Plot Summary An Inspector Calls

Question 1

What is the plot summary on Act 1 Part 1?

Answer 1

1. The Birling family celebrates Sheila and Gerald’s engagement.
2. Mr Birling gives a popous speech about his views on the economy and business.
3. Gerald presents Sheila with an engagement ring.
4. The evening is interrupted by a police inspector.

Question 2

What is the plot summary on Act 1 Part 2?

Answer 2

1. Inspector Goole is enquiring about the suicide of a young girl named Eva Smith.
2. He questions Mr Birling about his treatment of Eva as his factory worker.
3. Sheila admits she treated Eva as a shop assistant badly.
4. Gerald reveals to Sheila that he knew Eva by the name Daisy Renton.

Question 3

What is the plot summary on Act 2 Part 1?

Answer 3

1. Gerald and Sheila argue.
2. Mrs Birling enters and tries to bully the inspector. Gerald gives details of his affair with Eva/Daisy Renton(then a prostitute.)
3. Sheila expresses shame for the way she treated Eva.
4. Sheila gives her ring back to Gerald.

Question 4

What is the plot summary for Act 2 Part 2?

Answer 4

1. Mrs Birling is forced to admit that she knew Eva.
2. Eva was pregnant and Mrs Birling refused to help her.
3. Mrs Birling says the father of the unborn child is to blame. Sheila tries to stop her from speaking.
4. There is a realisation that Eric is the father. Eric enters.

Question 5

What is the plot summary for Act 3 Part 1?

Answer 5

1. Eric confesses that he got Eva pregnant. Mrs Birling is distressed.
2. Eric reveals that he stole money to give to Eva.
3. Eric learns that his mother refused to help and accuses her of killing her grandchild.
4. The Inspector gives a monolouge on social justice, then exits.

Question 6

What is the plot summary for Act 3 Part 2?

Answer 6

1. Mr and Mrs Birling refuse to accept responsibility for Eva’s death. Sheila and Eric acknowledge their part in it.
2. Gerald returns, having discovered that there is no evidence of an Inspector Goole on the force.
3. The family works out that the inspector was an impostor and there was no suicide.
4. The phone rings - a police inspector is on his way to talk to them about a sucide.