An Inspector Calls - Basic quotes + Vocabulary

Naturally commanding and in control

Authoritative

Not feeling sorry for what you've done

Unremorseful

Not knowing much yet about the world, like a child

Naive

Understanding other people's emotions

Compassionate

Willing to think about new ideas

Open-minded

Someone who believes that they should make money and keep it as personal profit

Capitalist
Mr Birling is a capitalist who believes that he should use his money to 'look after himself and his own'

Someone who believes money should be used to help everyone, especially those in need

Socialist
The Inspector is a mouthpiece for Priestley's socialist views, and Sheila and Eric begin to agree with him

How did the Second World war affect the classes?

It helped to break down class barriers; all the different social classes worked together in the armed forces, and discovered they had a lot in common

What technique does Priestley use when Birling says that the Titanic is 'unsinkable', but the audience knows it sank?

Dramatic irony
Priestley uses this to show how we should not listen to Mr Birling

Someone who is not very well educated or informed about the world.

Ignorant

Born into a life with special rights and advantages

Privileged

Speaking about something like it isn't even worth thinking about

Dismissive

An organisation or a system controlled by men

Patriarchal

SHEILA (STAGE DIRECTION) 'A ______ girl, very _____ ___ _____ and rather ___________'

SHEILA (STAGE DIRECTION): 'A pretty girl, very pleased with life and rather excited.'

MRS BIRLING (Stage direction) 'A rather ____ _____ and her _____ ______ _________'

MRS BIRLING (STAGE DIRECTION) 'A rather cold woman and her husband's social superior'

BIRLING: 'For _____ _____ and ____ _____' GERALD: '___ hear'

BIRLING: 'for lower costs and higher prices'GERALD: 'Hear, hear'

"for __________ costs and __________ prices"

“for lower costs and higher prices” (Act One - Birling)

"A rather __________ woman and her husband's social __________"

“A rather cold woman and her husband’s social superior" (Stage directions - Sybil)

"As if a girl of that __________ would ever refuse __________!"

“As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money!” (Act Two - Sybil about Eva/Daisy)

"A pretty girl, very __________ with life and rather __________"

“A pretty girl, very pleased with life and rather excited” (Opening stage directions - Sheila Birling)

"These girls aren't __________ labour - they're __________!"

“These girls aren’t cheap labour – they’re people!” (Act One - Sheila Birling about Eva being fired)

"You and I aren't the __________ people who sat down to __________"

“You and I aren’t the same people who sat down to dinner” (Act Three - Sheila Birling to Gerald)

"I hate those __________, __________ women."

“I hate those hard-eyed, dough-faced women.” (Act Two - Gerald about women at the Palace Bar)

"I was in that state when a __________ easily turns __________"

“I was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty” (Act Three - Eric about assaulting Eva)

"the girl's __________ and we all __________ to kill her"

“the girl’s dead and we all helped to kill her” (Act Three - Eric to the whole family)

"We don't live __________. We are members of one __________."

“We don’t live alone. We are members of one body.” (Act Three - The Inspector)