Inspecter Calls Flashcards
What does polemic mean?
Writing which expresses an argument about society- JB PREISTLY CONTEXT
What does Portentous mean
Self important and pompous- MR BIRLING
What does Scaremonger mean
A person who spreads frightening rumours- INSPECTOR GOOLE
What does aristocracy mean
The highest class in certain societies
What does bourgeoisie mean?
Social order dominated by the middle class- CONTEXT
What does coup de theatre mean?
Dramatically sudden action or turn of events- MRS BIRLING SNITCHING ON ERIC
What does hubris mean?
Excessive pride or self confidence- MR BIRLING
What are Eric Birling key quote about responsibility
“You killed her-and the child… your own grandchild”- Responsibility, Priestly encourages audience to sympathise. Placing blame on mother attempts to absolve himself from any blame
What are key quotes about Eric and gender inequality?
“She wasn’t the usual sort” Priestly reveals Erics previous experiences with prostitutes, adjective “usual” implies it is normal for eric.
What are key quotes about Eric about guilt?
“In the state when a chap easily turns nasty”- Priestley demonstrates erics subconcious attempts to distance himself from his actions by switching from 1st to 3rd person. Refers to “a chap” rather than I. Erics trivialisation of such violence could possible be rape
What are some key quotes about eric about capatlism vs socialism/ class
“Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages?”- He belives that capatlist system pught to be fair for employers and employees. Puts foward a moral form of capitalism.
What are key quotes about gerald croft and responsibility
“Where did you get the idea that I know her?” Immediate defnsive tone of guilt (said to inspector)
“He at least had some affection for her and made her happy for a time” -Inpector notes that Geralds kindness towards eva separtes him.
What are some quotes about gerald croft and capatlism?
“I insited/ I made her take some money”- monetary exchanges, disgusing prostitution as charity. Prepiestleys use of impertives bears connotations of power and force
What are key auotes about gerald croft about desire and love?
“She was pretty- soft brown hair and big dark eyes”-[breaks off] My God”- use of aposiopesis comes directly after gerald describes her beauty. Only wanted eva physically.
“Young and fresh and chamring and altogther out of place down there”- priestley incorportaes predatory description, connotations of desire and fertility. “Fresh” means views her sexually from the start
What are quotes from gerald about class?
“Knew it couldn’t last” -like a posssession due tonher lower-class orgins
What are quotes about mr birling about capatilism vs sociallism
“As if we were all mixed together like bees in a hive-community and all that nonsense”- attempt to trivialise the concept of socialism
“A man has to mind his own business and look after himself”
“If you don’t come down sharply on some of these people, they’d be asking for the earth”- hyperbole, attempt by mr birling to explain the rejection of eva smiths pay rise. Refusal of mr birling to pay decent wage
What are quotes from mr birling about responsibilty?
“I can’t accept any responsiblity” complete lack of morality, no imapct on her suicide
“If we were all responsible for everything that happened to everybody… it would be very awkward wouldn’t it” self absorbed character, only awkward for him. Represents capatlist middle class
What are quotes about mr birling about him being self absorbed?
“Its one of the happiest nights of my life… your engagement to Sheila means a tremendous lot to me” selfish- using “me” and “my life”. Shelias social repretarion will increase
“A heavy looking, rather portentous man”
What are quotes about mr Birling about dramatic irony?
“You’ll hear some people say that war is inevitable. And to thay i say- fiddlesticks” -arrogent
“(The titanic is) unsinkable absolutely unsinkable” repition shows poor judgement
What are quotes about Mrs Birling and responsibility?
“She only had herslelf to blame”- a conscious choice blameing eva smith
“I did nothing I’m ashamed of”- Mrs birlings cold nature
“First I blame the girl herself. Secondly, I blame the young man”-deflects the blame onto the man who is eric
What are some quotes about Mrs Birling and her pride?
“Don’t contradict me like that”- resistant to change. Contrasting sheila- need for socialism
“Prominent member of the Brumley Women’s Charity Organisation” way to gain influence and status
What are some quotes about Mrs Birling and Class
“her husband’s social superior” upper class etiquette
“Girl of that class” based on prejudice shows divide in 20th century Biratin
What are quotes about Sheila and responsibility?
“Oh- how horrible”-only character who shows geniue emotion towards suicide
“It was my own fault” “I behaved badly too. I know I did”- accepting responsibility
“I felt rotten about it at the time”-lack of maturity “rotten” shows remorse for action’s
“I suppose we’re all nice people now”- rhetorical, sarcastic tone, shows her disapproval of parents and geralds lack of remorse
What are quotes about sheila and maturity?
“You and I aren’t the same people”- gained maturity , perception of gerald changed
“You don’t seem to have learnt anything”- learns a moral teaching. Portrays older generation as stubborn and opposed changing
What are quotes about sheila and materialism?
“Now I really feel engaged”- physical token of a ring and a visual marker
“Is it the one you wanted me to have”?reveals patriarchal control
What are quotes about Sheila and capatilism vs socialism
“But these girls aren’t cheap labour- they’re people” -objects to her fathers dehumanising and capatalist approach to business
