Inspector Calls (English Literature) Flashcards
‘Substantial and heavily comfortable’
‘not cosy and homelike’ SD
imposing adjective ‘substantial’ connotes extreme wealth, surrounded by luxury Excessive adverb ‘heavily’ overdone - materialistic as ‘not cosy and homelike’. Alternatively, suggests lack of family warmth This gives the impression to the 1945 audience that the family is upper-class and are capitalistic
Pink and intimate SD
Warm adjectives in happy tone Creates rosy-tinted atmosphere, reflect on rosy-tinted view of upper class people due to their privileges over the poor lower-class.
Brighter and harder SD
Harsh comparative adjectives, contrasts to the previous joyful atmosphere
Imagery of the family being investigated, light shined on them by inspector
Priestley scrutinise on the family
The parlourmaid SD
Maidservant noun
family is rich to be able to afford a maid - privileged
However, perhaps imply maid=representation women in Edwardian society serving others
Heavy-looking SD
Heavy-looking - Adjective
Gluttonous, large presence, pompous air, greedy
Provincial in his speech SD
Adjective ‘provincial’
Accent indicates he’s not of noble origin
Apart of a new class that emerged due to the Industrial Revolution - people who had a rise in fortunes by using the new methods of industry, rather than being in a wealthy noble family
Cold woman SD
oxymoron at the time
Societal norms dictated women were meant to be loving and emotional
Detached attitude is unnatural
Husband’s social superior SD
Noble family
Upper class from birth
Husband climbed up from social ladder
Connotations of haughty upper-class from noun “superior”
Pretty girl SD
Adjective ‘pretty’ - No other defining feature
Society values looks
Young noun “girl” immaturity
Very pleased with life SD
Adverb “very”
Adjective “pleased”
Rather excited SD
Eager adjective “excited”
‘Easy well-bred’
‘young man about town’ SD
Idiomatic phrase
Fashionable socialite
Plural connotations
Perhaps, foreshadows unfaithful nature of Gerald as he goes around town
early twenties SD
Repetition
United, similar
Half shy, half assertive SD
Contrast
Inner turmoil
Giving us the port, Edna? 11
Invisibly
Regarded as a functionary
(gaily, possessively) 11
Stage direction
mummy
Childish tone
Edna. I’ll ring from the drawing room
Commanding tone
Yes ma’am
Formal tone
The polite address
Contrasts with how the Birling family calls her “Edna”
(half serious, half playful)
Contrast
when you never came near me 11
Keen
You’re squiffy 11
Colloquial language
(who has put the ring on, admiringly) 11
Admiringly = adverb
hard-headed businessman 11
Adjective “hard-headed”
unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable 11
Repetition
Dramatic irony
Silly little war scares 11
Derogatory Adjective “silly” “little”
Russia, which will always be behindhand naturally 11
Dramatic irony
community and all that nonsense
Noun “nonsense”
(sharp ring of a doorbell) 11
Stage direction
Show him in here. 11
Short monosyllabic words
impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness 11
Triplet
carefully, weightily 11
Adverb
I’m on duty 11
Short sentence
burnt her inside out 11
Shocking imagery
Grotesque verb ‘burnt’
(involuntarily) My god! 11
Exclamation
Great agony 11
Abstract noun
Yes, yes. Horrid business. 11
Dismissive tone
Short sentence
several hundred young women there 11
Determiner “several”
they keep changing 11
Continuous
Supply
Verb “keep”
wretched girl’s suicide 11
Adjective “wretched”
chain of events
Metaphorical image.
