Key Arthur Birling Quotes

Question 1

First words he says (Act 1)

Answer 1

“Giving us the port, Edna? That’s right (He pushes it towards Eric.)”

Question 2

Final words he says (Act 3)

Answer 2

“That was the police. A girl has just died - on her way to the Infirmary - after swallowing some disinfectant. And a police inspector is on his why here - to ask some - questions -“

Question 3

Some stage directions on how he speaks (Act 1)

Answer 3

"(rather heavily)" - before making speech about engagement (quite far into scene)
"(Confidentially)"
"(solemnly)"
"(humorously)"
"(sharply, staring at him)" at Eric
INSPECTOR ENTERS
"(with a touch of impatience)"
"(thoughtfully)"
"(slowly)"
"(somewhat impatiently)"
"(surprised)"
"(rather angrily)"
"(abruptly)"
"(angrily)"
"(with market change of tone)"
"(cutting in)"
NOTE - he has a lot more stage directions with more extreme emotions once the Inspector has arrived - gradual build up - more feminine traits? - weaker? Gradually losing confidence/ control as Inspector is effective?

Question 4

Some stage directions on how he speaks (Act 2)

Answer 4

"(rather hot, bothered)"
"(angrily)" x3
"(sharply, shocked)"
"(rather taken aback)"
"(astounded)"
"(dubiously)"
"(terrified now)"
"(thunderstruck)"

Question 5

Some stage directions on how he speaks (Act 3)

Answer 5

"(explosively)"
"(bitterly)"
"(sharply)"
"(very sharply)" to Sheila, then immediately "(gentler)" to wife
"(harshly)"
"(angrily)" x9
"(savagely)"
"(furious, intervening)"
"(unhappily)"
"(stormily)"
"(rather excited)"
"(dubiously)"
"(relieved)"
"(hastily)" x2
"(excitedly)" x3
"(astounded)"
"(with hearty approval)"
"(keenly interested)"
"(also shouting, threatening Eric)"
"(glaring at him but in quiet tone)"
"(eagerly)" x3
"(hesitates)"
"(triumphantly)" x2
"(uneasily)"
"(huge sigh of relief)"
"(jovially)"
"(heartily)"
"(amused)"
"(looks in a panic-stricken fashion)"

Question 6

WHAT’S THE TITANIC AGAIN?????

Answer 6

UNSINKABLE. ABSOLUTELY UNSINKABLE

Question 7

How is he described in the original stage directions?

Answer 7

“(a heavy-looking, rather portentous man in his middle fifties with fairly easy manners but rather provincial in his speech)”

Question 8

What does he say about this night? (Act 1)

Answer 8

“It’s one of the happiest nights of my life”

Question 9

What is the impression we get as Mr Birling as a dad when him and Eric talk about when he stole money?

Answer 9

“You damned fool - why didn’t you come to me when you found yourself in this mess?” (YOU come to ME - he expects Eric to voice his problems, not him to ask about him)
Eric - “Because you’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble - that’s why” (MODAL VERB COULD - impossible to)
“(angrily) Don’t talk to me like that. Your trouble is - you’ve been spoilt -“ - still his fault