An Inspectors Calls Flashcards
What have the Birling family been doing just before Act One begins?
They were having dinner to celebrate the engagement of Gerald and Sheila.
When Gerald tells Sheila he was busy working over the summer, she replies “Yes, that’s what you say.” What does this suggest about their relationship?
This shows there is some tension between them because Sheila thinks Gerald is lying.
What is dramatic irony?
Dramatic irony is when the audience knows something that the characters on stage don’t.
Give two examples of dramatic irony from Arthur’s speech.
→ Arthur claims that there won’t be any serious “labour trouble in the near future”, but the audience knows that there were actually many strikes between 1912 and 1945.
→ He also says “there isn’t a chance of war” (the First World War broke out in 1914) and that the Titanic is “unsinkable” (it sank later the same year, 1912).
How does Priestley’s use of dramatic irony affect the audience’s initial impression of Arthur?
Priestley’s use of dramatic irony makes Arthur appear overconfident and foolish. He tells Eric that he has “a lot to learn yet”, but the audience knows that it’s Arthur who is misguided. This means they are less likely to trust his judgement in the rest of the play.
What evidence is there from the beginning of Act One to show that class is important to Arthur and Sybil Birling?
Here are some points you could have made:
▢ Arthur is happy to have Gerald as his son-in-law because Gerald comes from an upper-class family, so he is seen as a good match for Sheila. ▢ Sybil is worried about what Arthur says in front of Gerald. She tells him that a man of his class is "not supposed to say such things" when he praises the dinner.
What does Arthur tell Gerald when they are alone before the Inspector arrives?
Arthur tells Gerald that he is expecting a knighthood. He wants Gerald to tell this to his mother, because he’s worried that Gerald’s mother thinks the Birlings are socially inferior.
Why do you thing Eric is “uneasy” when Arthur and Gerald joke that he has “been up to something”?
Eric is uneasy because he has been up to something. He’s stolen money from his father to give to Eva/Daisy, who he got pregnant, but his family don’t know about this.
Why does Arthur suspect that Inspector Goole is new to the police force?
Arthur suspects that Inspector Goole is new because he knows the local policemen “pretty well” and he has never heard of him.
Arthur tells Eric and Gerald that “a man has to make his own way”, and he is critical of the idea of “community and all that nonsense”.
What does this suggest about his approach to business and the people he employs?
This suggests that Arthur believes that a man should look after his own interests first in business and not expect to b helped by others. This attitude, combined with the dismissive term “nonsense” when talking about “community”, implies that he is unlikely to care much about the welfare of his employees.
Explain how the mood of the play changes when the Inspector arrives.
Here are some points you could have made:
▢ The atmosphere in the room becomes more serious, as the Inspector gives a graphic description of Eva/Daisy’s tragic death as soon as he arrives.
▢ His arrival creates tension — he doesn’t reveal the purpose oh his visit immediately, causing Arthur to get impatient and making the audience wonder why he is there.
True or false? Arthur thought Eva Smith was good at her job.
True. Arthur describes her as a “good worker” who was on track for promotion.
How do each of these characters feel about Arthur’s decision to sack Eva?
(a) Eric (b) Gerald
(a) Eric criticised his father and insists that he “could have kept on”.
(b) Gerald defends Arthur’s decision, claiming that he “couldn’t have done anything else”.
Why does Arthur mention to the Inspector that the Chief Constable is “an old friend”?
Arthur mentions that he knows the Chief Constable because he thinks he can intimidate (frighten) the Inspector by showing that he has contacts high up in the police.
Explain how Arthur reacts to the Inspector’s style of questioning in Act One.
Arthur is shocked and offended by the Inspector’s abrupt style of questioning. He warns the Inspector that he doesn’t “like the tone” of his questions and speaks to him “impatiently” and “angrily”
Arthur claims that sacking Eva had “nothing whatever to do with the wretched girl’s suicide”. What does this quote suggest about his attitude to Eva?
This shows that Arthur doesn’t have any regret for what happened to her and can’t see how his actions could have affected her. Calling her “wretched” shows that he has a condensing attitude towards her — he doesn’t seem to care that she’s died a gruesome death and is frustrated that her death has interrupted his evening.
