Untitled Flashcards Set

1. Q: What does Arthur Birling’s quote "A man has to make his own way" represent?

   • A: It reflects his capitalist, individualistic mindset, rejecting social responsibility. It symbolizes the self-centered upper class, which Priestley critiques.

2. Q: How does the quote "Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable" make Mr. Birling look to the audience?

   • A: The dramatic irony here makes Birling look foolish, highlighting his arrogance and ignorance, symbolizing Priestley’s critique of capitalist overconfidence.

3. Q: What does Sybil Birling’s line "I did nothing I’m ashamed of or that won’t bear investigation" reveal?

   • A: It shows her moral blindness, lack of remorse, and inability to empathize with Eva. It underscores Priestley’s critique of the upper class’s cold indifference.

4. Q: How does Sybil’s phrase "As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money" contribute to her characterization?

   • A: It reveals her prejudice and dehumanization of Eva, exposing the classist attitude Priestley criticizes in society’s elite.

5. Q: What shift does Sheila Birling’s line "But these girls aren’t cheap labor – they’re people" represent?

   • A: It marks her shift to social awareness, rejecting capitalist values and highlighting Priestley’s message about the potential for the younger generation to change.

6. Q: What does Eric’s line "We did her in all right" reveal about him?

   • A: It shows his acceptance of collective responsibility and his remorse, contrasting with his parents’ attitudes. Eric symbolizes Priestley’s hope for social awareness among the younger generation.

7. Q: How does the Inspector’s line "We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other" reflect Priestley’s message?

   • A: It conveys Priestley’s central theme of social responsibility, advocating for unity and collective moral duty, contrasting with Birling’s individualism.

Theme Flashcards

1. Q: What theme does Mr. Birling’s line "Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable" reinforce, and how?

   • A: It reinforces the theme of ignorance and social complacency, symbolizing the arrogance of the upper class and the dangers of blind confidence in progress.

2. Q: How does the theme of generational conflict manifest in An Inspector Calls?

   • A: Through the differing attitudes of the older Birlings, who reject change, and the younger generation (Sheila and Eric), who show empathy and willingness to take responsibility.

3. Q: What does the Inspector mean by saying "There are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths"?

   • A: He uses Eva as a symbol of the working class, emphasizing the widespread suffering caused by inequality and urging the audience to recognize collective responsibility.

Structural Techniques Flashcards

1. Q: How does Priestley use dramatic irony in An Inspector Calls?

   • A: He uses it to make Mr. Birling appear foolish, as the audience knows about the Titanic and World Wars. It emphasizes Priestley’s critique of the ignorance of the upper class.

2. Q: Why is the Inspector Goole considered a moral figure in the play?

   • A: As a catalyst and a moral guide, he prompts each character to confront their sins, aligning the play with the morality play tradition and emphasizing collective moral duty.

3. Q: How does Priestley use the three unities (time, place, and action) in the play?

   • A: By confining the play to one evening, one room, and one plotline, Priestley creates intense immediacy and traps the characters in a setting where they must confront their actions.

4. Q: What purpose does the cliffhanger ending serve in An Inspector Calls?

   • A: It reinforces the unfinished moral reckoning, leaving the audience questioning the characters’ true change and reminding them of the cyclical nature of social issues.

5. Q: How does Priestley’s use of circular structure impact the play’s message?

   • A: It suggests a moral cycle where failure to accept responsibility will bring repeated consequences, emphasizing the importance of learning from mistakes.

6. Q: How do entrances and exits serve to build tension in the play?

   • A: Key entrances and exits, like the Inspector’s arrival and Sheila’s re-entrance with a new attitude, symbolize shifts in tone and character growth, adding tension and illustrating moral changes.

Dramatic Techniques Flashcards

1. Q: How does Priestley use foreshadowing in the play?

   • A: Foreshadowing in Mr. Birling’s statements about success and Sheila’s comment about “giving us the rope” suggests the characters’ downfall and reinforces the inevitability of moral accountability.

2. Q: How does the Inspector’s name and presence serve as a symbol in the play?

   • A: Inspector Goole (suggestive of “ghost”) represents a moral conscience, symbolizing a supernatural or ethical force that judges the Birlings and embodies Priestley’s socialist ideals.

3. Q: How do lighting and stage directions enhance the play’s themes?

   • A: The lighting shifts from "pink and intimate" to "brighter and harder" with the Inspector’s arrival, symbolizing moral scrutiny and exposing hidden truths.

4. Q: What is the symbolic significance of Eva Smith in the play?

   • A: Eva represents the oppressed working class. Her common name suggests she’s a symbol for many others, underscoring Priestley’s critique of social inequality.

5. Q: What does the Inspector’s technique of interrogating each character in turn achieve?

   • A: It builds suspense as each revelation intensifies the characters’ accountability, gradually exposing their moral failings and reinforcing the theme of collective responsibility.