An Inspector Calls P2 (45mins)

Question 1

Context:

-Victorian and Edwardian Britain

Answer 1

• Women fight for the vote
• Titanic had sunk by the time the play was written
• Servants were common in Victorian house holds
• classes were highly divided

Question 2

What does Mr Birling represent in An Inspector Calls?

Answer 2

• represents the greed of the wealthy
• the arrogance and detachment of the upper class
• he represents the stubbornness of the upper class and their unwillingness to change

Question 3

What does Mrs Birling represent in An Inspector Calls?

Answer 3

• the ignorance of the upper class

- the refusal of the upper class to accept blame for their actions

Question 4

What does Sheila represent in An Inspector Calls?

Answer 4

• younger generation and the changing attitudes of women
• represents the younger generation’s willingness to accept responsibility
• an honest example of the flaws on human beings, she accepts her imperfections and knows she needs to change

Question 5

What does Eric represent in An Inspector Calls?

Answer 5

• younger generation and their willingness to accept blame
• represents some of the issues that arise from having too much money and too little sense
• differences and problems that arise between older and younger generations

Question 6

What does Gerald represent in An Inspector Calls?

Answer 6

• younger generation who still aspire to be like the older generation
• those who can be corrupted by money and power
• some good qualities like how the wealthy could help the poor
• how some people could have more power or control over others because of their wealth

Question 7

What does Eva Smith represent in An Inspector Calls?

Answer 7

• represents the poor
• how the poor were mistreated and victims of prejudice
• courage shown by the poor to try and change their poor living conditions
• represents how the poor can be controlled and manipulated by the rich

Question 8

What are the four main themes in an inspector calls?

Answer 8

Social responsibility
Age
Gender
Class

Question 9

How is social responsibility shown as a theme in an inspector calls?

Answer 9

• Shelia feels socially responsible, “All right Gerald, you needn’t look at me like that” (she takes responsibility)
• Mr Birling doesn’t feel socially responsible, “a man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own”
• Eric feels socially responsible,”You lot may be letting yourselves out nicely, but I can’t”
• Mrs Birling doesn’t feel socially responsible, “Eric, I’m absolutely ashamed of you.”(she blames others)
• Inspector Goole, “It’s better to ask for the earth than to take it.”

Question 10

How is age/generations shown as a theme in an inspector calls?

Answer 10

• Eric stands up for his own opinions, “Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages”
• Eric, “You’re beginning to pretend now that nothing’s really happened at all.”
• Sheila, “What business?, What’s happening”
• Mr Birling, “if he wasn’t, it matters a devil of a lot”
• Mrs Birling, “I was perfectly justified in advising my committee not to allow her claim”
• how the old generation see the young, Birling,”Why, you hysterical young fool - get back - or I’ll -“

Question 11

How is gender shown as a theme in an inspector calls?

Answer 11

• how Birling refers to women, “…not only something to make ‘em look prettier - but - well, a sort of sign or token of their self-respect.”
• how Gerald refers to women, “I hate those hard-eyed dough-faced women.”
• how Mrs Birling treats Eva Smith, “She was claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that were simply absurd in a girl in her position.”

Question 12

How is class shown as a theme in an inspector calls?

Answer 12

• Mr Birlings opinion of the working class, “If you don’t come down sharply on some of these people, they’d soon be asking for the earth.”
• Behaviour of the Birling friends, “He’s a notorious womaniser as well as being one of the worst sots and rogues in Brumley.”
• Mrs Birling’s opinion of the working class, “As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money!”

Question 13

What are 7 points with quotations about Shelia Birling?

Answer 13

Overall in the play Shelia becomes more mature

• compassionate towards lower class,”aren’t cheap I labour-they’re people”
• feels guilt and accepts responsibility for her mistakes, “really responsible”
• becomes more mature and is willing to forgive mistakes, respects honesty,”rather respect you more than I’ve ever”
• she becomes able to see flaws in her parents and she is critical of them, “pretend that nothing much has happened”
• becomes mature isn’t a selfish girl anymore, “we are all to blame”
• she gets the inspector and can see his little game quickly, “you haven’t finished asking questions-have you?”
• “Oh - Gerald - you’ve got it - is it the one you wanted me to have?” - typical woman reaction, men make choices

Question 14

What are six points and quotations about Gerald Croft?