Concrete noun “chain”- embodies physical linking. Perhaps inferring the links between various events involving the Birlings and Eva Smith could be what weighs down the entire family
it isn’t if you can’t go and work somewhere else 11
Eric
(with a marked change of tone) 11
Birling
(cutting in) 11
Birling cuts in
Sheila cuts in
lonely, half-starved, she was feeling desperate 11
Pathos
these girls aren’t cheap labour - they’re people 11
Hyphen- pause of realisation as she releases the value of human lives. The pause also forces the audience to pause their thoughts to realise the same as Sheila
counting their pennies, in their dingy little back bedrooms
Gloomy adjectives
“Dingy” “little”
Poverty imagery
upsetting the child like that? 11
Infantilising Noun “child”
we’re respectable citizens and not criminals
Gerald
I was in a furious temper 11
Impulsive
Adjective “furious”
Noun “temper”
mother I couldn’t possibly go 22
Mature noun “mother”
she refused to take any more 33
money- support//covering up what he did
taught it in fire and blood and anguish 33
Semantic field of war
(pointing at Sheila and Eric, and laughing) 33
Verb “laughing”
What about this ring? 33
Ring symbolic of shackles society places on women
The famous young generation who know it all 33
Mocking tone
The telephone rings sharply 33
Repetition of imagery of “rings sharply”
guiltily and dumbfounded 33
Ashamed adverb
Adjective “dumbfounded”
Cliffhanger
I have written a clear introudction and conclusion to my response - in his modern morality play
priestly clealry presents…ultimatejly it can be seen that
i have tracked the character or theme cacross the whole of the play using structural terms: ]
establishment, outset, crisis, conflict, climatic, denoucement, cliff hanger, twist
i have used accurate terminology to explore the language and techniques employed by stevensn-
symbolism, metaphor, simile, imagery, noun phrase, verb phrase
i have used appropriate terms to expore the form of the play
stage directions, dialogue, staging, characcter interaction, dramatic irony, audience, dramatix tension
i have used appropriate verbs to evoke what prislty is doing as a writier
portrays, conveys, depicts, highlights, evokes
i have used adjectives and adverbs to evaluate the effects and the writer’s techniques, Priestley
Sheila’s impassioned plea, the powerful metaphor, priestley skillfuly conveys
i have written clealry and accurately in my resonse ensuring correct spelling of characters’ and the writer’s names, capital letters for bames, acts and at the beginning of the sentences, clearly coherrent sentences which mske sense
SPAG
total marks
35+5
29-35 marks band 5 part 1
candidates focus on the task. including overview, convey ideas with consistent coherence and use an appropriate register, uses a sensitive and evaluative approach in the task and analyse the extract and wider text cirtically, show a perceptive understanding of the extracted wider text, engaging fully, perhaps with some originality, in their personal response, their responses include pertinent, direct references from across the etract and wider text, including quotations
29-35 band 5 part 2
candidates
analys and apprpriate writerls use of language, form, and structure, make assured reference to meanings and effects, exploring and evluating the way meaning and ideas are conveyed trhough the language structure and form:
use precise subject therminolog in an appropriate context
Paragraph introduction
In the didactic morality play ‘An Inspector Calls’, Priestley presents
Paragraph midddle
In the exposition of the play, Priestley establishes…
This is further reinforced by….
Paragraph conclusion
In conclusion, ….
Ultimately….
Context
-Edwardian society 1912 (before both world wars) to 1945 post-World War 2 audience
- 1912 class system (serve under, and stereotypes ( inferior, thieves, criminals, sinners, didn’t work hard enough)
- Victorian culture influence of Edwardian society: double life upper class led. Fallen women (prostitution and mistresses) society condemned and believed fallen from the grace of God. Romantic ideal : gentlemanly chivalry towards fallen women was celebrated. Sexual exploitation and lust - preyed on these as easy targets to satisfy their list while getting credit from peers.
-unmarried women ostracised from society, vulnerable, poverty.
-upper class women counterparts rely on marrying and supported by husband’s wealth, lower class had to work to support. Lowest-paid, many had no education.
-stigma of having child out of marriage
-abortions illegal. Face risk of backstreet abortions.
