Business Plan- Hair Salon - 4365 Words

Hot Heads Salon 1 Hot Heads Salon 1234 Beach Road Boynton Beach, FL 33426 (561) 123-1234 Business Plan Kelly C. Kern Michael Marzelli Misty Smith Entrepreneurship Dr. Lam Nguyen February 1, 2012 Hot Heads Salon 2 Table of Contents Company Information Environmental and Industry Analysis Products and Services Marketing Research Evaluation Marketing Plan Operations Plan Management Team Timeline Risks and Assumptions Community Benefits Exit Strategy Financial Plan Executive Summary Appendices Hot Heads Salon 3 Hot Heads Salon 1234 Beach Road Boynton Beach, FL 33426 (561) 123-1234 Business Plan Company Information Hot Heads Salon is designed to serve the Boynton Beach area with the highest quality hair services for the most economically†¦show more content†¦Complimentary goods are often sold in salons such as shampoos, brushes, and gels or sprays, these contribute revenue and many people purchase things because a stylist recommends them, similar to if a dentist recommends certain toothpaste. Popular industry-wide trends emerging are discounts on children’s haircuts, discounts for men getting haircuts and also getting shaved, and women getting discounts for getting a combination or services such as washing, dyeing, and cutting. Businesses are always exiting and entering the field, which is a testament to their service, good service and you will probably last, bad service and after the word Hot Heads Salon 6 spreads you will be lucky to make it out of the month in business. A multiple of things affect businesses coming and going such as the threat of new entrants, rivalry among competitors, and the threat of substitutes. Since there are so many shops often people can just go to another shop which is why you have to distinguish yourself, with new entrants always around the corner you have to make sure you establish a good location and customer base, this is what will keep you in business and successful. Since shops come by the dozens there is often competition and advertising in other shopsShow MoreRelatedBusiness Analysis : Marketing Strategy956 Words   |  4 PagesCOURSE: Diploma of Business Enterprise UNIT OF STUDY: Marketing ASSESSMENT TYPE: Individual Assignment ASSESSMENT TITLE: PART 2 Student id: 4496643 Student name: Harjot Kaur Sahota Teacher name: Rocco Gargano Table of contents: Executive summary†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Marketing objectives†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Target marketing†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦... Proposed marketing strategy†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Marketing budget†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Executive summary: The blush hair and beauty studio (salon) is located in RingwoodRead MoreBusiness Plan Essay examples606 Words   |  3 Pagestype of business you have created including: a. the product or service, and general staffing plan. Provide a rationale for your plan. b. The form of your business and the benefits it offers your particular business, c. A chart of accounts specific to your business, including a rationale as to the selection of each account. (Note: The chart of accounts is a blueprint of your business for the lender/investor. It should report the expected resources that you will consume in your business (assets)Read MoreEssay about Marketing Research844 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction In almost every business companies look to improve their bottom line, keep existing customers, and make non customers new customers. Several ways to achieve these corporate goals are available. Trial and error is one method. Following the industry and the competition is another avenue is taken. However, there is one way that many companies don’t utilize enough. It is through the process of market research. Take a local hair salon as an example. It is likely they will do plentyRead MoreWhat Is The Best Way / S Promote The Product Or Service? Essay1643 Words   |  7 Pagesabout your salon and the current events going on within your business will actually help customers remember who you are and why they chose you in the first place. Daily posts and updates are a habit that will successfully draw new business to your Facebook pages and eventually to your salon Place:  § What possible distribution channels are there for the product or service? †¢ e-business: The House of hair joins with the famous Booker website, the Demo of Booker to offer the House of Hair customer hasRead MoreEssay on Salon Services973 Words   |  4 PagesIn the hair salon industry there are salon services and retail products that make up the output. Because the services generate most of the salon’s business that is what I will consider as the final output. Possible services include haircuts, hair colors, perms, etc. There are many things that could affect the supply and demand for these services. Peoples income is a huge factor. When the economy is down and people are making less money or dont have jobs, the extras like highlights and hairstylesRead MoreMobile Salon Business Essay1058 Words   |  5 Pagesto the traditional salons to get their hair cut or nails done on the timely basic. By doing mobile salon, we offer customer the convenience of not having to drive to the salon and wait for their turns. Less driving time and more importantly it is a great service to Baby boomers populations who most of the time hesitating of doing too much driving. This service is also attractive to busy people. Mobile salon offers full services hair, nails, facial, make-up and eco-friendly salon which