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1
An Inspector Calls (1-10)
After reading pages 1-10 of the play, find a quote (dialogue or stage
direction) to match each of the statements below:

Helpful Hint
When looking for quotations to support your comments and ideas, it is not
always necessary to copy out complete sentences. Indeed, single words or
short phrases are much better this shows your teacher (and examiners)
that you can be selective.

Birling

Birling seems to be rather insecure /
inferior and this is shown by his
attempt to impress Gerald.

Again, Birling appears vulnerable and
immediately jumps to his own
defence.

Birlings repeated phrase
summarising the mood / event seems
inadequate.

Birlings statements about the
marriage show how he feels and
tends to ignore how Sheila may feel
about it. This is heightened by his
use of the first person.

Birling cannot help talking business.
Indeed, it seems that the marriage
has served to join the two companies.

At the end Birlings first speech, his
exploitative, capitalist views are
expressed.

Birling speaks about Sheila as if shes
a child.

Birling proudly and repeatedly refers
to himself and his abilities in
capitalist society. What does he call
himself?


This resource by the English Department, STP was found free at http://www.english-teaching.co.uk
Copyright 2000 FRET Free Resources for English Teaching. All rights reserved.
2

Mrs. Birling

Mrs. Birling is a snob. She
reprimands Birling for speaking
honestly about the dinner because
she feels that it shows bad manners.

Either Mrs. Birling doesnt notice the
tension between Sheila and Gerald or
she does, and chooses to ignore it by
taking control of the conversation.
Where else does she change the
subject to divert attention from a
potential family squabble?

Mrs. Birling ignores Sheilas comment
about Eric being drunk and is more
concerned about Sheila using slang.
This again shows her snobbery and
also hints at her inadequacies as a
parent.

Again, Mrs. Birling takes control of
the situation; she issues a gentle
reprimand to Birling for talking
business. However, it is not the
content of what he says that she
finds inappropriate, but rather the
timing of it.

As we can see from Mrs. Birlings
sharp reprimand, it is obvious that
Eric did not join the toast on cue.
Even this early in the play, we are
starting to notice that Eric is at
odds with his parents.







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3
Sheila

Sheila blows her fathers faade and
seems to take pleasure in doing so.
This is indicated by the brief pause
in her line.

From the phrase by which Sheila
addresses her mother, she appears
childish.

Eric gives a hint to a more sinister
side to Sheilas personality.

Sheila doesnt like to be laughed at,
especially not by her brother. This is
shown by the way she speaks to him
and what she calls him.


Eric

Eric seems to be out of sync with the
rest of the family. This is shown
when he bursts out laughing.

Erics uncontrollable laughter may
have something to do with the fact
that hes drunk.

Eric seems impatient with his father
and bored with the pretences
surrounding the famous toast.

Erics toast is not delivered in the
proper manner. Just looking at the
punctuation of his speech shows this.
Indeed, there seems to be an
element of mockery and jest in his
tone.

Eric also gives a hint to a more
sinister side to Sheilas personality.
Despite their bickering, it seems
that Eric and Sheila understand one
another better than their parents.


This resource by the English Department, STP was found free at http://www.english-teaching.co.uk
Copyright 2000 FRET Free Resources for English Teaching. All rights reserved.
4
Gerald


Gerald appears polite and quite
reserved, and is very ready to agree
with Birling. Can you find a few brief
examples that show this?




Gerald and Sheila (page 3)

Gerald: In fact, I insist upon being one of the family now. Ive been
trying long enough, havent I? (As she does not reply, with more
insistence.) Havent I? You know I have.

Mrs. B: (smiling) Of course she does.

Sheila: (half serious, half playful) Yes except for all last summer,
when you never came near me, and I wondered what had
happened to you.

Gerald: And Ive told you I was awfully busy at the works all that
time.

Sheila: (same tone as before) Yes, thats what you say.

Mrs. B: Now, Sheila, dont tease him. When youre married youll realise
that men with important work to do sometimes have to spend
nearly all their time and energy on their business. Youll have to
get used to that, just as I had.

Sheila: I dont believe I will. (Half playful, half serious to Gerald) So
you be careful.

Gerald: Oh I will, I will.



This resource by the English Department, STP was found free at http://www.english-teaching.co.uk
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5
Workings in groups of three perform this part of the play.

Before you begin, think about the following:
1. Why are these two getting married? Is it true love? What?
2. What does Geralds comment that hes been trying long enough tell us
about the relationship?
3. How do you think Gerald feels when Sheila ignores him? Why does
she ignore him?
4. Why is Sheila half playful, half serious?
5. Was Gerald at work all last summer? How do we know that Sheila
has questioned Gerald on this matter before? How does Gerald feel
about being questioned? Does Sheila believe him? Do you believe him?
Where was he?
6. Is Sheila (as Mrs. B thinks) teasing Gerald or is she accusing him?
How do you know?
7. Does Sheila share her mothers notion of how she should accept her
role as the wife of a businessman?
8. What part does Mrs. B play here?

