An Inspector Calls Flashcards
1
Q
Local dialect,
Midlands
A
Rather provincial in his speech
2
Q
Mrs Birling
Pompous
A
A rather cold woman and her husbands social superior
3
Q
Sheila initially
A
Pretty girl…very pleased and excited with life
4
Q
Eric initially
Repetition
Unsure
A
Not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive
5
Q
Childish vernacular
Naive
A
Yes, go on Mummy
6
Q
Tone of disapproval Have to uphold class distinctions
A
(Reproachfully) Arthur, you are not supposed to say such things
7
Q
Connotations of distrust
Stage directions,
A
(Half serious, half playful) Yes- except for all last summer, when you never came near me
8
Q
Starts with image of insecurity
A
Eric suddenly guffaws
9
Q
Colloquial expresssions
Member of younger gen
A
You’re squiffy
10
Q
Tone of distain
Believes that people should talk according to their class
A
What an expression Sheila! Really, the things that young girls pick up these days
11
Q
Focus on business
A
Your father and I have been friendly rivals in business for sometime
12
Q
Emphatically placed at end
Ultimately, business makes him suitable
A
For lower costs and higher prices
13
Q
Tone of approval
Materialistic
A
I think it’s perfect, now I really feel engaged
14
Q
Tone of self importance
Blinded by success, makes him overtly optimistic
Narrow view of world
A
Yes, a very good time - and soon it’ll be an even better time
15
Q
Dramatic irony
Judgement is not trusted
Prosperity blinds him
A
Some people say that war’s inevitable. And to that I say- fiddlesticks
16
Q
Dramatic irony
Not trusted judgement
A
Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable
17
Q
Triadic structure
Polysyndeton
Dramatic irony
Performed after WW2
A
There’ll be peace and prosperity and rapid progress everywhere
18
Q
Socialists mentioned
He believes that he is the voice of authority
A
We can’t let these Bernard Shaws and H G Wellses do all the talking
19
Q
Tone of understanding
Snobbery from upper classes is natural
A
She comes from an old country family
20
Q
Foreshadowing
Believes that it is below them
They are respectable citizens
A
So long as we behave ourselves, don’t get into the police court or start a scandal-eh?
21
Q
Underlying tension between Mr B and Eric
Mr B thinks that his son does not know the true value of money from hard work
A
Yes, you don’t know what some of these boys get up to nowadays
22
Q
Imperatives
Emphasises that individualist responses are paramount
Repetition
A
A man has to make his own way - has to look after himself
23
Q
Antithesis to viewers expirience in war
Mythologised view, grating to viewers
A
As if we were all mixed together like bees in a hive-a community and all that nonsense
24
Q
Phonetically similar to ghoul Ghostly, mysterious Interest in the morbid Connotations of death Death of the Birling's views on society
A
Goole
25
Triadic structure
Careful, considered
Stamps his prescience in the world
Creates at once an impression of massiveness, solidarity and purposefulness
26
Atmosphere of seriousness
| Words carry weight and importance
Weightily, and has a disconcerting habit of looking hard at the person he addresses before actually speaking
27
Titles
Asserts himself as the dominant
Intimidate, status
Wants Inspector to be subservient
I was an alderman for years and Lord Mayor two years ago and I'm still on the bench
28
Short sentences
Refuses to be impressed
Doesn't care
Quite so
| No Mr B
29
Emotive language
Vivid, shows gravity of situation
Evokes response
She'd swallowed a lot of strong disinfectant
| Burnt her inside out
30
Repetition
| Lack of empathy
(Rather impatiently) Yes, yes. Horrid business
31
Hyphens
Add emphasis to name
EP
But her original name-her real name-was Eva Smith
32
Tone of annoyance
| Used to being the social superior
Any particular reason why I should not see this girls photograph, Inspector?
33
No emotive language
| Dismissive, sees them as inferior, no care or consideration
She was one of my employees and then I discharged her
34
More name dropping
Almost like a reflex
Wants to be the more dominant person
I ought to explain first that this is Mr Gerald Croft- son of Sir George Croft
35
Normal
| Appearance and background are most important to Mr B
A lively looking girl- country bred
36
Tone of confidence
Unreasonable
Does not consider their needs important
I refused of course
37
Understanding
Disloyalty to family
Displays sympathy
It isn't if you can't go and work somewhere else
38
Tone of disapproval
Critical, dismissive
Workers are an inconvenience when in trouble
They'd be all broke if I know them
39
Triadic structure
Hyphens
Pushed Mr B to the edge
Hyphens, Mr B's inability to see from other POV
She'd had a lot to say-far too much-so she had to go
40
Hyperbole
How they are asking too much of him
Power has corrupted him, he cannot be reasoned with
If you don't come down sharply on some of these people, they'd soon be asking for the earth
41
Respect is key
| Implies that Mr B takes from people without asking
Its better to ask for the earth than to take it
42
Personal pronouns
| He sees everyone as equals, undermines father
You said yourself she was a good worker. I'd have let her stay
43
Hyphens
Express priveledge
Mr B is a self made man, focus on business
That's something that this public-school-and-varsity life you've had doesn't seem to teach you
44
Rhetorical question
Callous, rhetorical command
Realistic, knows that the unemployed have few choices, but does not help
Get into trouble? Go on the streets?
