English literature

    Cards (19)

    • Inspector Goole - Act 1
      "Goole"
      Goole' is a homonym (a word that sounds the same but is spelt differently) for 'Goul', suggestive of a supernatural force of ghosts
    • Inspector calls - Act 1
      "It's better to ask for the Earth than to take it"
      The syntax on "ask" prior to "take" is used by the inspector to highlight the order of importance that is required for society to be collectively responsible.
      We must "ask" and share, as opposed to the capitalist idea of "taking"to benefit oneself.
    • Inspector Goole - Act 1
      "Plain darkish suit"
      He carries an air of mystery as he is dressed in a simplistic way of [plain darkish suit]not suggestive of him belonging to a particular social class, thus making him enigmatic (mysterious)-the character in the play are all defined by their class physically.
    • Mr Birling - Act 1
      "Heavily comfortable"
      1. Oxymoron present the pseudo-luxury (it seems luxurious but it is really)of the social elite as a facade.
      2. Heavy connotes exhaustion, implying relentlessly upholding an overt radiation of wealth.
    • Mr Birling - Act 1
      "Hard- headed practical man of business"

      This reinforces how J.B. Priestley has constructed a political diatribe - he is scathing of the paradoxes and hypocrisy in politics.
    • Mr Birling - Act 1
      "That fellow obviously didn't; like us"

      Adverb "obviously" shows his arrogance and ignorance, he turns defensive and aggressive at the prospect of someone threatening his respectability which may again stem from a place of insecurity.
    • Mr Birling - Act 1
      "That fellow obviously didn't like us. He was prejudiced from the start. Probably a socialist or some sort of clank - he talked like one"

      Complex sentence is used as an act of deceit to make himself come across as more informed than reliable than he truly is - the preface of his argument doesn't hold much logic
    • Mr Birling - Act 1
      "Hard - headed practical man of business"

      1. Sir Stanley Baldwin, a prime minister between the two world accused "hard - face men" of profit out of the war.
      2. Mr Birling stands to represent these affluent businessmen who callously took advantage of the suffering of the war financial again.
    • Mr Birling - Act 1
      "Rather provincial in his speech"

      Meaning his voice is tainted by a regional accent - this is a superficial trope of how status was established and evaluated in 1912 (Britain).
    • Mr Birling - Act 1
      "A heavy-looking rather, portentous man in his middle fifties"

      "Portentous" is used to expose the superficiality of capitalist-Birling is desperate to assert and justify his status showing he can only see value in wealth and status.
    • Mr Birling - Act 1
      "You're not supposed to say such things"-Mrs Birling 

      Guilty of social indiscretion he wants to compliment the chef on the food yet is scolded by his wife who reminds him "you're not supposed to Say such things".
      Social faux pas reveals that despite his attempts, this status doesn't come naturally and his ultimately a facade.
    • Mr Birling - Act 1
      "A heavy looking, rather than a portentous man in his middle fifties"
      "Heavy looking" held weight for priestley's contemporary audience as a generation emerging from a period of rationing and war; a plumper frame was synonymous with affluence and indulgence.
    • Mr Birling - Act 1
      "Rather provincial in his speech"

      His voice stands as a barrier between him, a member of the Nouveall riche (people who made their own money rather than being born into riches) and like of Gerald - an aristocrat.
      To uphold the appearance of wealth is so relentless as it is constantly subject to the threat of classim.
    • Mr birling - Act 1
      "Port"

      "Port" is used as a metonym for wealth, Mr Birling revealed he has embarked on a rather sycophantic (using flattering to win favour from individuals wielding influence) investigation to copy Gerald's father's taste in port. "Finchley told me it's exactly gets for him".
    • Sheila - Act 1
      "These girls aren't cheap labour- they're people!"

      This shows Sheila growing awareness of social responsibility. She challenges her parents' capitalist attitude and starts to sympathize with workers.
    • Sheila - Act 2
      "I know I'm to blame - and I'm desperately sorry"

      Sheila takes responsibility for her actions, unlike her parents who try to avoid it. This marks her as someone who is willing to learn from their experience.
    • Gerald - Act 1
      "The easy, well-bred young- man about town"

      Priestley's contemporary audience, the stage direction "bred" evokes an image of an animal breeding, conjuring a metaphorical image of Gerald as a product of meticulous cultivation, much like a carefully bred animal.
    • Eric - Act 3
      "The fact remains that I did what I did"

      Eric admits to his wrongdoing, acknowledging his part in Eva Smith's downfall. He and sheila are willing to face the consequences.
    • "Out, damned spot! out, I say!
      Symbolism: The "spot" symbolises the indelible (permanent) guilt that Lady Macbeth feels, with the blood representing the lasting psychology and physiological consequences of her role in Duncan's murder - she is now in a disturbed somnambulant (sleepwalking) State
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