This GCSE English Literature quiz looks at character in An Inspector Calls by JB Priestley.
J. B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls has only seven characters: Inspector Goole, Mr Birling, Mrs Birling, Sheila Birling, Eric Birling, Gerald Croft and Edna, who works in the family home. Eva Smith, a woman whose death is the catalyst for the events of the play, overshadows the drama without ever appearing. All that we learn of her is through the questioning of the Inspector and the recollections of others. In fact, she is not necessarily one person, but instead an amalgamation of the many young women with whom the family have come into contact.
Like Eva, the Birlings are symbolic of other members of their class: Mr Birling stands for wealthy bosses and Mrs Birling for wealthy, under-occupied women who wield influence through charity.
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Sheila and Eric represent the young members of their class who are expected to follow in their parents' footsteps but are at the same time more open to change. Gerald, who is older than the two younger Birlings, seems firmly set on becoming like the older generation. Edna fulfils a practical role in announcing the Inspector and answering the door. How does the family's attitude to Edna shed light on their attitudes to the working class?
In this play, the characters are not merely symbolic, however, but are also shown to be individuals. Does this statement apply to the Inspector himself? Do you consider him as a character, or as representative of something abstract, such as "conscience", or "justice"?
Character is extremely important in drama because it is one of the most significant ways through which the audience understands the text. See how well you understand the characters in An Inspector Calls by answering the questions below.
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1.
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At the beginning of Act One, Mr Birling is described as being 'rather provincial in his speech'. What does this mean? |
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[ ] |
Mr Birling speaks in an aristocratic manner |
[ ] |
Mr Birling has a Northern accent |
[ ] |
Mr Birling uses a regional dialect in his speech |
[ ] |
Mr Birling speaks English with a foreign accent |
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2.
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Mrs Birling is described as being 'cold'. Which of the following quotations best demonstrates this quality? |
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[ ] |
"And in any case I don't suppose for a moment that we can understand why the girl committed suicide. Girls of that class - " |
[ ] |
"No - Eric - please - I didn't know - I didn't understand - " |
[ ] |
"Didn't I tell you? Didn't I say I couldn't imagine a real police inspector talking like that to us?" |
[ ] |
"I beg your pardon!" |
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3.
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Which of the following does NOT accurately describe Gerald? |
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Confident |
[ ] |
Well-bred |
[ ] |
A bit of a dandy |
[ ] |
Capable of dishonesty |
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4.
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Which of the following best describes Sheila's character as she appears during the family celebration? |
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Empathetic |
[ ] |
Depressive |
[ ] |
Fearful |
[ ] |
Playful |
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5.
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Which of the following does NOT describe the Inspector? |
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Self-interested |
[ ] |
Firm |
[ ] |
Purposeful |
[ ] |
Determined |
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6.
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Which one of the following adjectives does NOT describe Eric? |
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[ ] |
Young |
[ ] |
Stable |
[ ] |
Immature |
[ ] |
Petulant |
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7.
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Mr Birling is described as 'portentous'. Which of the following quotes best demonstrates this characteristic? |
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[ ] |
"What's the matter with that child?" |
[ ] |
"He had a bit of information, left by the girl, and made a few smart guesses" |
[ ] |
"Rubbish! Do you know what happened to this girl after she left my works?" |
[ ] |
"Perhaps I ought to warn you that he's an old friend of mine, and that I see him fairly frequently. We play golf together sometimes up at the West Brumley" |
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8.
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"The rude way he spoke to Mr Birling and me - it was quite extraordinary!" - Mrs Birling's exclamation illustrates which aspect of her character? |
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[ ] |
Her calm good sense |
[ ] |
Her tender maternal nature |
[ ] |
Her continual feeling of rage against the world |
[ ] |
A firm belief in her own superiority |
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9.
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Which of the following best describes Sheila's attitude at hearing of the events which befell Eva Smith? |
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[ ] |
Indifferent |
[ ] |
Empathetic |
[ ] |
Hysterical |
[ ] |
Secretive |
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10.
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Which of the following characteristics is evident in Gerald's treatment of Daisy Renton? |
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[ ] |
Warmth |
[ ] |
Kindness |
[ ] |
Selfishness |
[ ] |
All of the above |
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1.
|
At the beginning of Act One, Mr Birling is described as being 'rather provincial in his speech'. What does this mean? |
|
[ ] |
Mr Birling speaks in an aristocratic manner |
[ ] |
Mr Birling has a Northern accent |
[x] |
Mr Birling uses a regional dialect in his speech |
[ ] |
Mr Birling speaks English with a foreign accent |
|
|
2.
|
Mrs Birling is described as being 'cold'. Which of the following quotations best demonstrates this quality? |
|
[x] |
"And in any case I don't suppose for a moment that we can understand why the girl committed suicide. Girls of that class - " |
[ ] |
"No - Eric - please - I didn't know - I didn't understand - " |
[ ] |
"Didn't I tell you? Didn't I say I couldn't imagine a real police inspector talking like that to us?" |
[ ] |
"I beg your pardon!" |
|
|
3.
|
Which of the following does NOT accurately describe Gerald? |
|
[ ] |
Confident |
[ ] |
Well-bred |
[x] |
A bit of a dandy |
[ ] |
Capable of dishonesty |
|
|
4.
|
Which of the following best describes Sheila's character as she appears during the family celebration? |
|
[ ] |
Empathetic |
[ ] |
Depressive |
[ ] |
Fearful |
[x] |
Playful |
|
|
5.
|
Which of the following does NOT describe the Inspector? |
|
[x] |
Self-interested |
[ ] |
Firm |
[ ] |
Purposeful |
[ ] |
Determined |
|
|
6.
|
Which one of the following adjectives does NOT describe Eric? |
|
[ ] |
Young |
[x] |
Stable |
[ ] |
Immature |
[ ] |
Petulant |
|
|
7.
|
Mr Birling is described as 'portentous'. Which of the following quotes best demonstrates this characteristic? |
|
[ ] |
"What's the matter with that child?" |
[ ] |
"He had a bit of information, left by the girl, and made a few smart guesses" |
[ ] |
"Rubbish! Do you know what happened to this girl after she left my works?" |
[x] |
"Perhaps I ought to warn you that he's an old friend of mine, and that I see him fairly frequently. We play golf together sometimes up at the West Brumley" |
|
|
8.
|
"The rude way he spoke to Mr Birling and me - it was quite extraordinary!" - Mrs Birling's exclamation illustrates which aspect of her character? |
|
[ ] |
Her calm good sense |
[ ] |
Her tender maternal nature |
[ ] |
Her continual feeling of rage against the world |
[x] |
A firm belief in her own superiority |
|
|
9.
|
Which of the following best describes Sheila's attitude at hearing of the events which befell Eva Smith? |
|
[ ] |
Indifferent |
[x] |
Empathetic |
[ ] |
Hysterical |
[ ] |
Secretive |
|
|
10.
|
Which of the following characteristics is evident in Gerald's treatment of Daisy Renton? |
|
[ ] |
Warmth |
[ ] |
Kindness |
[ ] |
Selfishness |
[x] |
All of the above |
|
|