Answer 14

Gerald did start to be more socialist in the middle but by the end he’s capitalist and cares about how he looks to others

• ‘well bread’ high social class higher than Mr Birling
• “kind of son in law I always wanted”, Birling sees the engagement as bringing the two businesses together
• “We’re respectable citizens and not criminals”,Gerald very sure of himself at the beginning, dramatic irony, class system before the war
• “Why stay when you’ll hate it?”,he can see the pattern of what is happening knows he’ll have to reveal about him and Daisy
• “more upset…than I probably appear to be”,keep up appearances
• “intensely grateful”,likes the dependence that she had on him

Question 15

What are nine points and quotations about Eric Birling?

Answer 15

Eric sees socialist view at the end, accepts his mistakes

• ‘half assertive’,says what he thinks
• Sheila says,”you’re squiffy”,Eric says,”I’m not”,doesn’t admit his drinking problem
• “steady the buffs”,teasing Sheila immature arguments
• “what about war?”,inquisitive, sheltered wants to know more
• “you can’t go and work somewhere else”,contradicts his father sees the real point of view of the lower class
• “My God!”,only one to react out of the men about Eva’s death
• “ashamed of you as well-both of you”,critical of parents
• “our police inspector alright”-gets the meaning behind him
• “whoever that chap was, the fact remains”,nothing has changed mistakes have still been made, still done what they’ve done

Question 16

What are six points and quotations about the inspector?

Answer 16

Has most effect on Shelia and Eric, believes in social justice

• “burnt her insides out”,traffic description, says how it was
• “one line of enquiry at a time”,had complete control
• “my duty to ask questions”,believes in the truth, takes responsibility seriously
• “better to ask for the earth than to take it”,not just take advantage
• “one Eva Smith has gone…but there are millions more”,talking about the poor should be looked after, they live in the same world
• “taught it in fire and blood and anguish”,hinting at the war, need to change their ways of class divides

Question 17

What are 7 points and quotations about Eva smith?

Answer 17

Never seen on stage

• “pretty”,Eric,Mr B and Gerald all describe her for her looks
• “country bred”,belongs to working class, moved to city for work
• “wanted the rate raised”,only ask for a small amount more but Birling didn’t want to give in he just cared about his profit
• Mr Birling “several hundred young women here.. they keep changing” (sees them as disposable)
• Inspector “she had been pretty - very pretty”
• Inspector “no work, no money…, no relatives…, no friends, lonely, half-starved, she was feeling desperate”
• Mrs Birling “as if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money”

Question 18

What are 7 points and quotations about Mr Birling?

Answer 18

Doesn’t learn from the inspector

• ‘hard headed businessman’,main focus is business and profit
• “unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable”,dramatic irony, gullible
• “cheap labour”,believes it’s his duty to keep labour costs down
• “man has to make his own way”,capitalist view
• “Public-school-and-varsity-life”,blames their socialist view on being spoilt
• “can’t accept any responsibility”,doesn’t accept problems/mistakes
• “all mixed up together like bees in a hive” - simile against socialism

Question 19

What are 6 points and quotations about Mrs Birling?

Answer 19

Doesn’t learn anything

• “not supposed to say such things”,she social superior to Mr B
• “men with important work to do”,sexist she’s not against it
• “know of course that my husband was Lord Mayor”,she tries using social superiority to threaten the Inspector
• “girls of that class”,looks down on them, social snobbishness
• “I did nothing I’m ashamed of”,doesn’t believe she made any mistakes, doesn’t regret anything
• “blame the young man”,passing the blame, dramatic irony

Question 20

How should you structure paragraphs

Answer 20

P - point
E - evidence
A - analysis
W - writers intentions
A - audience response
C - context

Question 21

What type of play in an inspector calls?

Answer 21

morality play