45
No emotive language
| No regrets
The girl had been causing trouble in the works. I was quite justified
46
Empathy, human response
Its just I can't help thinking about the girl
47
Acts as a mirror when B's do not acknowledge her death
| Brings back to reality
Pretty?
| She wasn't pretty when I saw her today
48
Antithesis to MC and Sheila
No prospects
Desperate
Both her parents were dead
| She hadn't been able save much out of what Birling and company had paid her
49
Informative tone
| Opens Sheila's eyes to the truth and the consequences of living selfishly
There are a lot of young women living that sort of existence in every city
50
Italics
Emphasis that they should be treated better
Genuine and naive
But these girls aren't cheap labour, they're people
51
Reflects back words, guilt with death
A nasty little mess you've made of it now
| A nice little promising life there, I thought, and a nasty mess somebody's made of it
52
Hyphens
| Hide a drink problem
I'm sorry-but you see-we we're having a little party-and I've had a few drinks, including rather a lot of champagne-and I've got a headache
53
Personal pronouns
| Above all of the laypeople
Were respectable citizens and not criminals
54
Foreshadows actions
| Crime does not discriminate in terms of social class
Sometimes there isn't as much difference
55
Tone of regret
| Faces up to responsibilities
No, not really. It was my own fault
56
Even high status people have restrictions
| Sheila wants freedom from others
Mother had been against it and so had the assistant
57
```
Tautology?
Social class does not dictate clothes
Insecurities
```
She was the right type for is, just as I was the wrong type
58
Appearances are deceiving
| Superficial, petty
But she was very pretty and looked as if she could take care of herself
59
Triadic structure
| Won't let her escape from her punishment of regret
Yes, but you can't. Its too late. She's dead
60
EP of name
| Force recognition
So first, she changed her name to Daisy Renton
61
Rhetorical question
Barrage of questions
Accusatory tone
Were you seeing her last spring and summer, during that time when you hardly came near me and said you were so busy? Were you?
62
Short sentences
Coward
Hides behind social status
All right. I knew her. Lets leave it at that
63
Sibillance
Cunning
Read their expressions
Dramatic entrance, raise tension
The door slowly opens and the Inspector appears, looking steadily and searchingly at them
64
Short sentence
Direct command
Strong minded
Stands up to them
(To the Inspector) Then I'm staying
65
Triadic structure emphasises impact of actions on her
Emotive language
Appeals to conscience
A girl died tonight...who never did anybody any harm. But she died in misery and agony - hating life-
66
Stage directions
| Realises that social status means nothing
(Hesitantly) I know it sounds silly-
67
Foreshadowing ending
| Sheila is aware of consequences
You'll be sorry for afterwards
68
A vehicle for a wider perspective on the world
Younger gen, open minded
Older gen, foolish, immature
They're more impressionable
69
Tone of distain
| Distant from her, unrelatated
Girls of that class
70
Repetition of impertinent
| Used when social status is undermined
That- I consider- is a trifle impertinent
71
Patronising tone
| People should act according to their status
Excitable silly mood
72
Revelation
| Reveals that she does not know her family
You must know it's not true
73
Harsh consonants
| Older, boring, coarse, dull
Hard eyed dough faced women
74
Antithesis
Triadic structure
Common description
She was very pretty-soft brown hair and big dark eyes
75
Triadic structure
| Make her more innocent and vulnerable
She looked young and fresh and charming and altogether out of place down there
76
Connotations of predatory nature
Corrupt
Dodgy
Obscene fat carcass
77
Tone of sympathy
| She empathises with Gerald
I know, Somehow he makes you
78
```
Metaphor
Social class does not separate you from others
```
Your daughter isn't living on the moon
79
Reversal of roles,
He offers info
Not ashamed
Is there anything else you want to know?
