An Inspector Calls - Mr Birling

Question 1

‘(heavy-looking, rather portentous man)’

(Act 1)

Answer 1

Gerund verb “looking” - shows his all-seeing patriarchal nature.
Adjective portentous gives him an ominous sense.

Question 2

I speak as a hard-headed man of business

(Act 1)

Answer 2

Act One: Mr. Birling thinks that he knows everything because he has his own business - capitalistic views.
Adjective hard also has connotations of the struggles of his factory workers.

Question 3

‘The Germans don’t want war’

(Act 1)

Answer 3

What Mr. Birling thinks about the Germans.
Shows his overconfidence on the future.

Question 4

‘I say there isn’t a chance of war’

(Act 1)

Answer 4

What Mr. Birling thinks about war.
Reinforces his overconfidence.

Question 5

‘You’ve a lot to learn yet’ (about Eric)

(Act 1)

Answer 5

Generational differences - Mr. Birling thinks that he knows everything and Eric knows nothing.
Show his superiority over Eric, being the eldest male in the house.

Question 6

‘Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable’

(Act 1)

Answer 6

What Mr. Birling thinks about the Titanic.
Adverb absolutely shows his overconfidence and high hopes for the future.
Ironic
Also his character comes across as a techno man.

Question 7

‘Lower costs and higher prices’

(Act 1)

Answer 7

Act One: Mr. Birling holds clear capitalist views in a speech that should concern love.
Conjunction “and” further fixes his idea of capitalism.

Question 8

‘There’s a very good chance of a knighthood - so long as we behave ourselves’

(Act 1)

Answer 8

Act One: This quote from Mr. Birling foreshadows what is about to happen.
He knows that his future in-laws are not happy with Gerald’s choice to marry his daughter, therefore, he tries to impress them with talk of a Knighthood.
Ironic as Mr Birling is responsible for Eva Smith’s death.

Question 9

‘A man has to make his own way’

(Act 1)

Answer 9

Act One: This shows Mr. Birling’s capitalist views about how you should live your life.
Links to a patriarchal society, where he is trying to take control.

Question 10

‘Community and all that nonsense’

(Act 1)

Answer 10

Act One: Mr Birling’s views on community.
Juxtaposes Priestley’s social views on everyone working together regardless of class and gender.

Question 11

‘In 1940, you may be giving a party like this’

(Act 1)

Answer 11

Act One: Mr Birling predicts the future wrong.
1940 was when WW2 was happening and clearly enhances dramatic irony

Question 12

‘Wretched girl’s suicide’

(Act 1)

Answer 12

Adjective wretched shows that Mr Birling appears to be very unsympathetic about Eva.
Also conveys her inferiority to Mr Birling.

Question 13

‘I can’t accept any responsibility’

(Act 1)

Answer 13

Mr. Birling refuses to take any blame for what has happened.
He lacks social responsibility, despite her being an employee in his business.

Question 14

‘But you must understand that a lot of young men-‘

(Act 2)

Answer 14

Act Two: Mr. Birling makes excuses for Gerald’s bad behaviour because Sheila marrying Gerald would be beneficial for Mr. Birling’s business.

Question 15

‘like bees in a hive’

(Act 2)

Answer 15

Simile and double entendre
Shows Preistley’s social views on society - attempt by Mr Birling to trivialise the concept of socialism.
Speaks in​ third person​ in an attempt to create a philosophical element to his speech - could also insinuate his lower class past where he has married Mrs Birling to climb up the echelon of social status.

Question 16

‘I’ve got to cover this up as soon as I can’

(Act 3)

Answer 16

Mr. Birling does not want people finding out about what he has done, as this would downgrade the reputation of his business.

Question 17

‘Because you’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble’ (Eric)

(Act 3)

Answer 17

Act Three: Mr. Birling is not a very fatherly figure for Eric.

Question 18

‘Your trouble is - you’ve been spoiled-‘

(Act 3)

Answer 18

Act Three: Mr. Birling blames Eric for being spoiled even though it is clearly Mr. and Mrs. Birling’s fault.

Question 19

‘You hysterical young fool’ (about Sheila)

(Act 3)

Answer 19

Act Three: Mr. Birling thinks that Sheila is always over reacting.

Question 20

‘You’re the one I blame for this’ (about Eric)

(Act 3)

Answer 20

Act Three: Mr. Birling blames his son rather than taking the responsibility for himself - he would rather see anyone else be ruined than go down himself.
He tries to maintain his social status as a man.

Question 21

‘There’ll be a public scandal’ ‘I was almost certain for a knighthood’

(Act 3)

Answer 21

Act Three: Mr. Birling doesn’t care that someone has died and only cares that he will lose his social ranking.
Reflects his hubris as a character, and his lack of empathy.

Question 22

‘There’s every excuse for what your mother and I did’

(Act 3)

Answer 22

Act Three: Mr. Birling defends him and his wife’s actions.

Question 23

‘Who will suffer from this more than I will?’

(Act 3)

Answer 23

Act Three: This quotation makes Mr. Birling sound very selfish.
Dramatically ironic

Question 24

‘Probably a socialist or some sort of crank’

(Act 3)

Answer 24

Act Three: Mr. Birling thinks that anyone that isn’t a capitalist is wrong.

Question 25

‘It makes all the difference [that IG isn’t real]’

(Act 3)

Answer 25

Act Three: Mr. Birling doesn’t understand that the point isn’t whether or not IG is real - could be argued that the inspector is the ghost of Eva Smith.

Question 26

‘You’d better ask Gerald for that ring you gave back to him’

(Act 3)

Answer 26

Act Three: Mr. Birling thinks that now they have realised IG wasn’t real everything can go back to normal - focus shifts back to their marriage.

Question 27

‘(frightened)’

(Act 3)

Answer 27

Stage direction that shows how the Inspector and the revelations have hit Mr Birling.

Question 28

‘You’re just the kind of son-in-law I always wanted’

(Act 3)

Answer 28

Questions whether Mr Birling’s thoughts are genuine and that he simply likes the fact that Gerald is of an upper-class.
Double entendre used here as Mr Birling is indirectly trying to use Gerald’s family’s wealth, and the fact that their business is a rival to his.

Question 29

‘I’d give thousands’

(Act 3)

Answer 29

Mr Birling attempts to bribe the Inspector showing ultimate weakness.
Jumps to financial conclusions, but the inspector does not value this financial offer - the inspector is a down to earth person.

Question 30

‘better ask Gerald for that ring’
(Act 3)

Answer 30

Mr Birling has clearly forgotten everything that had happened.
Focus shifted to the material ring, despite the horrors told by the inspector.