-capitalistic competition encouraged inequality, conflict and oppression (child labour, poor working conditions to maximise profits)
socialism=equality, cooperate, eliminate poverty
- women’s suffragette movement. Anti-suffragists groups formed by women.
-patriarchal society
-women taking up men’s roles during the wars and contribution, women in the workforce increased. Uniting upper and lower as everyone were faced under the same conditions in war (Conscription - mandatory enlistment to army no matter class). Nurtured Community spirit.
-Priestley witnessed a lot of poverty amongst the working class where he was born, Bradford
-Priestley served WW1, victim of a gas attack and nearly died.
- play first performed in 1945 in Moscow, Russia. Country Experienced Russian revolution and effects of a socialist regime on society. Russia now symbol of political strength
-titanic sank 1912. Symbol of luxury and grandeur. Just like birling family, will sink.
-1930s period of economic struggle. The Great Depression.
Eric Birling
- naivety and ignorant
- redemption, source of optimism
- society norms for the immoral behaviour - follows footsteps of other men
- remorse regrets responsibility
- drinking habits due to dysfunctional family relationships and not having a good role of a father. Coping mechanism.
- weak, conforms to class system
- aware that it’s immoral, wrong, of the corruption, hypocrisy, socialism
- powerless on own, lack of influence, unite
Eva Smith
Universal symbol of oppression
Collective suffering of the lower-class
Victim of patriarchal society and class inequality
Eva= Adam and Eve
Representation of all women. While eve tempted men to corruption by offering Adam the apple, Eva is corrupted by the men in the play
Smith - most common surname - symbolise everyday people of Britain- working class name
Renton services from verb rent
Had to change the direction of her life to survive in a society that is hostile
Her graphic death is the consequences of immoral actions of others
Fatal impact of capitalist attitudes
Her life was already a living hell - tho suicide is a sin she still did it.
Parallel between her and Sheila to show how class is the only thing that differentiates them and determines their life
Antithesis to her stereotypes
Gerald
Physically attractive privileged but likeable man. Neutral = representation of audience and upper-class
Condescending to women and misogynistic
Aware of the immorality but does nothing to change it
Opposes hypocrisy of audience
Apparent changes in attitudes of upper-class superficial
Capitalist
Gentlemen charity - romantic ideals - sexual exploitation - unfaithful
Mr Birling
Social elite
Construct of capitalism
Patriarchal role as owner of his factories which employs women
Cyclical presentation
Static character static society
Antithesis of Inspector - battle between capitalism and socialism
Insecurity of his social position within hierarchy - not born noble or have a noble linage
Mrs Birling
Represents selfish nature privileges and prejudicial of upper class
Anti-suffragette
Cold and uncaring towards her children
Image conscious
Constantly paranoid of her reputation to on being tarnished, benefits from class system
Hypocrisy
Resistance of upper class women to change that threatens their social position and comfortable lifestyle
Sheila Birling
Naive privileged ignorant immature insecure
Matures
Resentment towards the lack of social responsibility their parents feel
Takes on role of inspector’s proxy
Product of her environment - oppressed
Embryonic feminist
Socialism
Likeable - boost his message of socialism
Rebellion against parents and alignment with inspector
Inspector
Construct of socialism Antithesis of Mr Birling Omniscient moral force Spiritual avenging angel Priestley’s mouthpiece Religiously good, favourable to socialism Strength and consistency of his values Need for change, not omnipotent to emphasise society needs to change in its own to truly change - Priestley message would be less effective if inspector forced the characters. Audience need to accept greater responsibility without an external force. Or else consequences of another war
Cyclical structure
Characters failed to understand inspector’s message
Static society static characters
Leads to consequences repeating
2 world wars
Structure
exposition, outset, crisis, conflict, climatic, denoucement, cliff hanger, twist
writer intention verbs
instruct, persuade, inform, entertain, educate, enlighten, punish, console, criticize, celebrate, condemn, establish, reinforce, to reveal the importance of, to warn
