Eric

Question 1

You’re squiffy

I have gathered that he does drink pretty hard

Answer 1

Alcohol problem

Question 2

I was in that state…

That’s the…

Answer 2

when a chap easily turns nasty
hellish thing
Vague
“hellish” - shows he knows what he did was gravely wrong and expresses regret - as if it is burning into him

Question 3

I’m not likely…

Nearly at breaking point

Answer 3

to forget
Significant impact
Will always stay with him suggesting he will change for the better
He is clearly distressed
His distress and remorse is weighing him down so much he will break down soon

Question 4

When he learns of his mother’s refusal to help Eva, his sentences contain a lot of fragmentation

Answer 4

Shows he is very troubled
Extremely furious
Cannot even think straight

Eric’s intense anger has affected him a lot which is shown through his brief inability to complete his sentences without starting a new sentence

Question 5

I can’t see it like that (when he says his parents pretend nothing is happening
It’s… what we did to the girl that matters
We all helped to kill her

Answer 5

Significant impact
Affected him so much that it has changed the way that he sees the situation
Collects all family members together through “we”
Shows that he understands the Inspector through his copying of creating togetherness and his blunt and direct sentence (last quote)