AIC - Act 3

• Which tense line of dialogue does Priestley use to begin Act Three?

  "You know, don't you?" - This dramatic line, delivered by Eric, thrusts Act Three straight into the conflict
• What three words complete the quotation?"You haven't made it any easier for me, __________ __________, __________."

  Have you mother - Eric says this to Mrs Birling following her accusations aimed at the unknown father of Eva Smith's baby at the end of the previous act. She has played into the Inspector's hands
• What two words complete the quotation?"There'll be plenty of time, when I've gone, for you all to adjust your __________ __________."

  Family relationships - The Inspector recognises that he has had a fundamental impact on the family, and the way they now view each other
• What character says this quotation?"I insisted on giving her enough money to keep her going."

  Eric - Eric tries to show that he did try to do the right thing eventually (although he has stolen the money to do so). Note that both Eric and Gerald have given Eva money to assuage their guilt.
• What word completes the quotation?"Each of you helped to kill her. __________ that."

  Remember - The Inspector reinforces the sense of shared responsibility he wants the Birlings to feel
• What word completes the quotation?"If men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and __________."

  Anguish - The Inspector's imagery here is Biblical in its intensity. The phrase "they will be taught" is also a threat to those who refuse to accept a sense of social responsibility for the less fortunate.
• When Eric describes the night when he met Eva Smith in the Palace bar, he says he was “a bit squiffy”. What does “squiffy” mean?

  Drunk
• How did Eric manage to steal money from his father's company?

  He collected money owed to the company and kept it
• Which words fit in the blanks?Eric says, "I hate these __________ tarts."

  Fat, old - Eric's description of the local prostitutes shows that he judges a woman's sexual value based upon her appearance and age. The implication is that he has the right to sleep with Eva/Daisy because he didn't want to sleep with an older prostitute.
• In Act Three, which character is described in the stage directions as "nearly at breaking point"?

  Eric - The fate of Eva/Daisy has had a serious affect on Eric and despite his selfish actions, the audience would probably feel some degree of pity for him towards the end of the play.
• What is the first line Mr Birling delivers after the Inspector's exit?

  "[angrily to Eric] you're the one I blame for this" - This line, directed towards Eric, shows that Mr Birling has learned nothing about responsibility.
• Eric says in Act Three, "In a way, she treated me – as if I were a kid." To whom is he referring?

  Eva/Daisy - This line shows us that Eva/Daisy recognised Eric's immaturity
• True or false? Sheila and Mrs Birling remain in the room for the whole of Eric's interview.

  False - They leave the room briefly, but then Mrs Birling insists on returning to find out what he is saying.
• How does Eric describe his sexual encounter with Eva/Daisy?

  "And that's when it happened" - This indirect way of talking is because his mother and sister are in the room. In 1912, people were not meant to talk openly about sex. His use of language may also suggests his shame
• In Act Three, how does the language used between the male characters change when the women leave the room?

  They use stronger, more direct references to sex - Their change of language shows how differently women and men were treated at the time. Although the language used may be shocking by the standards of 1912, many modern audiences would not be shocked
• What is Mr Birling's reaction to the news that Eric has stolen some money?

  He wants to cover up the crime as quickly as possible - Mr Birling's reaction shows his selfish and immoral viewpoint
• The stage directions at the start of Act Three reveal the different emotional states of Mr Birling and his son Eric. Mr Birling speaks "bitterly" and Eric is "distressed".What does this show about Mr Birling's relationship with his son? 


  Mr Birling is to focused on his feelings to sympathise with his son and his feelings and also the lack of understanding between them - The stage directions shows an antagonism between father and son. There is a lack of respect and empathy on both sides
• What do Mr and Mrs Birling accuse Sheila of in Act Three?

  Disloyalty - They think that Sheila should be protecting her family rather than taking the Inspector's side
• Just before the Inspector leaves, he makes a long speech about responsibility. Then the stage directions say, "He walks straight out … "What is the effect of the timing of his exit?

  Makes him seem more mysterious and makes his speech more dramatic and serious and gravitas
• Eric says to his mother in Act Three, "You killed her – and the child she'd have had too – my child – your own grandchild – you killed them both – damn you, damn you –"What effect do these language choices create?

