Mrs Birling Flashcards
What character is the focus of the inspection?
Mi
List three adjectives that describe Mrs. Birling.
- self-righteous
- ruthless
- controlling
What is one adjective that describes Mrs. Birling’s demeanor?
abrasive
True or False: Mrs. Birling is portrayed as materialistic.
True
Fill in the blank: Mrs. Birling is described as __________.
ignorant
What adjective indicates Mrs. Birling’s unwillingness to change her views?
stubborn
Identify one characteristic that shows Mrs. Birling’s strength.
strong
What changes in Mrs. Birling’s language indicate her shifting self-perception?
Words like ‘grandly’, ‘haughtily’, ‘triumphantly’ become ‘rather cowed’, ‘distressed’, ‘staggered’, ‘alarmed’
This reflects her loss of confidence as the play progresses.
How does Mrs. Birling’s language reflect her social superiority?
She uses phrases like ‘that class’, ‘that sort’, and ‘the type’
This demonstrates her snobbery and belief in her moral superiority.
What is the significance of Mrs. Birling’s fragmented speech later in the play?
It echoes the collapsing of her self-confidence and complacency
An example is her broken phrase ‘No-Eric-please’.
What structural feature does Priestley use to contrast Mrs. Birling’s character?
The use of dashes in her speech
This represents the breakdown in her relationships and her pretentiousness.
What type of language does Mrs. Birling use to assert her authority?
Imperatives
This conveys her confidence and self-assurance.
What does Mrs. Birling’s attitude towards the death of Eva Smith reveal about her character?
She accepts no blame and expresses no remorse
This highlights her moral failure.
How does Priestley portray Mrs. Birling’s social hypocrisy?
She represents social snobbery and shows no remorse for her treatment of Eva Smith
This makes her an epitome of upper-class hypocrisy.
What ironic situation does Mrs. Birling find herself in regarding her son Eric?
She condemns him while being unaware that he is the father of Eva’s child
This irony emphasizes her moral blindness.
What does Priestley suggest about wealthy members of society through Mrs. Birling’s character?
They should not be trusted to tell the truth
This reflects Priestley’s critique of the upper classes.
Fill in the blank: Mrs. Birling uses _______ to describe Eva Smith’s social standing.
‘a girl of that class’
This euphemism demonstrates her disdain.
What imagery does Sheila use to warn her mother?
A ‘wall’ symbolizing a barrier/pretence
This illustrates the disconnect between reality and Mrs. Birling’s perceptions.
How is Mrs. Birling described in terms of her personality?
A rather cold woman and her husband’s social superior
This description highlights her aloofness and social status.
What does Mrs. Birling imply about the responsibility of the father of the child?
It’s his responsibility
This reflects her refusal to accept any blame for the situation.
What does Mrs. Birling say about the girl in question’s feelings?
Claiming elaborate fine feelings…that were simply absurd
Indicates her disdain for lower social classes.
Fill in the blank: Mrs. Birling believes that ‘a girl of that sort would ever refuse _______’.
money
This statement shows her prejudiced view of lower-class individuals.
What does Mrs. Birling say about her own actions?
I’ve done nothing wrong - and you know it.
This statement demonstrates her denial of responsibility.
How does Mrs. Birling’s language change as the play progresses?
Her language becomes broken and fragmented
Reflects her collapsing self-confidence and the breakdown of her relationships.
What structural language features are noted in Mrs. Birling’s speech?
Use of imperatives and euphemisms
These features convey her sense of superiority and pretension.
True or False: Mrs. Birling uses euphemisms to maintain her respectability.
True
She refers to a ‘girl of that class’ to distance herself from the situation.
What imagery does Sheila use to warn her mother?
Build up a kind of ‘wall’
The wall symbolizes a barrier and pretence in their social interactions.
What is the effect of Mrs. Birling’s abrupt and dismissive language?
It conveys her moral and social superiority
Her language demonstrates her snobbish attitude towards lower classes.
How does Mrs. Birling react to the idea of accepting blame?
I accept no blame at all
This shows her unwillingness to take responsibility for her actions.
What does Mrs. Birling suggest should happen to the father of the child?
He ought to be dealt with very severely
She believes he should confess publicly, reflecting her desire for punitive justice.
How does Priestley present Mrs Birling in An Inspector Calls?
As a repellent snob who shows no remorse and sees the working classes as a homogenous mob of undeserving individuals.
This reflects Priestley’s criticism of capitalism and its effects on society.
What does Priestley suggest about Mrs Birling’s awareness of social realities?
She seems unaware of the realities of life, such as Eric’s drinking problem.
This highlights her detachment from the struggles of the working class.