Sheila admits that she got Eva/Daisy sacked from Milwards because:
A. Eva/Daisy spoke rudely to her.
B. She thought Eva/Daisy wasn’t important.
C. She was jealous of Eva/Daisy.
D. She just loves a good bit of drama.
C. Sheila was jealous because Eva/Daisy was “a very pretty girl” and the dress suiter her much better than it suited Sheila.
How did Sheila abuse her position of power to get Eva/Daisy sacked?
Sheila abused her position “as a daughter of a good customer” to persuade the manager to sack Eva/Daisy by threatening to get her mother to close their account.
How does Sheila know that Gerald is lying to her at the end of Act One?
Sheila knows that Gerald is lying because he said “What?” in a “startled” manner when the Inspector mentioned the name “Daisy Renton”.
How does Sheila respond to finding out she was involved in Eva/Daisy’s death? How is her response different to Arthur’s?
Sheila is upset by the tragic death and feels responsible for it — she clearly regrets her actions, saying “if I could help her now, I would”. Her response is different to Arthur’s — he wasn’t upset and was only interested in proving to the Inspector that he’s not responsible. This suggests that Sheila shows remorse but Arthur doesn’t.
The Inspector says he “wouldn’t know where to draw the line” between respectable citizens and criminals. What do you think he means by this?
He means that it can be difficult to tell what a person is really like and that appearances can be deceiving. His words hint at the fact that seemingly respectable people like the Birlings and Gerald are capable of immoral and illegal actions. This also suggests that the Inspector is going to show the other characters that these categories aren’t as clear cut as they might think.
Briefly summarise the key events of Act One.
The Birlings are celebrating Gerald and Sheila’s engagement. The Inspector arrives and starts asking questions about a girl who’s killed herself. It is revealed that Arthur sacked the girl and Sheila got her fired from her next job.
Who is the only character who doesn’t meet the Inspector in Act One?
Sybil — she doesn’t meet the Inspector until early in Act Two.
Which word best describes how Eric feels around his family in Act One?
A. uncomfortable
B. casual
C. disgusted
D. content
A. Eric is “not quite at ease” around his family — he feels like his parents don’t understand him, he is hiding habit from them and he argues with Sheila.
What is the cliff-hanger at the end of Act One? Why do you think Priestley shows that the Inspector is in control of what is happening in Act One.
The audience is left wondering about the details of Gerald’s relationship with Eva/Daisy and whether he will tell the Inspector what he knows. This increases the tension as the audience tries to unravel the mystery of why Eva/Daisy died and how the other characters are involved.
Explain how Priestley shows that the Inspector is in control of what is happening in Act One.
Here are some points you could have made:
▢ The Inspector frequently interrupts and contradicts the other characters, allowing him to direct the conversations and forcing them to answer his questions.
▢ The Inspector appears in control of all the key information and when it is revealed. This is shown by Sheila’s worry about “how much he knows that we don’t know yet”.
According to the Inspector, why does Sheila want to say and hear the full story of what happened to Eva/Daisy?
The Inspector says that Sheila wants to stay because “She feels responsible” for Eva/Daisy’s death. If she stays, she will be able to share her responsibility with the others.
What do Sheila and Gerald reveal to Sybil about Eric at the start of Act Two?
They reveal to Sybil that Eric drinks too much.
When Sybil comes into the room, she is described as being “out of key” with the scene that has just taken place. What do you think this means?
This means the way Sybil talks and acts seems wrong, given that the other characters have been learning about Eva/Daisy’s tragic death. The mood in the dining room has changed since Sybil left, but she walks in “self-confidently”, unaware of the unpleasant atmosphere.
What effect does Sybil’s way of speaking to other characters in Act Two have on the audience? Give reasons for your answer.
Sybil’s way of speaking might turn the audience against her because she appears stubborn and rude — she tells the Inspector that he is being “impertinent” (disrespectful) and she exclaims “Really, Sheila!” in an “annoyed” tone when Sheila is trying to help.
