Theme Quote Technique Analysis
Age Mr Birling: “Why, you Dashes, For Mr Birling, there is something
hysterical young fool fragmente inherently foolish about the younger
– get back – or I’ll” d generation. His frustration with the
sentence younger generation is exemplified
structure through the fragmented sentence.
Mr Birling: “the Sarcasm Mr Birling is mocking the younger
famous younger generation, even though it is the younger
generation who know generation in the play that maturely take
it all” responsibility for their actions.
Eric: “You’re Eric can see through his parents ignorance
beginning to pretend and damage control. Eric’s conscience
now that nothing’s overrides his need to maintain his façade,
really happened at whereas this is not the case for his
all.” parents.
Eric: “The fact Repetition The younger generation in this play are
remains that I did honest and eventually admit their faults
what I did.” after confronted by Inspector Goole. Eric
refuses to try to cover his part up.
Mrs Birling: “There'll Exclamativ The older generation will do anything to
be a public scandal! e protect themselves: Mrs Birling lies to the
sentence Inspector when he first shows her the
photograph out of fear that she will bring
dishonour to her name, without regard
for Eva Smith.
Class Mrs Birling: “As if a Euphemis Mrs Birling discusses the moment when
girl of that sort would m, Eva approached her charity. Mrs Birling
ever refuse money!” exclamativ has preconceptions about working-class
e girls suggesting that they lack morals and
sentence will always take money.
Gerald: “He’s a Colloquiali Joe Meggarty (who Gerald is referring to)
notorious womaniser sm is an 'Alderman' or a council member. The
as well as being one rest of the family are shocked to hear that
of the worst sots and he is a 'sot' (another word for a drunk),
rogues in Brumley” and a womaniser (even though they are in
the presence of a drunk- Eric, and a
womaniser- Gerald). Much to the Birlings'
surprise, their upper-class friends can
behave badly.
Mr Birling: “If you Hyperbole Mr Birling discusses how he sacked Eva
don’t come down Smith after she had gone on strike.
sharply on some of He feels that it is his responsibility to
these people, they’d come down 'sharply' on 'these people'.
soon be asking for the Priestley wanted the audience to realise
earth” the consequences of the middle class
taking an inhumane approach to those
, who assist them.
Mr Birling: “Perhaps I Mr Birling attempts to assert social
ought to warn you authority Inspector through his status and
that he’s an old friend rank in society, showing Mr Birling
of mine, and that I see believed he was more important than an
him fairly frequently.” Inspector. He reminds the Inspector of his
relationship with the Chief Constable.
Social Inspector Goole: “It’s Symbolism Here the Inspector is suggesting that it is
Respon better to ask for the , socially irresponsible to be greedy and
sibility earth than to take it.” hyperbole 'take' things without permission. This is a
practice the privileged Birlings would be
used to.
Mrs Birling: “I should Short, In telling Eric that she is ashamed of him
think not. Eric, I’m imperative she shows that she has learned nothing
absolutely ashamed sentences from the Inspector’s investigation. The
of you” audience would know that she is in no
position to be questioning the behaviour
of anyone else given her own treatment
of Eva Smith and lack of social
responsibility.
Mr Birling: “You’re Scalding Much like his wife, Mr Birling is looking
the one I blame for tone for somewhere else to assign blame. Their
this” inability to take responsibility for their
actions is an embarrassment, especially
given that their children have done so.
Mr Birling: “If we Rhetorical Mr Birling dismisses the idea that we
were all responsible question should be responsible for each other,
for everything that suggesting that such a situation would be
happened to 'awkward'. The rhetorical question
everybody, we’d had suggests that he expects his family to
anything to do with, it agree with him.
would be very
awkward, wouldn’t
it?”
Sheila: “These girls Dash, (Says this in response to Mr.Birling calling
aren’t cheap labour- imagery, the girls cheap labour.) This is perhaps a
they’re people.” declarativ sign of Sheila starting to display more
e socialist views. The declarative sentence
sentence shows Sheila is certain of what she is
saying and standing up to her father.
Priestley's is making a subtle social
commentary on how socialism is more
compassionate than Capitalism.
