key scenes + overview

• Who wrote 'An Inspector Calls'?

  J.B. Priestley
• In what year is 'An Inspector Calls' set?

  1912
• What is the setting of 'An Inspector Calls'?

  An English manufacturing town called Brumley
• How many acts are in 'An Inspector Calls'?

  Three acts
• What does 'real time' mean in the context of the play?


  No change in time or location between acts
• Who visits the Birling family in the play?

  A mysterious inspector
• What is the inspector investigating?

  The death of a young woman by suicide
• What does Priestley examine through the inspector's revelations?


  How each family member is involved in the death
• Who is the head of the Birling family?


  Arthur Birling
• What does Arthur Birling represent?


  The Capitalist businessman
• Who is Sybil Birling?


  The wife of Arthur Birling
• Who is Sheila Birling?


  The Birlings' daughter
• What does Sybil Birling represent?


  The upper-class, socially prominent wife
• What does Sheila Birling represent?


  The impressionable, socially-aware younger generation
• Who is Eric Birling?


  The Birlings' son
• What does Eric Birling represent?


  The consequences of toxic masculine culture
• Who is Gerald Croft?


  The son of Sir and Lady Croft; fiance of Sheila Birling
• What does Gerald Croft represent?

  Privilege and dominance of the upper classes
• Who is Inspector Goole?

  A police inspector
• What does Inspector Goole represent?


  Socialism and social responsibility
• Who is Eva Smith?


  A lower-class young girl
• What does Eva Smith represent?


  The neglected lower-classes
• What happens in Act 1 of 'An Inspector Calls'?

  1. The Birlings celebrate Sheila's engagement.
  2. Inspector Goole arrives to investigate Eva's death.
  3. Mr. Birling fired Eva after a strike for better pay.
  4. Sheila complains about Eva, leading to her firing.
  5. Eva changes her name to Daisy Renton.
  6. Sheila accuses Gerald of having an affair.
• What does Mr. Birling toast to during the dinner?


  The progress made by society
• What does Inspector Goole reveal about Eva Smith's death?


  She died after drinking disinfectant
• Why did Mr. Birling fire Eva Smith?


  She led a strike for higher wages
• How does Sheila feel about her actions towards Eva Smith?

  She regrets her actions and feels guilty
• What does Gerald admit to during the inspector's questioning?

  He had an affair with Daisy Renton
• What are the key events in Act 2 of 'An Inspector Calls'?

  1. Gerald admits to his affair with Daisy.
  2. Mrs. Birling refuses help to a pregnant woman.
  3. The family realizes Eric is the father.
  4. Eric admits to his aggressive behavior towards Eva.
  5. The Inspector warns about societal responsibility.
• What does Mrs. Birling do at the Brumley Women’s Charity Organisation?

  She refuses help to a pregnant woman
• How does Eric react to the Inspector's revelations?


  He is furious and upset
• What are the key events in Act 3 of 'An Inspector Calls'?


  1. Eric admits to stealing money for Eva.
  2. The Inspector loses patience with the Birlings.
  3. The family argues about the Inspector's identity.
  4. Gerald, Mr. Birling, and Mrs. Birling feel relieved.
  5. A girl dies on the way to the Infirmary.
• What does the Inspector say will happen if people don't accept responsibility?


  “Fire and blood and anguish” will follow
• What do Sheila and Eric believe after the Inspector leaves?


  They believe they should learn from their actions
• What does the family discover about the Inspector at the end of the play?


  He wasn't a real police inspector
• What does the phone call at the end of the play indicate?

  An inspector is coming to question them
• What are the key themes presented in 'An Inspector Calls'?

  • Social responsibility
  • Class conflict
  • Gender roles
  • The impact of capitalism
  • The importance of community
• How does Mr. Birling view the future?


  He believes in personal freedom and wealth
• What does Mr. Birling think about community responsibility?


  He dismisses it as nonsense
• What does the lighting in the opening scene symbolize?


  The characters' ignorance of wider struggles