offers non-harmfulRead MoreOur Salon Is A Great Place For College Students1156 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction This Hair and Nail Salon is a great place for college students to be able to use our services without having to leave campus. Our salon offers hair care services such as coloring, cutting, and highlighting, so students can look their best while attending an amazing university. Our salon also offers nail care services such as manicures, pedicures, and gel, acrylic, and shellac polishes. This salon operates in the retail-service industry in the mid-price range for college students. TheRead MoreHow to Start a Beauty Salon1506 Words   |  7 PagesHow to Start a Beauty Salon Have you always dreamed of being successful in the beauty business? Here s how to launch and establish your very own beauty salon. Small Business Liability Setting up Shop 1. Figure out how much money you need. Starting a business can cost a lot of money, and most entrepreneurs don t turn a profit for the first year or two. Here s what to consider: Franchises under $10,000 Franchises for less than $10K. 100 s of low cost franchises. Franchise.FranchiseGatorRead MoreBusiness Plan: Smart Style Unisex Salon1576 Words   |  7 Pages Business Plan: Smart Style Unisex Salon Abstract The paper is a business plan for Smart Style Unisex Salon. It explains the type of business established and describes the products and services that the company offers, providing charts of projected accounts specific to the business, a chart of assets and liabilities, a pro-forma income statement. The paper describes the impact of the use of IFRS and the GAAP accounting standards. Description of the Business Smart Style Unisex Salon is aRead MoreCosmetology : Professional Skills And Practice Of Beautifying The Face, Hair, And Skin1072 Words   |  5 Pagesfirst haircut, when she heard â€Å"snip, snip, snip!† she knew I was the career for her. Cosmetology is known as the professional skill or practice of beautifying the face, hair, and skin. In cosmetology you must have a license, or a specialty certification, such as esthetician or hair styling license, certifying you can work in a salon to provide such a service. To receive your license, you must go through courses and classes depending on the state. Even though it takes time and money to get certified

King Lear Power Corrupts Essay - 1247 Words

King Lear; Power Corrupts Absolutely For years, power has been known to blind people from what really matters in life; it can lead to the demise of a person if it is not used responsibly. Shakespeare’s King Lear demonstrates how, because it is a sign of dominance and control, power becomes the poison behind the character’s actions. The lengths they are willing to go to in order to obtain this power are the cause of their problems. The play takes place in an era of hierarchy, where everyone has a societal role. Power’s intoxicating influences the characters to act rashly, disregard the feelings and opinions of others, betray one another, and break tradition. It is for these reasons, and because power is so enticing, that it becomes†¦show more content†¦Ignorance causes one to disregard the feelings and opinions of another. King Lear, who has fallen for his eldest daughter’s empty words, disregards Cordelia who refuses to take part in his ridiculous methods for choosing inheritors. Lear decides to send Cordelia away to France; a decision that angers a long-time friend and servant of Lear, Kent. Kent sums up the courage to speak against the King, â€Å"This hideous rashness. Answer my life my judgement/ Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least/ Nor are those empty-hearted whose low sound/ Reverbs no hollowness† (I.i.154-158). Kent encourages Lear to wait a while longer and allow destiny to take its course. Kent believes Lear’s daughters’ actions will speak much louder than their words. Lear was so self-empowered and prideful; however, that he solemnly believed love can be expressed through words. With this belief in mind he exercised his power on those who should matter the most; he sent his beloved daughter Cordelia, and faithful servant Kent, away, â€Å"Hear me, recreant! On thine allegiance hear me. / That thou hast sought to make us break out vows/ Which we durst never yet, and with strained pri de/ To come betwixt our sentence and our power† (I.i. 170-183). Lear’s power causes him to act ignorantly and rashly against the opinions of others, and therefore left him a blind man. Betrayal can become a powerful weaponShow MoreRelatedKing Lear - Power Corrupts798 Words   |  4 PagesPower is the ability to manipulate and control whatever one desires; to do what one pleases to do without answering to authority. The power that corrupts the characters plays an extensive role throughout Shakespeares play, King Lear. Goneril and Regan are corrupted by the power that Lear offers them. Edmunds corruption comes from the trust of his father. Absolute power corrupts absolutely with the characters, because once have full control, they are so cold that they will do anything to keep theRead More King Lear - Power Corrupts Essay773 Words   |  4 Pages Power is the ability to manipulate and control whatever one desires; to do what one pleases to do without answering to authority. The power that corrupts the characters plays an extensive role throughout Shakespeare’s play, King Lear. Goneril and Regan are corrupted by the power that Lear offers them. Edmund’s corruption comes from the trust of his father. Absolute power corrupts absolutely with the characters, because once have full control, they are so