Calls’ is a didactic text filled with moral messages. It teaches the reader to more carefully consider the impact their treatment of others can have.

Question 14

What is the meaning of disillusionment? + example sentence

Answer 14

The disappointment felt when something turns not as good as it was expected/believed to be
E.g. Eva Smith became disillusioned with the upper classes, particularly once Mr Birling fired her for demanding a fair wage, and Mrs Birling turned her away from her charity

Question 15

What is the meaning of disenfranchised? + example sentence

Answer 15

To deprive a person of (or group of people) of a privilege.
E.g. Critics have argued that the Birling family disenfranchised themselves from common decency and social responsibility

Question 16

What is the meaning of emblematic? + example sentence

Answer 16

Representative of a particular concept or quality. Emblematic is another word for symbolic.
E.g. Eva Smith is emblematic of the lower and working classes in the early twentieth century, used to emphasise their constant oppression

Question 17

What is the meaning of empowerment? + example sentence

Answer 17

Becoming more confident and powerful. The word is typically used in relation to a person gaining control over their life.
E.g. The Inspector’s questioning empowers Sheila. It helps her grow into herself and stand up for herself, especially when speaking to Gerald.

Question 18

What is the meaning of exploitation? + example sentence

Answer 18

The action of treating a person unfairly in order to benefit from their mistreatment.
E.g. Mr Birling fired Eva Smith when she refused to be subjected to his low pay and exploitation.

Question 19

What is the meaning of façade? + example sentence

Answer 19

A deceptive outward appearance used to conceal a person’s true personality or feelings.
E.g. Priestley presents upper class respectability as a façade invented by the upper classes to feed into their own delusions of grandeur.

Question 20

What is the meaning of generational divide? + example sentence

Answer 20

The difference in opinion between people of different generations. This tends to manifest in social and political ideology.
E.g. Generational divide can clearly be seen in the way the younger generation are more impressionable and accepting of their guilt, while the older generation are hardheaded and resistant to the Inspector’s lessons.

Question 21

What is the meaning of hypocrisy? + example sentence

Answer 21

Claiming to have a higher degree of virtue or goodness that is actually true.
E.g. Mr Birling’s hypocrisy becomes clear in the way he talks about responsibility; despite how often he brings up responsibility during the Inspector’s questioning, he fails to act responsibly towards his workers.

Question 22

What is the meaning of ideology? + example sentence

Answer 22

A body of beliefs and ideals that dictates how a person thinks and acts. It can also be used in relation to political and religious beliefs.
E.g. Mr Birling’s capitalist ideology is responsible for his actions towards Eva Smith and his other workers; it prevents him from seeing them as anything other than generators of profit.

Question 23

What is the meaning of indictment? + example sentence

Answer 23

To heavily criticise a system/idea/group of people.
E.g. Priestley creates An Inspector Calls as an indictment of the ignorance of the upper classes. He creates the Birlings’ to personify this utter lack of a social conscience.

Question 24

What is the meaning of individualist? + example meaning

Answer 24

Someone who believes we are solely responsible for ourselves.
E.g. Mr Birling is an individualist who believes we should look out for own best interests, rather than those of others.

Question 25

What is the meaning of indoctrination? + example sentence

Answer 25

To teach someone to accept a new set of beliefs without questioning them.
E.g. Mrs Birling is a woman who has been subject to the indoctrination of her husband (and of the patriarchy) to believe that her gender should submit to their male counterparts.

Question 26

What is the meaning of industrialist? + example sentence

Answer 26

Someone who is involved in the ownership and management of industry.
E.g. Mr Birling is an industrialist because he owns and manages his own factory.

Question 27

What is the meaning of infidelity? + example sentence

Answer 27

Being involved in a sexual or romantic relationship with someone other than one’s partner; cheating.
E.g. Gerald’s infidelity is brought into the open when the Inspector reveals that Eva changed her name to Daisy Renton - the name of the woman Gerald had an affair with.

Question 28

What is the meaning of labour party? + example sentence

Answer 28

A centre-left wing British political party known for opposing conservatism, and supporting public ownership and state intervention.
E.g. Priestley was a member of the Common Wealth Party, which later merged with the Labour party and formed the Welfare state. If the Labour party’s welfare state had been in place during the play, Eva wouldn’t have had to rely on the support of a charity, and thus wouldn’t have been turned away, and likely wouldn’t have died.

Question 29

What is the meaning of materialistic? + example sentence

Answer 29

Someone who values material possessions and physical comfort as the highest priority.
E.g. Mrs Birling is materialistic, valuing appearances over good moral standing. Her materialism is made explicitly clear in the way she looks down her nose at Eva Smith, who has no material possessions.

Question 30

What is the meaning of microcosm? + example sentence

Answer 30

A community or situation intended to represent the characteristics of something much larger.
E.g. The Birling family’s mistreatment of Eva Smith acts as a microcosm for the upper class’s mistreatment of the lower classes.

Question 31

What is the meaning of misogynist? + example sentence

Answer 31

Someone who dislikes or is strongly prejudiced against women.
E.g. Mr Birling is a misogynist whose prejudice against women can be found in his treatment of women through the play, from his exploitation of Eva Smith, to his condescension towards his own daughter.