80
Hero terminology
| Elevated to a hero
She was-very gallant
81
Displays stoicism and moral superiority
| Similar to Milwards dismissal, acceptance
But she knew it couldn't last
82
Antithesis to feckless spending during strike
She lived very economically
83
Hyphens
| Speech fragmented by emotion
In that case- as I'm rather more- upset- by this business than I probably appear to be- and - well, I'd like to be alone for a while
84
Sheila's transformation
| Relationship has changed
You and I aren't the same people who sat down to dinner here
85
Mature language
| Displays greater understanding
Don't interfere please Father
86
Encapsulate message of play
Public men have responsibilities as well as privileges
87
Echoes Inspector
| Openly accuses them
It means that we've got no excuse now for putting on airs
88
Repetition of member
She has power
EP Mrs B's social power
A member- a prominent member
89
Deserving, traditionally used to distinguish between poor who physically cannot help themselves and the undeserving who shouldn't be helped
Helping deserving cases
90
Listing crimes
Believes that social status extends to punishing of the unworthy
Symbol of identity
First, she called herself Mrs Birling
91
Hypocrisy of upper classes revealed
A charity is being prejudiced
Behavior is a factor
That prejudiced me against her case
92
Not responsible
| Cold, callous response
But I think she had only herself to blame
93
Monosyllabic and duosyllabic words
| Embarrassment, unmentionable in front of Sheila
You know very well why she wanted help
94
Italics
Tension
Internal conflict between Mrs B and I
You have no hope of not discussing it
95
Eva did not deserve help
| Callous, acted in full knowledge of desperation
Unlike the other three, I did nothing I'm ashamed of
96
Even more callous
Judges people to support her moral position
Selfish
I used my influence to have it refused
97
Mono and duosyllabic
Spells it out
Impact
This girl was going to have a child
98
Impersonal pronouns
Loses identity
Tone of distain
Ill tell you what I told her
99
Moral compass was a privilege for the higher classes
She was claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that were simply absurd in a girl in her position
100
Connotations of ill repute
| Displays more moral integrity that Birlings
As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money
101
Info dragged out of her
Audience have time to figure it out
Whodunnit genre
That's the story she finally told
102
Priestly deals with her with a trap of her own making
| Foreshadows punishment that all will face if they do not act responsible
Then he'd be entirely responsible
103
Social position allows her to humiliate and punish him
Compelled to confess in public
104
Gives her a chance to figure it out and reflect
No hushing up, eh? Make an example of the young man, eh? Public confession of responsibility?
105
```
Ellipses
Thinking
Stage directions
Vulnerable
More human reaction
```
(Understanding now)But surely...I mean...it's ridiculous
106
Hyphens
| Fear
Look Inspector, you're not trying to tell us that-that my boy-is mixed up in this?
107
All acts start with a question
You know don't you?
108
Italics accusatory
| Bicker like children
You told her
109
Believes that families should stand up for each other
If you'd had any sense of loyalty
110
Phsycologically distraught
(Miserably) could i have a drink first
111
Euphemism for smashed
| Irresponsible behavior
I was rather far gone
112
Hyphen, ashamed
| Takes responsibility
I was in a state when a chap easily turns nasty- and I threatened to make a row
113
Displays moral integrity
| More than Birlings
Said I didn't love her
114
Stage direction
| Animalistic, harsh lexical choice, extreme anger
(Savagely)
115
Stage direction
| Priority, what affects them
(Shocked)You stole money!
116
Impulse, main concern. Himself
I've got to cover this up as soon as I can
117
Lack of trust
| Distance between them
Because you're not the kind of father a chap could go to when he's in trouble
118
Stage direction
| Emotional strain of secret
(Nearly at breaking point)
119
Hyphens
Stabs of pain, accusatory
Savage in condemning mother
And you killed her-and the child she'd have had too-my child-your own grandchild-you killed them both-damn you, damn you
120
Stage direction
Out of control
Mother is complacent, no empathy
(Almost threatening her) you don't understand anything, you never did. You never even tried
121
Whodunnit genre
| Forces them to reflect
But each of you helped to kill her
122
Repetition
No moral integrity
Money cannot buy forgiveness
Only business terms
I'd give thousands, yes thousands
123
Breaking the fourth wall by addressing Birlings and perhaps the audience too
Repetition
Scale of numbers
There are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us
124
Literally, 1community
Metaphorically, bible, New Testament reference
Idea of judgement and punishment
We are members of one body
125
Old Testament prophecy of hell
Terrifying imagery
True prediction, wars happened
They will be taught it in fire blood and anguish
126
Eric has changed
Takes responsibility
No respect for parents
Well, I don't blame you. But don't forget I'm ashamed of you as well
127
Stage direction
Italics
Openly displays lack of respect
(Scornfully) that's all
128
Drive home generational differences
You don't seen to have learnt anything
129
Role reversal
Reflects I's tone
Sheila and Eric are more mature
Its you two who are being childish- trying not to face up to the facts
130
Acted as a mirror, revealed their actions and the consequences
He was our police inspector alright
131
Personal pronouns
Proud
Bolster sense of truth
I was going to do this anyhow. I've had my suspicions all along
132
Stage directions
| Dramatic pause
(He puts down the telephone and looks at the others)
133
Only to parents
No humiliation
Trick reduces seriousness
This makes a difference
134
Display of bravado
I'd have a asked him a few questions before I allowed him to ask any
135
Italics
Spells it out for the audience
Audience works it out
But how do you know it's the same girl
136
Stage directions raise tension
As he waits, the others show their nervous tensions.
137
Tone of celebration
| Embraces hoax, mocks it
I wish you could have seen the look on your faces when he said that
138
Personal pronouns
Thinks he knows best for her
Money and possession fix all
You'd better ask Gerald for that ring you have back to him.. Then you'll feel better
139
Triadic structure of increasing seriousness
So, nothing really happened. So there's nothing to be sorry for, nothing to learn
140
Juxtaposing idea
Reversed roles
Tension between gens
The famous younger generation who know it all
141
Cyclical structure
Final revalation
Consequences of not being responsible
And a police inspector is on his way here- to ask some- questions-
