An Inspector Calls -Deep Analysis
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
How is the inspector's demeanour? - CORRECT ANSWER - He arrives at a critical time -
to interrupt Mr Birling and his selfish views: 'a man has to mind his own business and look after
himself and his own - and - We hear the sharp ring of a front doorbell.' The Inspector's role is to
show that this is not the case.
He is described in the stage directions as giving 'an impression of massiveness, solidity and
purposefulness'. He takes charge immediately and remains in control throughout. He remains
solid as each of them breaks down and nothing distracts him from his purpose.
He is clearly there to challenge and investigate. He has a habit of 'looking hard' at the person he
is interrogating before starting to speak. This unnerves the characters.
He directs the investigation carefully, dealing with 'one line of enquiry at a time'. Therefore, he is
controlling the structure of the play.
He is a teacher - to teach each character (and the audience) of the importance of social
responsibility.
He uses aggressive, shocking emotive language to make the characters feel guilty for the part
they played in Eva Smith's death: 'she died in misery and agony'
How does Priestley use the Inspector to voice his message on Social Responsibility? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Indeed, it may be said that An Inspector Calls is a play more
centred on themes and ideas than one driven by plot. Hence, Priestley uses a number of devices
throughout the text to convey his ideas about social responsibility - juxtaposition being perhaps
one of the more significant strategies employed by Priestley to highlight his ideas about the
community and social responsibility. Thus, when Mr Birling - a stereotypical construct of
Aristocratic English society - presents his monologue about the „unsinkable Titanic‟ and the
„scaremongers making a fuss about nothing‟, the audience are immediately made aware of his
ignorance and self-inflated, pompous attitude, thus casting doubt over his capitalist ideas about
„mind[ing] his own business‟. This, then, is in direct contrast to the Inspector‟s message on
socialism, further highlighted by the clever timing of the doorbell which is designed not only to
unnerve the audience and the characters, but to create a conflict between Mr Birling and the
Inspector.
This conflict between the Inspector and Arthur Birling serves as a powerful dichotomy of ideas -
between capitalism and socialism - and is thus amply exploited by Priestley to highlight both the
way things were in British society during the Pre-World War 1 era, and the immense need for
,change. This juxtaposition and power play, thus, add strength to the ideas presented by Priestley.
The use of the Inspector as author surrogate gives further credence to the socialist ideal and is
enforced through Priestley‟s clever crafting of characters; Birling who is set up as a
sanctimonious, arrogant, yet ignorant fool is juxtaposed by the Inspector - a modest, yet
informed individual who represents the common people; Mrs Birling who is clearly disliked by
Priestley himself, is portrayed as an egotistical, uncaring and self-important
how Priestley uses the inspector to get the message of social responsibility? further - CORRECT
ANSWER - The contrast between the characters of Mr and Mrs Birling to that of Sheila
and Eric also help to highlight the gradual change affecting pre-World War 1 society which led to
a demand for better working conditions for the working classes, and a smudging of those lines
which, until then, so uncompromisingly defined the social classes. Accordingly, the younger
generation - represented by the characters of Eric and Sheila - portray societal shifts towards
greater equality and, subsequently, become author surrogates to some extent, joining forces with
the Inspector to give further weight to Priestley‟s socialist ideal. The conflict between the
Inspector and Mr Birling are sustained not only by the use of dramatic irony to create a negative
impression of Birling and a lack credibility which impacts on the audience‟ perception of his
values, but through his shaping of the Inspector‟s character who, despite his muted and inferior
appearance, is revealed to be the most authoritative voice in the play; the almost transcendent,
god-like voice given to the Inspector by Priestley, which carries forward this vital message about
society, individuals and the need for human understanding and compassion, though ignored by
the two older members of the family, finds root in the hearts of the younger members- the
generation who will, in time, be responsible for shaping a new society, and thus, those who
matter most.