Gender Mr Birling: “A man Short This explains why Mr Birling is so eager
has to make his own declarativ for Sheila to marry Gerald. Not only does
way.” e association with Gerald’s middle class
sentence. family give the Birling’s increased status
Age Mr Birling: “Why, you Dashes, For Mr Birling, there is something
hysterical young fool fragmente inherently foolish about the younger
– get back – or I’ll” d generation. His frustration with the
sentence younger generation is exemplified
structure through the fragmented sentence.
Mr Birling: “the Sarcasm Mr Birling is mocking the younger
famous younger generation, even though it is the younger
generation who know generation in the play that maturely take
it all” responsibility for their actions.
Eric: “You’re Eric can see through his parents ignorance
beginning to pretend and damage control. Eric’s conscience
now that nothing’s overrides his need to maintain his façade,
really happened at whereas this is not the case for his
all.” parents.
Eric: “The fact Repetition The younger generation in this play are
remains that I did honest and eventually admit their faults
what I did.” after confronted by Inspector Goole. Eric
refuses to try to cover his part up.
Mrs Birling: “There'll Exclamativ The older generation will do anything to
be a public scandal! e protect themselves: Mrs Birling lies to the
sentence Inspector when he first shows her the
photograph out of fear that she will bring
dishonour to her name, without regard
for Eva Smith.
Class Mrs Birling: “As if a Euphemis Mrs Birling discusses the moment when
girl of that sort would m, Eva approached her charity. Mrs Birling
ever refuse money!” exclamativ has preconceptions about working-class
e girls suggesting that they lack morals and
sentence will always take money.
Gerald: “He’s a Colloquiali Joe Meggarty (who Gerald is referring to)
notorious womaniser sm is an 'Alderman' or a council member. The
as well as being one rest of the family are shocked to hear that
of the worst sots and he is a 'sot' (another word for a drunk),
rogues in Brumley” and a womaniser (even though they are in
the presence of a drunk- Eric, and a
womaniser- Gerald). Much to the Birlings'
surprise, their upper-class friends can
behave badly.
Mr Birling: “If you Hyperbole Mr Birling discusses how he sacked Eva
don’t come down Smith after she had gone on strike.
sharply on some of He feels that it is his responsibility to
these people, they’d come down 'sharply' on 'these people'.
soon be asking for the Priestley wanted the audience to realise
earth” the consequences of the middle class
taking an inhumane approach to those
, who assist them.
Mr Birling: “Perhaps I Mr Birling attempts to assert social
ought to warn you authority Inspector through his status and
that he’s an old friend rank in society, showing Mr Birling
of mine, and that I see believed he was more important than an
him fairly frequently.” Inspector. He reminds the Inspector of his
relationship with the Chief Constable.
Social Inspector Goole: “It’s Symbolism Here the Inspector is suggesting that it is
Respon better to ask for the , socially irresponsible to be greedy and
sibility earth than to take it.” hyperbole 'take' things without permission. This is a
practice the privileged Birlings would be
used to.
Mrs Birling: “I should Short, In telling Eric that she is ashamed of him
think not. Eric, I’m imperative she shows that she has learned nothing
absolutely ashamed sentences from the Inspector’s investigation. The
of you” audience would know that she is in no
position to be questioning the behaviour
of anyone else given her own treatment
of Eva Smith and lack of social
responsibility.
Mr Birling: “You’re Scalding Much like his wife, Mr Birling is looking
the one I blame for tone for somewhere else to assign blame. Their
this” inability to take responsibility for their
actions is an embarrassment, especially
given that their children have done so.
Mr Birling: “If we Rhetorical Mr Birling dismisses the idea that we
were all responsible question should be responsible for each other,
for everything that suggesting that such a situation would be
happened to 'awkward'. The rhetorical question
everybody, we’d had suggests that he expects his family to
anything to do with, it agree with him.
would be very
awkward, wouldn’t
it?”
Sheila: “These girls Dash, (Says this in response to Mr.Birling calling
aren’t cheap labour- imagery, the girls cheap labour.) This is perhaps a
they’re people.” declarativ sign of Sheila starting to display more
e socialist views. The declarative sentence
sentence shows Sheila is certain of what she is
saying and standing up to her father.
Priestley's is making a subtle social
commentary on how socialism is more
compassionate than Capitalism.
Gender Mr Birling: “A man Short This explains why Mr Birling is so eager
has to make his own declarativ for Sheila to marry Gerald. Not only does
way.” e association with Gerald’s middle class
sentence. family give the Birling’s increased status