Question 32

What is the meaning of morality? + example sentence

Answer 32

Principles regarding the differentiation between right and wrong.
E.g. Inspector Goole represents ideal morality and compassion for the masses.

Question 33

What is the meaning of mouthpiece? + example sentence

Answer 33

A person or character who speaks on behalf of another.
E.g. Inspector Goole is Priestley’s mouthpiece; he conveys Priestley’s personal beliefs through his questioning, thus teaching the characters and the reader about Priestley’s ideology.

Question 34

What is the meaning of negligence? + example sentence

Answer 34

Failure to take care of something, or a failure to meet a duty of care.
E.g. The Birling family are all socially negligent in the way they treat Eva Smith. They reject social responsibility to prioritise their own personal gain.

Question 35

What is the meaning of objectify? + example sentence

Answer 35

To degrade a person to the status of an object, with complete disregard for their individual status as a person with emotions.
E.g. The Inspector identifies Gerald’s objectification of Eva when he asks her if he intended to keep her as his mistress, with the word ‘keep’ being used to imply ownership.

Question 36

What is the meaning of patriarchy? + example sentence

Answer 36

A social system in which men hold the power and women face oppression from these men in power.
E.g. Mr Birling is representative of the patriarchy, emulating traditional male dominance in the way he treats the women around him.

Question 37

What is the meaning of privilege? + example sentence

Answer 37

The rights or advantages of an individual, available to them because of their race, class, gender, or sexuality.
E.g. Priestley creates a dichotomy between poverty and privilege by contrasting the vastly different lifestyles of Eva Smith and the Birling family.

Question 38

What is the meaning of proletariat? + example sentences

Answer 38

The working classes.
E.g. Eva Smith is representative of the way the proletariat were exploited by the bourgeoisie.

Question 39

What is the meaning of semantic field? + example sentence

Answer 39

A set of related words used in close proximity to refer to a specific subject.
E.g. Priestley uses words like “murder”, “poison”, “suicide” etc to create a semantic field of death in order to emphasise the severity of the situation.

Question 40

What is the meaning of separate sphere ideology? + example sentence

Answer 40

A Victorian and Edwardian concept which placed women in the domestic sphere (ie in the home), and men in the public sphere (ie at work).
E.g. Separate sphere ideology can be seen in the occupations of Mr and Mrs Birling; while Mr Birling owns and manages a factory, Mrs Birling resides mainly in the home, though she often participates in ‘feminine’ charity work.

Question 41

What is the meaning of socialist? + example sentence

Answer 41

Someone who opposes conservatism, and who supports public ownership and state intervention.
E.g. Inspector Goole’s criticism of the Birling family’s actions are driven by his support of socialism; their conservative ideology influenced their actions, leading to Eva’s death.

Question 42

What is the meaning of socialite? + example sentence

Answer 42

Someone who is well0known in society, who often engages in entertainment and other social activities.
E.g. Mrs Birling is a socialite because she is a prominent figure in high society known for her engagement in charity work.

Question 43

What is the meaning of social responsibility? + example sentence

Answer 43

The obligation of an individual to work and cooperate with other individuals for the benefit of society.
E.g. Inspector Goole’s main intention was to instil a sense of social responsibility in the Birling family in an attempt to prevent another such tragedy.

Question 44

What is the meaning of stigma? + example sentence

Answer 44

Social disgrace associated with a certain idea, circumstance, or person.
E.g. Mrs Birling turned Eva Smith away from her charity as a result of the stigma surrounding pregnancy outside of wedlock

Question 45

What is the meaning of sycophantic? + example sentence

Answer 45

Sucking up to a person in order to gain some kind of advantage; obsequious behaviour for personal gain.
E.g. Priestley writes Gerald as a sycophant, agreeing with virtually every statement Mr Birling makes.

Question 46

What is the meaning of proxy? + example sentence

Answer 46

A person’s authority to represent someone else.
E.g. Inspector Goole acts as Priestley’s proxy; he is a vehicle for Priestley’s message and political beliefs.

Question 47

What is the meaning of redemption? + example sentence

Answer 47

Being saved from sin or error.
E.g. One of Priestley’s main messages is that redemption can be achieved through taking responsibility for one’s actions - something Mr and Mrs Birling struggle to do.

Question 48

What is the meaning of welfare state? + example

Answer 48

A type of governing in which the national government protects and promotes the economic (and thus social) wellbeing of its people.
E.g. Eva Smith was forced to appeal to a charity for support in her pregnancy because the welfare state wouldn’t exist for some 40 years after the play was set.

Question 49

What is the meaning of willful ignorance? + example sentence

Answer 49

Choosing not to acknowledge or learn about something that would go against a person’s existing belief system and force them to make difficult decisions.
E.g. The Birling family are wilfully ignorance of the plight of the working classes; acknowledging the difficulties they faced would force Mr Birling to increase wages in line with his workers’ requests.

Question 50

What is the meaning of unionisation? + example sentence

Answer 50

The act of organising workers into trade unions with the intention of improve pay or working conditions.
E.g. The strike Eva Smith took part in was not organised by a trade union, and thus was destined for failure. With unionisation, the strike would’ve had more chance at success.