This authority stems not only from his role of Inspector, but through his persistent use of
Socratic questioning which is merciless and unforgiving towards the other characters despite
their social superiority. Moreover, Priestley‟s perpetual use of the word „authority‟ to describe
the Inspector‟s manner, tone and register, along with his frequent referral to the Inspector‟s
„cutting in‟ of other‟s speech, immediately gives hi
'The Inspector need not be a big man but he creates at once an impression of massiveness,
solidity and purposefulness.' 'cutting through, massively' - CORRECT ANSWER - The
Inspector assumes control, which is a disturbing shift for Birling and he immediately tries to
regain it. The Inspector interrupts Birling 'cutting through, massively'. The omniscient Inspector
is used by Priestley to further convey his views on collective / social responsibility. The
Inspector is used very effectively to highlight the corruption and the selfish attitudes of the
Edwardian society. Compare this description to Mr Birling at the beginning. Not physically large
but has authority and presence. The adjectives, massiveness and "solidity" almost feels he is that
solid, impenetrable object which will metaphorically sink this family. Notice again, he like Mr
Birling is also in his fifties. We, the audience, are being invited to compare these men. The three
,adjectives are significant as they are used to describe the presence of the inspector and
demonstrate his disruption to the natural hierarchy of the house. Each adjective, in a sense
elevates the inspector above Mr Birling. Structure of the language is important, the words appear
long visually and also verbally, heightening the idea that the Inspector is a huge power which
with only words will bring down a family.
'Cutting through massively' - CORRECT ANSWER - The directions describe the way the
Inspector talks to members of the family and is repeated constantly throughout the play to show
his power. The inspector is like the sharp sword of justice, cutting through the lies of the family.
Whenever Priestley describes the Inspector, he uses the semantic field of size: showing the sheer
importance of this man, and his power.
'We hear the sharp ring of the bell. Birling stops to listen.' - CORRECT ANSWER - The
inspector arrives just after Birling has made his capitalist speech and the "sharp ring of the bell"
interrupts his speech on "social responsibility, it is almost as if the inspector was summoned by
the words of avarice uttered out of Birling's mouth. The ring of the bell is "sharp" meaning that it
is almost cutting through Birling's words.
'dressed in a plain, darkish suit of the period' - CORRECT ANSWER - The adjective
"darkish" connotes an imagery of something ominous and sinister. The fact that the Inspector is
dressed in a "darkish suit of the period" could purport that the Inspector is going to inaugurate
some gloom and misery into the Birling family and the post-war audience in the reality of some
'darker' aspects of the Edwardian society, such as the growing division of the proletarians and
bourgeois, and the deep-rooted patriarchal society where rich Edwardian men, in particular, use
and abuse women due to their authority and status. The otherwise ignorant Birling family are
seeing the world through 'rose-tinted glasses' and believe "everything is alright". They are
unaware of the vast turmoil that many working class individuals faced due to their harrowing
actions. Priestley's motive here was to dress the Inspector plainly was to divert any attention on
his outward appearance and to have the audience focus on on the intended basis of the Inspector,
his dialect and the messages, such as social responsibility that Priestly wanted the audience to
procure. Or Perhaps this "plain...suit" could represent the Inspector's outward simplicity and
purity that Priestly wanted the Inspector to emit. By having him dressed so simply, it gives him a
neutral stance - the audience are unable to identify him as an affluent or working class individual.
'has a disconcerting habit of looking hard at the person' - CORRECT ANSWER - His
sense of mystery is quite ominous and means the audience and the characters are scared of him.
This could show that he is intimidating and that he is powerful before speaking as he has taken
time to strategically analyse and judge the person and what he is going to say beforehand. The
, stare suggests that he is able to read a person by looking at them and that he can discern what
they are thinking; a mind reader.
