Plot Summary - Act Two

Question 1

At the beginning of Act two, it is filled with?

Answer 1

Tension.

Question 2

Who argues before Mrs Birling enters?

Answer 2

Gerald and Sheila.

Question 3

We learn that Eric is a …? Mrs Birling is upset by this.

Answer 3

Drunkard.

Question 4

Where does Gerald admit he met Daisy Renton?

Answer 4

Palace music hall - “a favorite haunt” of the prostitutes.

Question 5

Gerald gave Daisy money for?

Answer 5

Food.

Question 6

Gerald admits that later on Daisy became his?

Answer 6

Mistress.

Question 7

What does Sheila give back to Gerald?

Answer 7

The ring - this ends the engagement.

Question 8

Mr Birling encourages Sheila to?

Answer 8

Rethink the engagement - he is motivated that the engagement will help him.

Question 9

When the Inspector shows Mrs Birling a photo she?

Answer 9

Claims that she does not know her.

Question 10

Inspector Goole reveals that Mrs Birling actually?

Answer 10

Rejected Eva’s request as she was pregnant and had no money - she also introduced herself as Mrs Birling.

Question 11

Mrs Birling refuses to?

Answer 11

Accept responsibility. She also says that the man who get her pregnant should take full responsibility.

Question 12

What does Sheila realize about the situation?

Answer 12

The mystery man is her brother, Eric.

Question 13

What does Mrs Birling do when Sheila begs her to stop talking about the man?

Answer 13

She doesn’t stop, and lists her recommended punishments for him. She does not realize its Eric.

Question 14

After talking about it for a while, what does Mrs Birling realize?

Answer 14

That the mystery man is her son, Eric.

Question 15

Eric enters and?

Answer 15

The curtain falls.

Question 16

“Public men, Mr Birling, have their responsibilities and privileges” - Inspector Goole, Act two

Answer 16

Upper class men must be responsible members of society who care about lower class people.

Question 17

“You and I aren’t the same people who sat down to dinner here” - Sheila, Act two

Answer 17

Sheila shows a great deal of emotional maturity. She breaks her engagement because she realizes that she does not really know her fiance.

Question 18

“I’m afraid you’ll say something or do something that you’ll be sorry for afterwards” - Sheila, Act two

Answer 18

Sheila understands the Inspector’s role in the story. She tries to warn her mother that the Inspector knows more than he seems to.

Question 19

“We really must stop these silly pretences” - Sheila, Act two

Answer 19

Sheila quickly becomes the mature voice of reason - she knows that the Inspector already knows how every member of the family was involved with Eva Smith. Priestley, through Sheila, tells these upper-class people that they need to care less about social appearances and more about the consequences of their actions.