Act 1

• “pink and intimate ... brighter and harder"

  Embedded and contextualised example: In the opening stage direction Priestley explains how the lighting should be “pink and intimate” at the start, during the exposition, but should become “brighter and harder” after the Inspector arrives.

  Reasons for learning it:

  • Several methods to analyse - the use of stage directions and lighting in particular, plus the symbolic function of the lighting itself
  • Initially things are pink and intimate - cosy, pleasant - reflecting the characters’ views of their world, and perhaps the audience’s view - seeing it through rose-tinted spectacles - the ‘good old days’
  • Inspector shines a bright light on this - reveals the hard truth about the Edwardian period - it was cruel and unjust, especially for the women and the working class

  Relevant characters and themes: All characters and themes
• “lower costs and higher prices”

  Embedded and contextualised example: During the exposition in his conversation with Gerald about the potential merger of Birling and co. and Crofts Limited, Birling claims that it will allow them to have “lower costs and higher prices”.

  Reasons for learning it:

  • Short and easy to learn
  • Use of antithesis here to emphasise the selfishness and injustice of capitalism - it should be the other way round (lower costs = lower prices) but Birling wants a monopoly - he wants to exploit the merger for more profit - he wants to exploit the poor and needy so he and Gerald (the rich) can get richer

  Relevant characters and themes: Birling, Eva Smith, wealth and power, social class, age and the generations
• “Oh – it's wonderful! Look – Mummy – isn't it a beauty?”

  Embedded and contextualised example: When she receives the engagement ring from Gerald, Sheila is thrilled; she says, “Oh – it's wonderful! Look – Mummy – isn't it a beauty?”

  Reasons for learning it:

  • Several different methods to discuss here
  • The use of dashes - frequently used in the play to convey emotion - in this case Sheila’s excitement
  • The exclamation mark adds to this impression, as does the interjection (“Oh”)
  • Priestley has Sheila address her mother as “Mummy” - shows familiarity and affection - also somewhat childish, reflecting her lack of maturity and worldliness at this point in the play (though this term of address was fairly standard for upper class people at the time)

  Relevant characters and themes: Sheila, Gerald, gender, social class, age and the generations
• 'hard-headed business man'

  Embedded and contextualised example: Throughout the exposition, Birling refers to himself repeatedly as a “hard-headed business man”.

  Reasons for learning it:

  • Short and easy to learn
  • Priestley uses repetition with this phrase - he has Birling say it several times - this is Birling’s signifier, the way he sees himself, his identity
  • Compound adjective “hard-headed” shows a self-conscious stubbornness - stubbornness as a virtue, as Birling sees it - he won’t be changed, he won’t be persuaded, and he is proud of this

  Relevant characters and themes: Birling, blame and responsibility, guilt and shame, wealth and power, social class, age and the generations
• What phrase does Birling use to describe the Titanic?

  Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable
• What does Birling's statement about the Titanic reveal about his character?

  It shows his arrogance and foolishness
• How does Priestley use dramatic irony in Birling's speech about the Titanic?

  The audience knows the Titanic's fate, contrasting Birling's confidence
• What literary device does Priestley employ with the repetition of "unsinkable"?

  It emphasizes the dramatic irony in Birling's statement
• What does the Titanic symbolize according to Priestley?

  It symbolizes the hubris of the capitalist system
• What themes are relevant to Birling's character and the Titanic's symbolism?

  • Birling
  • Wealth and power
  • Age and the generations
• “as if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive – community and all that nonsense”

  Embedded and contextualised example: In his final pompous speech, moments before the arrival of the Inspector, Birling vilifies socialists and socialism, claiming that they see people as “all mixed up together like bees in a hive” which he labels as “community and all that nonsense”.

  Reasons for learning it:

  • Simile of comparing the socialist view to bees in a hive - meant as a criticism (from Birling) but for the audience this arguably shows a very effective society - a better alternative, perhaps
  • Abstract noun “nonsense” - deliberately extreme - showing Birling’s utter disdain for even the idea of collectivism - again, for the audience, this may be viewed differently - it is both distasteful and faintly ridiculous

  Relevant characters and themes: Birling, wealth and power, social class
• What three qualities should the actor playing the Inspector convey?

  Massiveness, solidity, and purposefulness
• What does "massiveness" signify about the Inspector and socialism?

  It indicates importance and significance
• How does "solidity" relate to socialism according to the text?

  It represents sturdiness and a foundation for change
• What does "purposefulness" imply about socialism's goals?

  It has a clear aim for social progress
• What are the implications of the Inspector's characteristics in the play?

  • Represents socialism's importance
  • Symbolizes a sturdy foundation for change
  • Embodies a clear purpose for social progress
• Which character is primarily associated with the themes of wealth and power?

  The Inspector
• What themes are relevant to the character of the Inspector?

  Wealth and power, social class, the supernatural
• Why is the Inspector's portrayal significant in the context of the play?

  It highlights the importance of socialism
• How can the abstract nouns "massiveness," "solidity," and "purposefulness" be analyzed in the context of the Inspector?

  They reflect the Inspector's role and message
• “Burnt her inside out”

  Embedded and contextualised example: When the Inspector tells the Birlings about the death of Eva Smith he tells them that drinking the disinfectant which caused her death “burnt her inside out”.

  Reasons for learning it:

  • Short and easy to learn
  • Priestley uses deliberately vivid imagery here - the line is designed to shock the Birlings to emphasise the cruelty of their actions which led to it
  • Also one of the first signs that the Inspector is not a typical policeman - he’s emotionally invested, not distant and objective

  Relevant characters and themes: The Inspector, Eva Smith, blame and responsibility, guilt and shame, wealth and power, social class
• 'chain of events'

  Embedded and contextualised example: While explaining the reasons for his questioning of the entire Birling family, the Inspector describes the events that lead to Eva’s death as a “chain of events”.

  Reasons for learning it:

  • Another short and easy quotation with a method (a metaphor)
  • The metaphor is not very deep or poetic, but you can analyse it for its central idea that the links in the chain are all connected, and inextricably so - you can’t separate one from the other - there is causation here and the outcome is inevitable

  Relevant characters and themes: The Inspector, Eva Smith, any of the characters, blame and responsibility, social class
• What does Sheila call Gerald in her hysterical laughter?

  Fool
• What does Sheila imply when she says "he knows"?

  She implies the Inspector is aware of everything
• How does the stage direction "laughs rather hysterically" contribute to Sheila's character development?

  It conveys her growing empowerment and mania
• What does the noun "fool" signify in Sheila's dialogue?

  • Strong and disrespectful term
  • Indicates a dramatic shift in Sheila's character
  • Reflects her empowerment through the Inspector's influence
• What effect does the repetition of "You'll see" have in Sheila's speech?

  It adds to the sense of mania and certainty
• Why is the placement of Sheila's line significant at the end of the act?

  It forms a mini-climax and foreshadows future events
• Which characters and themes are relevant to the quoted passage?

  • Characters: Sheila, Gerald
  • Themes: Age and generations, gender, wealth and power, the supernatural