'The lighting should be pink and intimate until the Inspector arrives, and then it should be
brighter and harder.' - CORRECT ANSWER - The lighting presents the changing mood of
the play - the pink light suggests that the family see life through rose tinted glasses, they do not
see the reality of the impending war, the suffering of the working classes, etc. The harsher
lighting suggests the light of truth which the inspector brings with him. The light used in an
interrogation. It also reveals the truth about the family; they begin to see each other in a different
light. This particular usage of lighting is called a dramatic device, as it helps tension rise within
the play. everything is in a good ambiance until the arrival of the inspector. After the inspector
arrives the lighting becomes harder and brighter changing the mood of the play
"One person and one line of inquiry at a time" - CORRECT ANSWER - The effect on the
reader of the Inspectors systematic working is one of curiosity, it is not till the closure of the play
that we realise that this is due to the inspector enforcing the idea that he is a real policeman and
his ideas are not 'a whole lot of moonshine'. This allows the audience to reflect on the attributes
they share similar with each individual character in question. The Inspector uses commanding
language as he 'massively takes charge' to show that he has the floor and will be maintain the
authority. He uses instructive language, to, for a change, deny them something. Shelia says the
Inspector is giving the family 'rope so we'll hang ourselves', and this is an important part in the
overall structure of the play.
The Inspector uses Freytag's dramatic arc to evaluate 'one person' at any time and through this
allows the person to solely reflect on their actions alone. The inspectors method provides the
overall dynamic of the play.The idea of Freytag's dramatic arc ties in with the idea that each of
the characters questioned by the Inspector represent or uphold characteristics of the seven deadly
sins. Birling perhaps represents greed, Mrs Birling pride, Sheila envy and anger, both Gerald
Croft and Eric represent lust, however Eric also has traits of greed and laziness. The inspector is
attempting to rid each character of their deadly sin, and therefore the theme of the play revolves
around sin and responsibilities. Priestley's intended purpose for this is to use the inspector to
narrate and take the audience through a journey of how the family's harrow actions led to Eva's
suicide.
'A chain of events' - CORRECT ANSWER - In this fascinating excerpt, the Inspector
outlines the nature of the moral crime the Birlings and Gerald have committed against Eva. Each
of them is responsible in part for her death, and together they are entirely responsible (collective
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
How is the inspector's demeanour? - CORRECT ANSWER - He arrives at a critical time -
to interrupt Mr Birling and his selfish views: 'a man has to mind his own business and look after
himself and his own - and - We hear the sharp ring of a front doorbell.' The Inspector's role is to
show that this is not the case.
He is described in the stage directions as giving 'an impression of massiveness, solidity and
purposefulness'. He takes charge immediately and remains in control throughout. He remains
solid as each of them breaks down and nothing distracts him from his purpose.
He is clearly there to challenge and investigate. He has a habit of 'looking hard' at the person he
is interrogating before starting to speak. This unnerves the characters.
He directs the investigation carefully, dealing with 'one line of enquiry at a time'. Therefore, he is
controlling the structure of the play.
He is a teacher - to teach each character (and the audience) of the importance of social
responsibility.
He uses aggressive, shocking emotive language to make the characters feel guilty for the part
they played in Eva Smith's death: 'she died in misery and agony'
How does Priestley use the Inspector to voice his message on Social Responsibility? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Indeed, it may be said that An Inspector Calls is a play more
centred on themes and ideas than one driven by plot. Hence, Priestley uses a number of devices
throughout the text to convey his ideas about social responsibility - juxtaposition being perhaps
one of the more significant strategies employed by Priestley to highlight his ideas about the
community and social responsibility. Thus, when Mr Birling - a stereotypical construct of
Aristocratic English society - presents his monologue about the „unsinkable Titanic‟ and the
„scaremongers making a fuss about nothing‟, the audience are immediately made aware of his
ignorance and self-inflated, pompous attitude, thus casting doubt over his capitalist ideas about
„mind[ing] his own business‟. This, then, is in direct contrast to the Inspector‟s message on
socialism, further highlighted by the clever timing of the doorbell which is designed not only to
unnerve the audience and the characters, but to create a conflict between Mr Birling and the
Inspector.
