1. Fill-in-the-Gaps Mr Birling:
‘_________, rather _________ man in his middle fifties’
‘fairly _______ ________, but rather ________ in his speech.’
To Eric: ‘you’ve _ ___ __ _____ ___’
‘they’ll be _____ and ________ and rapid ________.’
Mrs. Birling:
‘a rather ____ ______’
‘husband’s _____ _________’
Sheila:
‘______ ____…very pleased with life and rather ________.’
‘m_____’ ‘d_____’
Eric:
‘not quite at ____, half ___, half ________’
Mr Birling:
‘heavy-looking, rather portentous man in his middle fifties’
‘fairly easy manners, but rather provincial in his speech.’
‘you’ve a lot to learn yet’
‘they’ll be peace and prosperity and rapid progress.’
Mrs. Birling:
‘a rather cold woman’
‘husband’s social superior’
Sheila:
‘pretty girl…very pleased with life and rather excited.’
‘mummy’ ‘daddy’
Eric:
‘not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive.’

2. An Inspector Calls Characterisation
Thursday, 20 September 2018Thursday, 20 September 2018
An Inspector Calls Characterisation
“It's the only time I’ve ever done anything like that, and I’ll never, never do it again to anybody.”
“This girl. Eva Smith, was one of them, she'd had a lot to say – far too much – so she had to go.”
To explore the characterisation of Arthur & Sheila Birling
To understand symbolism and its purpose in the play

3. The Inspector’s Interrogations
It is the Inspector’s task to reveal the truth about each character’s responsibility for Eva’s tragedy, confront deception (particularly self-deception) and peel away layers of self-protection. To do this, he often turns their own words and thoughts against characters.

4. “Why the devil do you want to do upsetting the child like that?”
Page/
Speaker
Line
Goole’s Response
Page 25,
Sheila
(speaking of Milwards): “I feel now I can never go there again. Oh – why had this to happen?”
Page 21,
Birling
“Why the devil do you want to do upsetting the child like that?”
Page 24,
“if I could help her now, I would –”
“We were having a nice little family celebration tonight. And a nasty mess you’ve made of it now, haven’t you?”
Page 22,
Gerald
“After all, y’know, were respectable citizens and not criminal.”

5. The Inspector’s Interrogations
How does the Inspector respond to each of these characters? What does his language and tone suggest? How does he encourage the Birling family to take responsibility for their actions?

6. Symbolic Characters
Characters can act as symbols, based on their actions, words, and personalities
Mr. Birling  _________________________
Sheila Birling  _________________________
Eva Smith  _________________________
Inspector Goole  _________________________

7. What do each of these characters stand for?
Birling vs Sheila
What do each of these characters stand for?

8. Sheila & Birling Analysis
Sheila’s social background
Sheila’s views about Eva
Sheila’s response to the crime & quotes
Birling’s social background
Birling’s views on the poor
Birling’s response to the crime & quotes

9. Birling as a symbol for capitalism

10. Sheila as a symbol for morality

11. Characters as Symbols PEELA #1: Sheila as a symbol
Two quotations proving your point
Language & technique analysis
Priestley's intention & 1945 audience reaction
PEELA #2: Mr. Birling as a symbol

12. Comprehension Questions
What is the mood in the room when Sheila enters? How does Sheila react to the Inspector’s news?
Why does Sheila react so violently to the photograph? How is Sheila’s reaction different to other characters’?
How is Sheila affected by her realisation?
Why did Priestley choose to have Sheila and Mr. Birling interrogated in the same Act one after the other?