AN INSPECTOR CALLS – Themes
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Arthur Birling- key ideas - CORRECT ANSWER - 7 sins: GREED
Arrogant, opinionated, pompous, narrow minded
Provincial accent and vocabulary, stubbornly lacking in subtlety, give evidence of his upward
social mobility
Dominant and controlling
Priestley discredits him using dramatic irony
His view of this future prosperity are naive and with hindsight, unfounded suggesting...
His political and ideological ideas are flawed
Believes progress is measured by industrial advances
Makes desperate gestures that seem futile in the face of the Inspector- weak and backward
looking
Demonstrates the generation gap as he has issues with Eric
Brings the audience to respond in frustration
Represents an obstacle HOWEVER reassures us that with the passing of Edwardian age and the
knowledge of the next 30 years
He is the past
Sybil Birling- Key ideas - CORRECT ANSWER - 7 sins: PRIDE
Cold, lacking emotions- a product of Victorian stoicisim
Socially superior to her husband
Different to Mr Birling: aware of the differences between the social classes yet seeks to maintain
the status quo
Incapable of humility, self-examination:
Believes that because of their position in the community they are above criticism
Insulated by her husbands wealth
, Motivated by her controlling nature
Embodiment of what is obnoxious of the ruling class
The most resistant to the Inspector
Grasps eagerly at the idea that if the Inspector is not genuine, they can and indeed go on
behaving as they have
Gerald- key ideas - CORRECT ANSWER - Irresponsible, insulated
His duplicitous and complacent way of life will jeopardise his plan to marry Sheila- punishment?
To marry Sheila would be to ignore his misbehaviour
Does not admit his involvement at first in an attempt to protect his interests
Gerald drives the theory that the Inspector is fake
Does not change by the end of the play, protects his reputation
Birling's ideal son. To him, Gerald represents integrity and guarantees profit HOWEVER he
repeats an ongoing lie
Eric- key ideas - CORRECT ANSWER - 7 sins: Lust
Awkward and unsure of himself- a product of his parent's behaviour
Clear tension between his father, resents him for his coldness and distance
Challenges his father
Has no support, neglected
Frustration motivates his behaviour and heavy drinking
Explosive- unequipped to reach the outside world
Sense of sympathy shared with Sheila, both ashamed of their parents
A sense of responsibility upon discovering Eva's preganancy
Guilty and remorseful HOWEVER unhappy, rebellious, weak young man. Not a leader who can
drive forward reform
Sheila- key ideas - CORRECT ANSWER - 7 sins: ENVY
Frivolous, carefree, vain, jealous, vengeful
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Arthur Birling- key ideas - CORRECT ANSWER - 7 sins: GREED
Arrogant, opinionated, pompous, narrow minded
Provincial accent and vocabulary, stubbornly lacking in subtlety, give evidence of his upward
social mobility
Dominant and controlling
Priestley discredits him using dramatic irony
His view of this future prosperity are naive and with hindsight, unfounded suggesting...
His political and ideological ideas are flawed
Believes progress is measured by industrial advances
Makes desperate gestures that seem futile in the face of the Inspector- weak and backward
looking
Demonstrates the generation gap as he has issues with Eric
Brings the audience to respond in frustration
Represents an obstacle HOWEVER reassures us that with the passing of Edwardian age and the
knowledge of the next 30 years
He is the past
Sybil Birling- Key ideas - CORRECT ANSWER - 7 sins: PRIDE
Cold, lacking emotions- a product of Victorian stoicisim
Socially superior to her husband
Different to Mr Birling: aware of the differences between the social classes yet seeks to maintain
the status quo
Incapable of humility, self-examination:
Believes that because of their position in the community they are above criticism
Insulated by her husbands wealth
, Motivated by her controlling nature
Embodiment of what is obnoxious of the ruling class
The most resistant to the Inspector
Grasps eagerly at the idea that if the Inspector is not genuine, they can and indeed go on
behaving as they have
Gerald- key ideas - CORRECT ANSWER - Irresponsible, insulated
His duplicitous and complacent way of life will jeopardise his plan to marry Sheila- punishment?
To marry Sheila would be to ignore his misbehaviour
Does not admit his involvement at first in an attempt to protect his interests
Gerald drives the theory that the Inspector is fake
Does not change by the end of the play, protects his reputation
Birling's ideal son. To him, Gerald represents integrity and guarantees profit HOWEVER he
repeats an ongoing lie
Eric- key ideas - CORRECT ANSWER - 7 sins: Lust
Awkward and unsure of himself- a product of his parent's behaviour
Clear tension between his father, resents him for his coldness and distance
Challenges his father
Has no support, neglected
Frustration motivates his behaviour and heavy drinking
Explosive- unequipped to reach the outside world
Sense of sympathy shared with Sheila, both ashamed of their parents
A sense of responsibility upon discovering Eva's preganancy
Guilty and remorseful HOWEVER unhappy, rebellious, weak young man. Not a leader who can
drive forward reform
Sheila- key ideas - CORRECT ANSWER - 7 sins: ENVY
Frivolous, carefree, vain, jealous, vengeful
