An Inspector Calls - Themes test questions - CCEA - GCSE English Literature Revision

1

Read the extract and answer the following questions:

Sheila (Distressed)

Don't please - I know, I know - and I can't stop thinking about it.

Inspector (Ignoring this)

Now Miss Birling has just been made to understand what she did to this girl. She feels responsible. And if she leaves us now, and doesn't hear any more, then she'll feel she's entirely to blame, she'll be alone with her responsibility, the rest of tonight, all tomorrow, all the next night--

Sheila (eagerly)

Yes, that's it. And I know I'm to blame - and I'm desperately sorry - but I can't believe - I won't believe - it's simply my fault that in that in the end she - she committed suicide. That would be too horrible -

Inspector (sternly to them both)

You see, we have to share something. If there's nothing else, we'll have to share our guilt.

Act Two

What theme does this extract highlight?

Class

Gender

Social responsibility

2

How does Sheila react to the suggestion that she is responsible?

She denies any responsibility

She accepts that she is responsible but hopes that it is not down to her alone

She accepts that she is entirely responsible

3

What does the Inspector suggest here?

That we have to share even negative things like guilt

That we should be responsible for our achievements

That the guilt for Eva's death should be upon one person

4

Read the following extract and answer the questions:

Birling

Now you three young people, just listen to this - and remember what I’m telling you now. In twenty or thirty year's time - let's say, in 1940 - you may be giving a little party like this - your son or daughter might be getting engaged - and I tell you, by that time you'll be living in a world that'll have forgotten all these capital versus labour agitations and all these silly little war scares. There'll be peace and prosperity and rapid progress everywhere - except of course in Russia, which will always be behindhand naturally.

Act One

What theme does this extract highlight?

Gender

Age

Class

5

What does this extract tell us about the older characters?

That they have strong opinions

That we should listen to them and pay attention to what they say

That they have a lot to say but often their views are badly informed

6

How does the language Birling uses show his over confidence?

He says - "I'm telling you" and "I tell you"

He mentions that the younger characters might have children

He thinks there will be peace in the future

7

Read the following extract and answer the questions:

Birling

(taking it in the same manner) Yes, you don't know what some of these boys get up to nowadays. More money to spend and time to spare than I had when I was Eric’s age. They worked us hard in those days and kept us short of cash. Though even then - we broke out and had a bit of fun sometimes.

Gerald

I’ll bet you did.

Birling (solemnly)

But this is the point. I don't want to lecture you two young fellows again. But what so many of you don't seem to understand now, when things are so much easier, is that a man has to make his own way - has to look after himself - and his family too, of course, when he has one - and so long as he does that he won't come to much harm.

Act One

What theme does this extract highlight?

Class

Age

Gender

8

What is Mr Birling suggesting about gender?

That it is a man's job to look after women and the family

That women and men should contribute to the household equally

He has had an affair with Eva Smith

9

Read the following extract and answer the questions:

Birling

Thanks. (confidentially.) By the way, there's something I’d like to mention - in strict confidence - while we're by ourselves. I have an idea that your mother - Lady Croft - while she doesn't object to my girl - feels you might have done better for yourself socially -

Gerald

[Gerald, rather embarrassed, begins to murmur some dissent, but Birling checks him.]

Birling (solemnly)

No, Gerald, that's all right. Don't blame her. She comes from an old county family - landed people and so forth - and so it's only natural. But what I wanted to say is - there's a fair chance that I might find my way into the next Honours List. Just a knighthood, of course.

Act One

What theme does this extract highlight?

Age

Social responsibility

Class

10

What does Arthur suggest about the upper classes looking down on lower classes?

He suggests that it is not a good thing for the upper classes to do

He suggests that he knows that the upper classes look down on lower classes but it is only natural

He suggests that class is not really an issue in pre-war Britain