The Inspector

Brainstorm adjectives / expressions to describe the Inspector

Add these qualities to the table: Clever Inquiring Mysterious Principled

Quality Moment in play Quotation

Princibled He wants justice for Eva ‘Inspector: We don’t live

Smith and those like her. alone…. We are responsible
for each other.’
Clever He gets characters to reveal ‘Sheila: …. Well, he inspected
their actions us all right.’
Inquiring He feels he must reveal the ‘Inspector: It’s my duty to ask
truth questions.’
Mysterious There is no record of an ‘Gerald: There isn’t any such
Inspector Goole inspector’

Look at this quotation from the Inspector. Use the adjectives in the box below to help you to explain
how the Inspector’s character is conveyed.

Inspector: (taking charge, masterfully) Stop!

They are suddenly quiet, staring at him.
This girl killed herself- died a horrible death. But each of you helped to kill her. Remember that.
Never forget it. You turned her away when she most needed help. You refused her even the
pitiable little bit of organised charity you had in your power to grant her. (Act 3)

Hard-hitting polite all-knowing methodical compelling sensitive articulate commanding

intimidating calm
12345

Mr Birling
Add the missing verbs to this text.

Made spoiling surrounding affected achieved 1

Mr Birling regards himself as a man of importance who has ………5…..a public position. He is very
well-to-do, having … 1… his money from business / manufacturing, but has little time for those who
work for him. His most important concern is to achieve a knighthood and he will do everything he
can to prevent a scandal from …2… his chances. Mr Birling feels no remorse for dismissing Eva Smith
He is not ……4…by the words of the Inspector and when he discovers that the Inspector may not be
what he seems, he even jokes about the events …3… the possible death/suicide of Eva Smith.

Mrs Birling
Brainstorm adjectives / expressions to describe Mrs Birling.

What does this passage tell us about Mrs Birling?

Mrs Birling: ‘If you thing you can bring any pressure to bear upon me, Inspector, you’re quite
mistaken …the girl asked for assistance…I wasn’t satisfied with the girl’s claim…and so I used my
influence to have it refused…. I consider I did my duty. So….I prefer not discuss it further.’

Mrs Birling speaks forcefully here, showing her domineering side. Her reference to her ‘influence’
shows that she has the power to control others’ lives. She also shows a complete lack of sympathy
for Daisy’s Renton’s plight.

Sheila Birling
Add the missing nouns from the box below to the text.

Honesty consequences investigation side suicide

Sheila is very shocked by the news of Eva Smith's death, she deeply regrets of her own involvement
in the suicide………

As the play continues, she matures, admiring Gerald's…side….., even though he cheated on her. She
gives him credit for admitting to the relationship. She shows an assertive …honestly…… by standing
up to her mother and father and she also shows that she is insightful and intelligent - she can see
where the Inspector's ……investigation………… is going and tries to warn the others.

By the end of the play she has grown up and has realised that her actions can have grave ……
consequences …….

Gerald Croft
Read this passage about Gerald Croft. Underline useful language in it.

Mr Birling considers Gerald a good catch, not only because of his social position, but also because
he has a head for business like himself. Gerald was genuinely fond of the young girl and is upset
by her death. By the end of the play he hopes that Sheila will take him back.

Eric
Read this passage about Eric Birling. Underline useful language in it.

Eric is shy and often ill-at-ease(socially awkward), although he can also be outspoken. He is
immature and often looks for the easy option. He has a poor relationship with his father, who
things Eric has had too easy a life, especially when Eric steals money. He is uncaring and nasty
with Eva Smith at first, but develops a sense of responsibility for her and her unborn child.

Idioms /vocabulary to learn

Inspector, Sheila, Mrs. Birling, Mr. Birling

To want justice for

Reveal the truth

Principled

Regards himself as a man of importance

Has little time for

Prevent a scandal

Feels no remorse for

Speak forcefully

Has the power to control others’ lives

Show a complete lack of sympathy for….

Deeply regrets her involvement in…

Stand up to (somebody)

Give (somebody) credit for (something)

Genuinely fond of

A head for business

Look for / take the easy option

Develop a sense of responsibility

Adapted from ‘York Notes for GCSE Workbook’ 2014

Introduction

‘An Inspector Calls’ was written by JB Priestley and first performed in 1945 in the Soviet Union and
1946 in London. This extract takes place at the

Messages and themes

In this extract one of the messages that Priestley is trying to share is

Another theme which appears in this extract is

 the perils (Gefahren) of socialism against capitalism

 Role of the women and women right in the 20 th century
  Class discrimination
 Authority differences between young and old
 Judgement, Eric and Sheila have similar judgements about the situation they believe  the
deeds of everyone made in the past should not be forgotten. Mr.Birling and Mrs.Birling
however, are happy that there is no scandal.
 Exposure of real identities
 Responsibility

these text features convey the reader……

…… comes across

……appears to be

….. seem to be

…… the use of the language …. makes the reader that …..

A striking characteristic is that…..

Gerald the Mr Birling considers Gerald is a good catch

because his family is upper-class business
owners
Mr Birling considers that Gerald has a head for
business
At the start of the play Gerald comes across as
a confident person as he is very included in the
household of the Birlings
Gerald comes across an evasive person
because, when the truth comes out about his
affair with Eva Smith, he tries to avoid the
subject.
In this part of the play Gerald appears to be a
honest person, as he honestly tells the story
how he met Eva. He was in the wrong to have
an affair, the use of the language …. makes the
reader that he genuinely feels bad and tried to
help Eva Smith

Inspector The inspector comes across as a emotive

character.
Mr Birling The character appears to be arrogant as he
regards himself as a man of importance
The character appears to be arrogant, Mr
Birling is wrong in certain points, including his
prediction……. therefore, the audience loses
trust in him as a character
The character seems to be sexist. Mr Birling
 makes some old-fashioned patronising points a
about women
Mr. Birling seems to be capitalist. He comes
across as a hard-headed businessman as his
main concern is making money.
A striking characteristic is that he is possessive,
because he refers things and people of being
his
His objective is prevent a scandal to achieve the
knighthood

Mrs Birling Mrs. Birling seems to be cold and has double-

standards. She shows a lack of sympathy of Eva
Smith and abuses her powerful position to
control others’ lives. She assumes instantly
because Eva Smith is pregnant and uses Mrs.
Birlings surname that she is a bad person
Mrs. Birling is ignorant.
Mrs. Birling speaks very forcefully
Mrs. Birling is snobbish. She has snobbish
opinions the people should speak and behave
properly. Mrs. Birling shows a protective
attitude towards her daughter

Sheila Sheila come across a naïve young woman. She

uses childish language which indicates that she
does what her parents tell her. She shows a
compliant attitude towards….
Within the later stage of the play Sheila
becomes assertive, as she stands up represents
her own opinion
At a number of points Sheila comes across as a
insightful character. She wants justice for Eva
Smith and reveal the truth

Sheila deeply regrets her involvement into the

murder
Eric Within the later stages of the play Eric develops
a sense of responsibility

Eva Smith