Think about these performance-based devices to help you mark up your
script:
1. facial expressions; (smiling, scowling, sad, annoyed, etc)
2. volume, tone and pace of speech; (Are certain words emphasised in
certain ways?)
3. physical actions (What are the characters doing?)
4. gestures; (Think about your body language)
5. eye contact; (or lack of)

Depending on how you play it, you can change the meaning of the piece. Try
two different versions.
1. Sheila and Gerald are truly in love;
2. There is tension between the couple.

The next extract is taken from page 5, just after the toast, and when
Gerald gives Sheila the ring. Birling and Mrs. B give formal congratulations
and this contrasts with Erics insulting and rather comic effort. Again,
Sheilas annoyed with her him, and she refuses to follow his toast. Gerald
suggests that she drinks to him.


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6
Gerald: You can drink to me.

Sheila: (quiet and serious now) All right then. I drink to you, Gerald.
(For a moment they look at each other.)

Gerald: (quietly) Thank you. And I drink to you and hope I can make
you as happy as you deserve to be.

Sheila: (trying to be light and easy) You be careful or Ill start
weeping.

Gerald: (smiling) Well, perhaps this will help to stop it.
(He produces a ring case.)

Sheila: (excited) Oh Gerald youve got it is it the one you wanted
me to have?

Gerald: (giving the case to her) Yes the very one.

Sheila: (taking out the ring) Oh its wonderful! Look Mummy isnt
it a beauty? Oh darling (She kisses Gerald hastily.)

Eric: Steady the buffs!

Sheila: (who has put the ring on, admiringly) I think its perfect. Now
I feel really engaged.

Mrs. B: So you ought, darling. Its a lovely ring. Be careful with it.

Sheila: Careful! Ill never let it go out of my site for an instant.

Before you perform this extract, discuss the following:
1. Is Sheila glad to drink to Gerald? Why do they look at each other?
Are these two people happy with their decision?
2. What makes Gerald smile and Sheila excited? Who chose it and what
do you make of this? Gerald doesnt put the ring on her finger. What
does he do?
3. How does Sheila kiss Gerald? What do you make of this adverb?
4. Why do you think Mrs. Birling says to be careful with it? What does
this tell you about the things that they value?
5. Given what you know about the relationship between Gerald and
Sheila, will this proper engagement last the course of the play?


This resource by the English Department, STP was found free at http://www.english-teaching.co.uk
Copyright 2000 FRET Free Resources for English Teaching. All rights reserved.
7
Dramatic Irony

The term dramatic irony refers to the situation that arises when a
character in a play speaks lines which are understood in a double sense by
the audience, though not by the characters on stage.

J. B. Priestley makes excellent use of dramatic irony in the play, particularly
through Birlings first major speeches. Remember, the play was set in 1912
(before the First World War). Its first audiences would have viewed it
following the Second World War.

Read Birlings speeches on pages 6 and 7. In them, he talks about a number
of events which took place following 1912. Match the event to his comment
on them.



1912:




1914-18: 1939-45:





a man has to make
his own way has to
look after himself
and his family too
(p. 9)
1917:




1926:

Is he right?

This resource by the English Department, STP was found free at http://www.english-teaching.co.uk
Copyright 2000 FRET Free Resources for English Teaching. All rights reserved.
8
BIRLING & DRAMATIC IRONY

1. Make a list of things Birling says which we, as a late 20
th
century
audience, know to be foolish.
2. Priestley makes it obvious that Birling is wrong about matters of
fact. Why has Priestley done this? How does he wish to make Birling
look? How would an audience watching the play in the late 1940s have
felt about the character of Birling?
3. Consider Birlings opinion that a man has to make his own way has
to look out for himself and his family too What does it tell us
about his personality? Do we respect or refuse this opinion? Why?

BIRLING, GERALD, ERIC & STATUS

Look at pages 8 - 10.

1. Both the Birlings and the Crofts are wealthy. However, there is a
difference in how they attained their wealth. What is this
difference?
2. How does Birling show awareness of this?
3. Which comment by Birling shows that he accepts his inferior status?
4. What does Birling tell Gerald that he hopes will impress Lady Croft?
What other positions has Birling held?
5. Do you think Birling has confided this to Eric? What does this tell you
about the relationship between father and son?
6. What does Birling say that his chance of a knighthood hinges on?
Does this give you a clue as to what might happen later in the play?
7. How does Birling react when Eric enters?
8. How does Birling define womens clothes?
9. What does Eric say that suggests that he might be hiding something?
What do you think it is?
10. How does Birling refer to Eric?
11. Find three quotes by Birling which show his selfish, uncaring attitude.
12. On page 10, the doorbell curtails Birlings speech. Why do you think
this may be significant?