cold that they will do anything to keepRead More Tragedy Through Misreading in William Shakespeares King Lear975 Words   |  4 PagesTragedy Through Misreading in William Shakespeares King Lear Shakespeare’s tragedy, King Lear, portrays many important misconceptions which result in a long sequence of tragic events. The foundation of the story revolves around two characters, King Lear and Gloucester, and concentrates on their common flaw, the inability to read truth in other characters. For example, the king condemns his own daughter after he clearly misreads the truth behind her â€Å"dower,†(1.1.107) or honesty. Later, GloucesterRead MoreOzymandias By Percy Shelley And King Lear919 Words   |  4 Pagesself-confidence is expressed through writings like in, â€Å"Ozymandias† by Percy Shelley and King Lear by William Shakespeare. Many characters in literature become corrupted when having the ultimate power. Power is the root of all evil and the contractions and comparisons expressed will help, you, the reader pick a view point. Ultimate power has the ability to turn the strongest man into the weakest link. Percy Shelley relates power to be like a disease, and like a disease it pollutes anything it comes in contactRead MoreKing Lear By William Shakespeare1612 Words   |  7 Pagesoverarching theme that surrounds King Lear by William Shakespeare is justice to nearly all. The play opens in a royal â€Å"court,† but this court is unjust with wicked people such as King Lear, Goneril, Regan, Duke of Gloucester, Edmund, and numerous others. The justice does not come in this literal court, but the figurative court of nature. Stunningly reprimanded by two of his three daughters, along with the natural tempest that causes him to be enveloped by insanity King Lear is punished. Goneril and ReganRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s King Lear858 Words   |  4 Pagesconsidered to be evil and have evil intentions, but often has good hidden somewhere deep inside them. This is definitely the case for the character of Edmund in Shakespeare’s play â€Å"King Lear.† Edmund betrays and dec eives both his brother Edgar and his father Gloucester in order to achieve wealth and power. While his actions are corrupt and wrong, he should not be considered as entirely evil. His personality and his social status are contributing factors to his villainous actions. Throughout the play, EdmundRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s King Lear1320 Words   |  6 Pagesothers. Having strong communication skills allows one to better understand the situation at hand. Proper communication is essential to working out problems because of this reason. In the play King Lear by William Shakespeare, Lear communicating with his daughters, Gloucester communicating with his sons, and Lear communicating with Kent are all examples of failure of communication, which later lead to consequences and hardships that the characters must face. Without proper communication, people willRead MoreUnchecked Power in Shakespeares Macbeth and King Lear1458 Words   |  6 Pagescore. Numerous theories have been put for th to explain the sequence of tragedies Shakespeare wrote during this period by linking it to some experience of melancholy, anger, despair, and the antagonist s ultimate fall from grace in their lust for power. But such theories overlook the fact that it is in this very same period and in the same tragic works that portray the heights to which human nature can rise and fall in its purest and noblest, if not happiest terms. Surely the creation of so muchRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of King Lear963 Words   |  4 PagesA Child King At first glance, King Lear appears to be simply a selfish man who loses his wealth, his mind, and his life in that order. Sure, he learns a lesson, but it does not do much good because both he and his daughter, Cordelia, die before really making amends. In fact, most everyone dies before really getting anything good done. So why did Shakespeare bother writing this play? Well, Shakespeare was well known for having a deep understanding of mankind and portraying that understanding inRead MoreFemininity Of Shakespeare s Macbeth And King Lear1241 Words   |  5 PagesFemininity in Shakespeare’s Macbeth and King Lear William Shakespeare, arguably the greatest English writer of all time, uses his plays and characters to teach moral lessons. Often, he uses extreme examples and circumstances that seem excessive and unrealistic, but he seems to abide by the rule that Flannery O’Connor later articulated: â€Å"†¦to the hard of hearing you shout, and for the almost blind you draw large and startling figures† (Collected Works). In order to ensure that he got his point across

Exercise on Group Behavior Free Essays

Exercise on group behavior 1. Based on knowledge from your company group relate to and explain the 5-stage group development model and the punctuated equilibrium model (both very important for exam. Group analysis based on 5-stage model: * Forming. We will write a custom essay sample on Exercise on Group Behavior or any similar topic only for you Order Now Firs task was to find out people with the same level of motivation, expectations and similar point of view through the vision of business idea. After finally forming the company group another task was to find out the purpose of the project and understood why this experience could be useful for us (It took almost all day). Furthermore we had to take decisions about how group is going to look like and what tasks we have to do personally: we find out which persons are going to be leaders who are generating