What does Mrs Birling’s character symbolize in the play?
She is an emblem of the Aristocracy and is only interested in others of her own class.
This is evident in her cold demeanor and social superiority over her husband.
What adjectives describe Mrs Birling in the stage directions?
Cold and self-confident.
These adjectives contribute to the audience’s negative perception of her character.
What is the significance of Mrs Birling’s entrance described as ‘briskly and self-confident’?
It suggests the terrible self-confidence of the Upper classes, reminding the audience of the social hierarchy and its consequences.
This reflects the disconnect between the upper and working classes.
How does Mrs Birling refer to Eva Smith and the working class?
She refers to them as ‘girls of that class’ and ‘girls of that sort.’
This language indicates her prejudices and dehumanizing attitude towards the working class.
What literary methods does Priestley use to convey Mrs Birling’s views?
Euphemism and pronouns.
These methods highlight the gap between the Upper and Working classes.
What does the pronoun ‘that’ signify in Mrs Birling’s speech?
It suggests a vast difference between her and Eva, dehumanizing the latter.
This highlights Mrs Birling’s contempt for the working class.
How does Mrs Birling react to Eva’s feelings?
She mocks them, suggesting they are absurd for someone in Eva’s position.
This reflects her classist attitude and inability to empathize with the working class.
What does Priestley ultimately convey about Mrs Birling’s character development?
She does not change throughout the play, unlike the younger generation.
This rigidity underscores the entrenched nature of classist attitudes.
What political message does Priestley convey through Mrs Birling?
He uses her as a tool to advocate for Socialism as a means to heal societal divides.
This reflects Priestley’s own beliefs in social reform.
True or False: Mrs Birling shows remorse for her actions in the play.
False.
She remains unrepentant, reflecting her entrenched class biases.
How does Priestley present Mrs Birling in An Inspector Calls?
Priestley uses Mrs Birling to epitomize all that is wrong with society.
What does Mrs Birling represent in An Inspector Calls?
Social snobbery and hypocrisy of the upper classes.
What aspect of Mrs Birling’s character is highlighted by Priestley?
She shows no remorse in her cruel treatment of Eva Smith.
True or False: Mrs Birling is portrayed as a sympathetic character.
False
Fill in the blank: Mrs Birling epitomizes the _______ of society.
problems
What is the effect of Mrs Birling’s character on the audience?
It highlights the flaws in the upper classes.
How does Priestley use Mrs Birling to convey social messages?
By showcasing her snobbery and lack of empathy.
How is MRS BIRLING described in terms of her social status?
A rather cold woman and her husband’s social superior
Indicates her high social standing and possibly her aloofness.
What does MRS BIRLING imply about her husband’s past position?
He was Lord Mayor only two years ago and is still a magistrate
Highlights her pride in her husband’s status and their social influence.
What does MRS BIRLING believe about the responsibility for the child’s father?
It’s his responsibility
Suggests her avoidance of personal accountability.
What is MRS BIRLING’s attitude towards the girl referred to in the quotes?
She claims the girl was giving herself ridiculous airs
Reflects MRS BIRLING’s disdain for those she considers socially inferior.
Fill in the blank: MRS BIRLING believes that a girl of that sort would ever refuse _______.
money
Indicates her stereotypes regarding lower-class individuals.
What is MRS BIRLING’s stance on accepting blame for the girl’s fate?
I accept no blame at all
Shows her refusal to take responsibility for the consequences of her actions.
What punishment does MRS BIRLING suggest for the father of the child?
He ought to be dealt with very severely
Reflects her desire for strict accountability from others while evading her own.
What does MRS BIRLING say about her own actions?
I had done no more than my duty
Indicates her belief that her actions were justified and proper.
What does Mrs. Birling represent in Priestley’s work?
Social snobbery and hypocrisy of the upper classes
Mrs. Birling is depicted as a character who embodies the moral failings of her social class.
How does Mrs. Birling treat Eva Smith?
With cruelty and without remorse
Her treatment of Eva Smith highlights her lack of empathy and the consequences of social elitism.
What irony is presented in Mrs. Birling’s character?
She passes her own social guilt onto her son Eric
This reflects the hypocrisy of her character as she refuses to accept responsibility for her actions.
What trap does Mrs. Birling fall into?
She learns that Eric is a hard drinker and the father of Eva’s child
This revelation forces her to confront her own complicity in the tragedy.
What realization causes Mrs. Birling to show signs of weakness?
The knowledge that she has helped to kill her own grandchild
This moment marks a significant turning point for her character.
What message does Priestley convey about wealthy members of society?
We should not trust them to tell the truth
This reflects Priestley’s critique of the moral failures within the upper classes.
