overview and key scenes

• 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 responsible for Eva's death
• Who is the head of the Birling family?

  Arthur Birling
• What does Arthur Birling represent?

  The Capitalist businessman
• Who is Sybil Birling?

  Arthur Birling's wife
• What does Sybil Birling represent?

  The upper-class, socially prominent wife
• Who is Sheila Birling?

  The Birlings' daughter
• 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
• 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.
  4. Sheila complains about Eva, leading to her firing.
  5. Eva changes her name to Daisy Renton.
  6. Sheila accuses Gerald of an affair.
• What does Mr. Birling toast to during the dinner?

  The progress made by society
• How did Eva Smith die?

  By drinking disinfectant
• Why did Mr. Birling fire Eva Smith?

  She led a strike for higher wages
• How did Sheila Birling contribute to Eva's downfall?

  She complained about Eva, leading to her firing
• What does Sheila promise after realizing her mistake?

  She won't act like that again
• What does Gerald reveal about Daisy Renton?

  He recognizes the name and had an affair
• What does Mrs. Birling do at the Brumley Women’s Charity Organisation?

  Refuses help to a pregnant woman
• Who is the father of the pregnant woman Mrs. Birling refuses to help?

  Eric Birling
• How does Eric Birling feel about his actions towards Eva?

  He admits to drinking heavily and acting aggressively
• What does the Inspector warn the Birlings about?

  They must accept responsibility for each other
• What do Gerald, Mr. Birling, and Mrs. Birling realize about the Inspector?

  He wasn't a real police investigator
• What happens at the end of the play?

  An inspector is on his way to question them
• What are the key themes introduced in Act 1?

  • Class and social responsibility
  • Gender roles and expectations
  • The impact of individual actions
  • The conflict between capitalism and socialism
• 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 Titanic symbolize in Mr. Birling's speech?

  Capitalist ideals of strength and luxury
• How does Priestley portray Mr. Birling's character?

  As unempathetic and arrogant