Do you think Sheila and Gerald change between the start of the play and the arrival of Sybil at the beginning of Act Two? Explain your answer.
Here are some points you could have made:
▢ Sheila and Gerald both change by the start of Act Two. They’ve become less sure of themselves because they know that they were involved in Eva/Daisy’s death.
▢ Sheila shows a greater awareness of what everyone is saying — she is worried that her mother might say something that she’ll “be sorry for afterwards”.
▢ Gerald is behaving less politely to the Birlings — he interrupts Sybil “impatiently”
Which character seems the most shocked by Gerald’s affair?
Sybil — she is the last character to realise that Gerald kept Eva/Daisy as a mistress, and she describes their relationship as “disgusting”.
Why did Gerald end his affair with Eva/Daisy, and where did she go afterwards?
Gerald ended the affair because he had to go away on business, but he suggests that “it was coming to an end” anyway. According to the Inspector, Eva/Daisy then went away
True or false? Sheila vows she’ll never marry Gerald after finding out he lied to her.
False. Sheila gives Gerald the engagement ring back, but doesn’t rule out the possibility of forgiving him. She explains that they would “have to start all over again”.
Why do you think Sheila respects Gerald more after he has told his story? What does this suggest about Sheila’s character?
Sheila respects Gerald more because he has been honest. She knew that he was lying to her before, so she respects him for finally telling the truth. This suggests that Sheila values honesty and openness and tries to see the good in people.
Do you think Arthur would have reacted in the same way if Sheila had been having an affair rather than Gerald? Explain your answer.
Arthur would probably have been outraged if Sheila had been having an affair. This is because it was socially unacceptable at the time for women to have affairs, whereas it was socially acceptable for men of Gerald’s age and class to have a mistress. Arthur tells Sheila that she “must understand that a lot of young men” have affairs, showing how he believes she has to realise this is common and acceptable thing for men to do.
How does Sybil react to seeing Eva/Daisy’s photo?
A. She is upset by it.
B. She pretends not to recognise Eva/Daisy.
C. She storms out of the room.
D. She confesses that she met Eva/Daisy.
B. Sybil pretends that she doesn’t recognise Eva/Daisy, which shows that she doesn’t want to admit to her actions.
What fact does the Inspector reveal about Eva/Daisy that causes Sheila to exclaim “How could she have wanted to kill herself?”
The Inspector reveals that Eva/Daisy was pregnant when she came to Sybil’s charitable committee for help.
Why is it significant that Eric is absent when Sybil tells her story about Eva/Daisy?
It is significant that Eric is absent because he would have realised that the girl his mother was describing was the same girl that eh got pregnant. Priestley spreads out the revelations to help build tension and anticipation.
The Inspector tells Arthur that men like him “have responsibilities as well as privileges”. What ‘responsibilities’ do you think he is referring to?
the Inspector could be referring to Arthur’s responsibility for looking after his workers. Arthur has the ‘privilege’ of being a business owner, but this means he has a ‘responsibility’ to make sure his workers are well paid and well supported.
Why do you think Sybil isn’t “ashamed” of refusing to help Eva/Daisy?
Sybil isn’t ashamed of her refusal to help Eva/Daisy because she argues that she did her “duty”. Sybil refuses to believe that Eva/Daisy was telling the truth and so continues to claim that her behaviour towards the committee meant that she didn’t deserve their assistance.
Why is Arthur concerned by Sybil’s decision to refuse Eva/Daisy help?
Arthur is concerned about the family’s reputation — he’s worried that Sybil’s actions could create a scandal, since “The Press might easily take it up”.
What makes Eric’s entrance at the end of Act Two dramatic?
Eric’s entrance is dramatic because he arrives just after his family has realised his secret. The fact that he arrives looking “distressed” just before the curtains falls also creates tension.
Why do you think Sybil falls into the Inspector’s trap?
Sybil falls into the trap because she is too stubborn and defensive to listen to Sheila’s warnings or to see what the Inspector is doing. She also cannot imagine that the father of Eva/Daisy’s child could be someone like Eric, so she thinks she has nothing to fear by blaming the father for what has happened.