This conflict between the Inspector and Arthur Birling serves as a powerful dichotomy of ideas -
between capitalism and socialism - and is thus amply exploited by Priestley to highlight both the
way things were in British society during the Pre-World War 1 era, and the immense need for
,change. This juxtaposition and power play, thus, add strength to the ideas presented by Priestley.
The use of the Inspector as author surrogate gives further credence to the socialist ideal and is
enforced through Priestley‟s clever crafting of characters; Birling who is set up as a
sanctimonious, arrogant, yet ignorant fool is juxtaposed by the Inspector - a modest, yet
informed individual who represents the common people; Mrs Birling who is clearly disliked by
Priestley himself, is portrayed as an egotistical, uncaring and self-important
how Priestley uses the inspector to get the message of social responsibility? further - CORRECT
ANSWER - The contrast between the characters of Mr and Mrs Birling to that of Sheila
and Eric also help to highlight the gradual change affecting pre-World War 1 society which led to
a demand for better working conditions for the working classes, and a smudging of those lines
which, until then, so uncompromisingly defined the social classes. Accordingly, the younger
generation - represented by the characters of Eric and Sheila - portray societal shifts towards
greater equality and, subsequently, become author surrogates to some extent, joining forces with
the Inspector to give further weight to Priestley‟s socialist ideal. The conflict between the
Inspector and Mr Birling are sustained not only by the use of dramatic irony to create a negative
impression of Birling and a lack credibility which impacts on the audience‟ perception of his
values, but through his shaping of the Inspector‟s character who, despite his muted and inferior
appearance, is revealed to be the most authoritative voice in the play; the almost transcendent,
god-like voice given to the Inspector by Priestley, which carries forward this vital message about
society, individuals and the need for human understanding and compassion, though ignored by
the two older members of the family, finds root in the hearts of the younger members- the
generation who will, in time, be responsible for shaping a new society, and thus, those who
matter most.
This authority stems not only from his role of Inspector, but through his persistent use of
Socratic questioning which is merciless and unforgiving towards the other characters despite
their social superiority. Moreover, Priestley‟s perpetual use of the word „authority‟ to describe
the Inspector‟s manner, tone and register, along with his frequent referral to the Inspector‟s
„cutting in‟ of other‟s speech, immediately gives hi
'The Inspector need not be a big man but he creates at once an impression of massiveness,
solidity and purposefulness.' 'cutting through, massively' - CORRECT ANSWER - The
Inspector assumes control, which is a disturbing shift for Birling and he immediately tries to
regain it. The Inspector interrupts Birling 'cutting through, massively'. The omniscient Inspector
is used by Priestley to further convey his views on collective / social responsibility. The
Inspector is used very effectively to highlight the corruption and the selfish attitudes of the
Edwardian society. Compare this description to Mr Birling at the beginning. Not physically large
but has authority and presence. The adjectives, massiveness and "solidity" almost feels he is that
solid, impenetrable object which will metaphorically sink this family. Notice again, he like Mr
Birling is also in his fifties. We, the audience, are being invited to compare these men. The three
,adjectives are significant as they are used to describe the presence of the inspector and
demonstrate his disruption to the natural hierarchy of the house. Each adjective, in a sense
elevates the inspector above Mr Birling. Structure of the language is important, the words appear
long visually and also verbally, heightening the idea that the Inspector is a huge power which
with only words will bring down a family.
'Cutting through massively' - CORRECT ANSWER - The directions describe the way the
Inspector talks to members of the family and is repeated constantly throughout the play to show
his power. The inspector is like the sharp sword of justice, cutting through the lies of the family.
Whenever Priestley describes the Inspector, he uses the semantic field of size: showing the sheer
importance of this man, and his power.
'We hear the sharp ring of the bell. Birling stops to listen.' - CORRECT ANSWER - The
inspector arrives just after Birling has made his capitalist speech and the "sharp ring of the bell"
interrupts his speech on "social responsibility, it is almost as if the inspector was summoned by
the words of avarice uttered out of Birling's mouth. The ring of the bell is "sharp" meaning that it
is almost cutting through Birling's words.