  The uses of frequent dashes and the word "damn" makes his speech seem uncontrolled and emotional. The direct and repeated use of personal pronouns shows the personal intensity of Eric's accusations
• Which character says that "Everything's all right now"?

  Gerald - Gerald's comments to Sheila show that he has not learned a lesson from the events in the play. He expects everything to return to normal, but Sheila is strongly affected by what has happened.
• What is revealed by the final phone call?

  A girl has died of suicide from drinking bleach - The final phone call seems to suggest that events are repeating themselves – perhaps because the older generation have not learned their lesson
• What word completes the quotation?"As they stare guiltily and __________, the curtain falls."

  Dumbfounded - This stage direction shows the effect the final twist in the plot has on the characters. They had just begun to celebrate the fact that there is no evidence of Eva Smith having killed herself, when they learn they are to receive another visit from a police inspector.
• What two words complete the quotation?"The point is, you don't seem to have __________ __________."

  Learnt anything - Sheila is horrified to see that her parents revert to their original attitudes once the Inspector has left. Her use of "learnt" picks up on his use of "taught" in his final speech
• What word completes the quotation?"Somebody put that fellow up to coming here and __________ us."

  Hoaxing - Mr Birling jumps to the idea that the evening has all been a trick - his relief shows that any contrition he had previously expressed was superficial.
• What character says this quotation?"There was something curious about him. He never seemed like an ordinary police inspector."

  Shiela - Sheila is the first one to question the Inspector's identity. The fact that there is a question about this does not change her acknowledgement of her guilt. She recognises that the Inspector's purpose was the key point of the visit.
• What three words complete the quotation?"It's what happened to the girl and what ___________ __________ __________ to her that matters."

  We all did - Eric, like Sheila, has accepted his part in Eva Smith's death, and also recognises that the Inspector's purpose was more important than his actual identity
• How do Gerald and Mr and Mrs Birling react to the news that there has not been a suicide?

  They relax and start joking about what just happened - The response of the older generation shows that they have not learned a lesson from the events in the play
• Who calls the infirmary in Act Three?

  Gerald calls the hospital and confirms that there has not been a suicide.
• Who calls the police station in Act Three?

  Mr Birling - Birling calls the police station and they tell him there is no Inspector Goole. This leads him to think that a trick has been played on them
• Gerald returns to the stage in Act Three with some news. What does he say?

  A local police officer has told him there is no Inspector Goole - he phone call to the infirmary comes after, while Gerald's news about Inspector Goole comes first
• Which word fits the best in the blank?The events in the play leave the Birling family __________.

  Divided - The family is divided because the parents have not learned any lessons from what has happened.
• True or false? Only the members of the Birling family are left on stage after the Inspector leaves.

  True - Gerald is not present for the Inspector's final speech and the family is left alone together after the Inspector leaves.
• Which character first questions whether Goole was a real Inspector or not?

  Shiela - Sheila is the most perceptive member of the Birling family and she is the first to realise that something strange has happened. She acknowledges Goole's cunning by saying, "Well, he inspected us all right".
• What word fits in the blank?The mood of celebration in Act One has been totally __________ by Act Three.

  Destroyed - It's clear that the mood has altered dramatically. By Act Three, the members of the family are openly turning on one another.
• Who delivers this line?"There'll be a public scandal."

  Mr Birling - This line shows that Mr Birling is concerned about his reputation and his family's reputation.
• True or false? Mr Birling, Mrs Birling and Sheila are the only characters to see the photograph of Eva/Daisy.

  True
• What word fits in the blank?The final phone call __________ the audience.

  Shocks - The timing of the phone call and the mystery of events being repeated is intended to shock the audience.
• What is the result of the news that no one has died after drinking disinfectant?

  There is a lessening of tension on the stage - Priestley deliberately wants the tension to lessen on stage, so that the final telephone call about a girl's suicide is even more dramatic.
• Which characters feel relief that the Inspector appears to have played a trick on them?

  Mr and Mrs Birling and Gerald - Sheila and Eric are deeply affected by what has happened and still feel guilty even if the girl has not died.