🔵 An Inspector calls: Key Quotations

Question 1

How is Mr Birling presented in AIC?

Answer 1

• He is selfish
• He wants control
• Won’t accept responsibility
• Short sighted

Question 2

What are some quotes to present Mr Birling as selfish?

Answer 2

• ‘A touch of impatience’
• ‘give thousands’
• ‘angrily’
• ‘find out first’

Question 3

Analyse the quote:

‘give thousands’

Answer 3

When Mr Birlings name was threatened he would ‘give thousands’ to avoid a scandal to save his reputation

Question 4

Analyse the quote:

‘touch of impatience’

Answer 4

• Mr Birling can’t stand being challenged
• Not long after the inspector arrives, he shows a ‘touch of impatience’

Question 5

Analyse the quote:

‘angrily’ and ‘find out first’

Answer 5

• Mr Birlin does not appreciate the Inspectors authority, so ‘…’ tells him that he would like to ‘…’
• Shows how he does not like to be undermined and needs to be in control

Question 6

What are some quotes to present Mr Birling as not willing to accept responsibility?

Answer 6

• Very awkward
  *

Question 7

‘Very awkward’

Answer 7

• He feels that being responsible for others would be ‘Very awkward’
  —> No regard for others
• He is far too focussed on himself

Question 8

What are some quotes to present Mr Birling as selfish?

Answer 8

• ‘Every excuse’
• ‘Mind his own business and look after himself’
• ‘cheap labour’
• ‘obviously’ and ‘of course’

Question 9

‘obviously’ and ‘of course’

Answer 9

Birling begins with supposedly accurate claims w/ ‘obviously’ and uses ‘of course’
—> Gives false sense of truth to his words
—> Makes his claims seems obvious and correct

Question 10

‘cheap labour’

Answer 10

Suggests he uses/exploits others for his own selfish desires

Question 11

How does the quotes ‘obviously’ and ‘of course’ make the audience watching this feel?

Answer 11

Audience are left to wonder what is actually true about these statements

Question 12

What are some quotes to present Mr Birling as short-sighted?

Answer 12

• ‘Silly little war scares’
• ‘Unsinkable. Absolutely unsinkable’

Question 13

‘Unsinkable. Absolutely unsinkable’

Answer 13

Repetition emphasises foolishness, ignorance and short sightedness

Question 14

How does the quote ‘Silly little war scares’ make the audience watching this feel?

Answer 14

Audience might feel Mr Birlings statement offensive (as they have already suffered war)

Question 15

How is Sybil presented in AIC?

Answer 15

• Socially prejudiced
• Accepts no responsibility - imprudent
• Pompous
• tone - severe and powerful

Question 16

How does the quotes ‘cold’ and ‘ashamed of’ make the audience watching this feel?

Answer 16

Sybil’s behaviour + cold detachment would be incomprehensible
–> as she feels no regret for her refusal to help Eva
–> heightened further as she is both a woman and a mother

Question 17

What are some quotes to present Sybil ‘s tone as powerful and authoritative?