'dressed in a plain, darkish suit of the period' - CORRECT ANSWER - The adjective
"darkish" connotes an imagery of something ominous and sinister. The fact that the Inspector is
dressed in a "darkish suit of the period" could purport that the Inspector is going to inaugurate
some gloom and misery into the Birling family and the post-war audience in the reality of some
'darker' aspects of the Edwardian society, such as the growing division of the proletarians and
bourgeois, and the deep-rooted patriarchal society where rich Edwardian men, in particular, use
and abuse women due to their authority and status. The otherwise ignorant Birling family are
seeing the world through 'rose-tinted glasses' and believe "everything is alright". They are
unaware of the vast turmoil that many working class individuals faced due to their harrowing
actions. Priestley's motive here was to dress the Inspector plainly was to divert any attention on
his outward appearance and to have the audience focus on on the intended basis of the Inspector,
his dialect and the messages, such as social responsibility that Priestly wanted the audience to
procure. Or Perhaps this "plain...suit" could represent the Inspector's outward simplicity and
purity that Priestly wanted the Inspector to emit. By having him dressed so simply, it gives him a
neutral stance - the audience are unable to identify him as an affluent or working class individual.
'has a disconcerting habit of looking hard at the person' - CORRECT ANSWER - His
sense of mystery is quite ominous and means the audience and the characters are scared of him.
This could show that he is intimidating and that he is powerful before speaking as he has taken
time to strategically analyse and judge the person and what he is going to say beforehand. The
, stare suggests that he is able to read a person by looking at them and that he can discern what
they are thinking; a mind reader.
'The lighting should be pink and intimate until the Inspector arrives, and then it should be
brighter and harder.' - CORRECT ANSWER - The lighting presents the changing mood of
the play - the pink light suggests that the family see life through rose tinted glasses, they do not
see the reality of the impending war, the suffering of the working classes, etc. The harsher
lighting suggests the light of truth which the inspector brings with him. The light used in an
interrogation. It also reveals the truth about the family; they begin to see each other in a different
light. This particular usage of lighting is called a dramatic device, as it helps tension rise within
the play. everything is in a good ambiance until the arrival of the inspector. After the inspector
arrives the lighting becomes harder and brighter changing the mood of the play
"One person and one line of inquiry at a time" - CORRECT ANSWER - The effect on the
reader of the Inspectors systematic working is one of curiosity, it is not till the closure of the play
that we realise that this is due to the inspector enforcing the idea that he is a real policeman and
his ideas are not 'a whole lot of moonshine'. This allows the audience to reflect on the attributes
they share similar with each individual character in question. The Inspector uses commanding
language as he 'massively takes charge' to show that he has the floor and will be maintain the
authority. He uses instructive language, to, for a change, deny them something. Shelia says the
Inspector is giving the family 'rope so we'll hang ourselves', and this is an important part in the
overall structure of the play.
The Inspector uses Freytag's dramatic arc to evaluate 'one person' at any time and through this
allows the person to solely reflect on their actions alone. The inspectors method provides the
overall dynamic of the play.The idea of Freytag's dramatic arc ties in with the idea that each of
the characters questioned by the Inspector represent or uphold characteristics of the seven deadly
sins. Birling perhaps represents greed, Mrs Birling pride, Sheila envy and anger, both Gerald
Croft and Eric represent lust, however Eric also has traits of greed and laziness. The inspector is
attempting to rid each character of their deadly sin, and therefore the theme of the play revolves
around sin and responsibilities. Priestley's intended purpose for this is to use the inspector to
narrate and take the audience through a journey of how the family's harrow actions led to Eva's
suicide.
'A chain of events' - CORRECT ANSWER - In this fascinating excerpt, the Inspector
outlines the nature of the moral crime the Birlings and Gerald have committed against Eva. Each
of them is responsible in part for her death, and together they are entirely responsible (collective
