Eng Lit P2 (Inspector Calls & A Christmas Carol) Flashcards
What is Mrs Birling’s involvement in Eva Smith’s suicide?
Denied Eva the help when she came to her charity pregnant and said it was the fathers responsibility. Also because Eva said her name was Mrs Birling as she had a child with Eric Birling (unknown to Mrs Birling at this point)
What is Mr Birling’s involvement in Eva Smith’s suicide?
Fired her from his business when she asked for a pay rise
What is Sheila’s involvement in Eva Smith’s suicide?
Got Eva sacked from Milwards because she complained that she gave her a ‘funny look’
What is Eric’s involvement in Eva Smith’s suicide?
Got Eva Smith pregnant and left her
What is Gerald’s involvement in Eva Smith’s suicide?
Had an affair with her. He gave her a place to stay and set her up with money.
Who is Edna and what does she signify?
The Birling’s maid. She portrays what it is like for the lower class.
What does avaricious mean and who could be described as this?
A greed for wealth
Mr B - wanting to combine his business and Croft Limited so he could make more money
Scrooge - very greedy, didn’t like giving to charity/others
Three adjectives to describe Mr Birling and why?
Avaricious - wants to combine his business and croft ltd
Condescending - patronising superiority towards the inspector
Arrogant - has an exaggerated sense of his abilities
Three adjectives to describe Mrs Birling and why?
Prejudiced (judgemental) - shows a dislike to Eva because she used her name
Exploitative - tries to use Mr B’s ex lord mayor role to hopefully get them out of the situation
Self-centered - lacks empathy towards others (especially Eva)
Three adjectives to describe Sheila and why?
Naive - unaware of her surroundings, her parents give her everything
Materialistic - “Now i feel engaged” (once she receives the engagement ring)
Remorseful - once she learns her responsibility she is very apologetic and distressed
Three adjectives to describe Gerald and why?
Aristocratic - he belongs to the upper class
Duplicitous - mislead Eva
Well-mannered & charming - he doesn’t seem guilty but he hides secrets and has a complicated past
Three adjectives to describe Eric and why?
Dishonest - stole his father’s money
Culpable (deserving of blame) - shows how rich people get what they want (Eva). He abused his power.
Rebellious - he is an alcoholic and got Eva pregnant
Three adjectives to describe Inspector Goole and why?
Enigmatic - has unpredictable actions and behaves mysteriously
Mysterious - because of his sudden appearance and lack of background knowledge
Authoritative - he has a professional position and commanding presence
What is the role of the Inspector in An Inspector Calls
To be a didactic vehicle
(trying to help the Birlings gain a social conscience)
didactic = to teach
vehicle = carry the message of socialism
She takes on the Inspectors role after she leaves so she is his ____
Proxy
Sheila is the Inspector’s proxy as she takes on his role, which is to be a didactic vehicle. She emulates what he says, to her parents, in order to carry the message of socialism and highlight the hellish consequences of capitalism.
