An Inspector Calls

Question 1

‘Arthur Birling is a ….’

Answer 1

‘heavy looking, rather portentous man’

Question 2

Mrs Birling is her husbands….

Answer 2

‘social superior’

Question 3

‘Sheila is a … in her early … very …. with life’

Answer 3

A very pretty girl in her early 20’s, very pleased with life

Question 4

Gerald is ‘rather too manly to …’

Answer 4

‘To be a dandy’

Question 5

Eric is ‘half…, half…..’

Answer 5

‘half shy, half assertive’

Question 6

‘It’s exactly the same……’

Answer 6

Port your father gets’

Question 7

Who says ‘one of these purple faced old men’

Answer 7

Sheila

Question 8

Who didn’t come near Sheila ‘for all last summer’

Answer 8

Gerald

Question 9

Who suddenly guffaws? Who responds with ‘you’re squiffy!’

Answer 9

Eric guffaws, Sheila responds

Question 10

Who is ‘just the kind of son-in-law I (Birling) always wanted?

Answer 10

Gerald

Question 11

What 2 things is Birling wrong about in Act 1? Use quotes

Answer 11

1) ‘I say there isn’t a chance of war’

2) ‘The Titanic, she sails next week - unsinkable!’

Question 12

Who does Eric say ‘Steady the Buffs’ to?

Answer 12

Sheila and Gerald

Question 13

What line of Gerald’s is ironic in Act 1?

Answer 13

‘You seem to be a nice, well behaved family’

Question 14

How does Eric respond to Birling’s question of ‘want another glass of port?’

Answer 14

‘Yes please!’

Question 15

How is the inspector described?

Answer 15

‘Impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness’

Question 16

What information is given to us about Eva Smith’s death?

Answer 16

‘2 hours ago a young woman died in the infirmary. She’d been taken there this afternoon because she swallowed a lot of strong disinfectant. Burnt her inside out.’

Question 17

Where was Eva Smith working in 1910

Answer 17

Birling and Co

Question 18

What is the Inspector’s method of working?

Answer 18

‘One person and one line of enquiry at a time’

Question 19

Why did Mr Birling fire Eva Smith?

Answer 19

‘She had a lot to say - far too much. So she had to go.’

Question 20

What does the inspector say his duty is?

Answer 20

‘It’s my duty to ask questions’

Question 21

When Sheila re-enters the room, she asks a lot of questions. Give examples of this

Answer 21

‘What’s this all about?’
‘What business?’
‘Was it an accident?’

Question 22

How does Sheila give away that she recognises Eva Smith?

Answer 22

‘She looks at it closely, recognises it with a little cry, gives a half stifled sob and runs out’

Question 23

What was Eva Smith’s next action after getting fired from Milwards?

Answer 23

‘She changed her name to Daisy Renton’

Question 24

What advice and knowledge does Sheila give to Gerald at the end of Act 1?

Answer 24

‘Why-you fool- he knows. Of course he knows. And I hate to think how much he knows that we don’t know yet.’

Question 25

What advice about guilt does the Inspector give at the start of Act 2?

Answer 25

'We'll have to share our guilt.'

Question 26

Who says 'That - I consider - is a trifle impertinent'?

Answer 26

Sybil

Question 27

Which quote shows Sybil high class status look down upon the poor?

Answer 27

'Girls of that class-'

Question 28

What does Gerald reveal about Eric's drinking?

Answer 28

'I have gathered that he does drink pretty hard'

Question 29

What advice does Sheila give to her mother about the Inspector's questioning?

Answer 29

'You mustn't try to build up a kind of wall between us and that girl. If you do, the Inspector will just break it down.'

Question 30

Which stage direction shows that the Inspector is in control?

Answer 30

'(Cutting in, with authority)'

Question 31

Who says 'No, he's giving us rope so that we'll hang ourselves'

Answer 31

Sheila

Question 32

What twist between Sheila and Gerald takes place midway through Act 2?

Answer 32

Sheila says 'Gerald, I think you'd better take this with you. (she hands him the ring)'

Question 33

What does the Inspector reveal about Sybil's interactions with Eva Smith?

Answer 33

'Mrs Birling spoke to and saw her only 2 weeks ago!'

Question 34

What did Eva Smith say her name was at the meeting with Sybil?

Answer 34

'Mrs Birling'

Question 35

According to Sybil, who's responsible for Eva Smith's baby?

Answer 35

'Go look for the father of the child. It's his responsibility!'

Question 36

What description is given to us about the father of the baby?

Answer 36

'The father was only a youngster - silly and wild and drinking too much/'

Question 37

How does Sybil think the father of the baby should be dealt with?

Answer 37

'He ought to be dealt with very severely.'

Question 38

At the start of Act 3, what information about Eric's drinking is given to us?

Answer 38

'His familiarity with quick drinking'

Question 39

How does Eric say Eva treated him?

Answer 39

'She treated me as if i were a kid'

Question 40

Where did Eric get the money from?

Answer 40

He stole it from his dad's office

Question 41

Why didn't Eric go to his father to solve the money issue?

Answer 41

Eric says 'you're not the kind of father a chap could go to when he's in trouble!'

Question 42

What is Eric's reaction to when he finds out his mother killed his child and it's mother?

Answer 42

'You turned her away -yes and you killed her!' | 'Your own grandchild - you killed them both!'

Question 43

What does the Inspector say in his final speech?

Answer 43

'Just remember this. One Eva Smith has gone, but there are millions of Eva Smith's and John Smith's left with us with their lives, their hopes and fears.'

Question 44

How does the Inspector close his speech?

Answer 44

'We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other. I tell you that the time will soon come when, if men will not learn that lesson, they will be taught in fire and blood and anguish'

Question 45

Who does Mr Birling blame?

Answer 45

Eric

Question 46

Give 2 examples of Mr Birling's selfishness

Answer 46

1) 'I was almost certain for a knighthood in the next honours list' 2) 'Who will suffer from this more than I will?'

Question 47

What does Sheila say about her parents behaviour?

Answer 47

'It's you two who are being childish - trying not to face the facts.'

Question 48

What does Eric say about Inspector Goole?

Answer 48

'He was our police inspector all right'

Question 49

What information does Gerald reveal about the inspector?

Answer 49

'That man was not a police officer'

Question 50

What does Gerald reveal about the infirmary?

Answer 50

'No girl has died in there today.'

Question 51

What does Mr Birling say about Sheila and Eric at the end of act 3?

Answer 51

'The famous younger generation who can't even take a joke'

Question 52

What cliff hanger is given to us at the end of the play?

Answer 52

'That was the police. A girl has just died on the way to the infirmary - after swallowing some disinfectant. And a police officer is on his way here to ask some- questions'