the idea and who are going to work with developing and presenting it. * Storming. Secondly we as a very fresh and inexperienced group had to come up with real and innovative business plan. It was the hardest part of all because we didn’t knew each other very good. We had many conflicts about different ideas while finally after many disagreements we find out the best decision of our idea. * Norming. During the working time our relationships grown up significantly. It became much easier to work with each other. We began to understand each other easily and that let us to improve our productivity skills in team work.. * Performing. With better relationships to each other our performing improved as well. Everybody knew what they had to do and was not afraid to consulate to other group members. We began to work very fast and effective. * Adjourning. Finally we easily wrote one page report and we are waiting for new activities. Group analysis based on punctuated equilibrium model: Our group development can be good example of punctuated equilibrium model. First day of our work was very efficient. We formed our group, created first business idea and tried to develop and analyzed it. However after a while working with lost things idea we come up with the decision that we are not able to develop and use it. Then it was period of trying to find new ideas. We had about 10 different solutions however we didn’t stick to none of them until the last day when we had to send one page report. Last minutes work helped us to create and generate good idea and present it to others. Based on knowledge on group development why do you think group work often starts with teambuilding activities like wild-life experiences, bowling, outdoor exercises etc.? In group development is very important feeling and atmosphere through the members. Good relationships and knowing each other are the main keys to productive and efficient work. Teambuilding activities give ability to underst and the way how other people are thinking, how active they are. Furthermore, people always feel much comfortable and relaxed in the known environment. As for my experience in teambuilding trip i can strongly agree that it was the best way to quickly get in the new team. 3. Explain how role conflicts might arise from role perceptions differing from role expectations (try to give a real life example that you have experienced). Personal example: In high school our student council (I was fresh member there) were organizing big event. Leading group announced that everybody can join them and take an active part in developing it. I with other â€Å"freshers† had many interesting thoughts and expectations however how come up in the end we were ably only to participate in cleaning after the party. As a result we felt exploited and misunderstood what caused big conflict between leading and new members. 4. Explain how conformity and status of group members effects team work . Conformity and status are very important part in group development. People are used to behave by first impression. Members who have more experience, are more talented or more self-confident (have higher status than other) are used to be treated as a leaders or be more respected from the first minute. It can have both positive and negative effects through the group. It is important that despite status everybody would have equal right to speak and realize themselves. Furthermore, People often conform from a desire for security within a group—typically a group of a similar age, culture, religion, or educational status. It can prevent people from new ideas and innovation. 5. Explain why group cohesiveness can be both positive and negative for team performance Positive performance| Negative performance| * Individuals are proud to be in the group and see group membership important. As a result they look seriously to the tasks, output and achievements of the group. * Members of cohesive groups deal with conflict openly and constructively. They develop and share values and team loyality. Cohesive groups increase job satisfaction and reduce stress. * When working toward a common goal group members can fill in for each others’ lack of knowledge or shortage of skill. | * Teams members have tendency to adopt similar behaviors that became group norm what can couse lowered productivity or lack of creativity and innovation * Group-think. It happ ens when individual group members lose the ability to think for themselves and rely on the group to make their decisions. * cohesive groups find it difficult to change their values, actions or behaviors, particularly when the change is driven by external forces. Opinions held by the majority or by key group members are regarded as unanimous and alternative views are discouraged| 6. Answer the questions in the â€Å"Ethical Dilemma† page 255 1) If group members end up ‘working around’ shirkers, do you think this information should be communicated to the instructor so that individual’s contribution to the project is judged more fairly? If so, does the group have an ethical responsibility to communicate this to the shirking group member? If not, isn’t the shirking group member unfairly reaping the rewards of a â€Å"free ride’’? Personally I believe that decision have to be made based on situation. I think that first of all group has to try to identify the problem why the member is not working. Maybe he/she has personal problems and can’t concentrate or he/she is not experienced enough that could face the task by himself. Furthermore, is very important to try to speak with the member and say your dissatisfaction directly instead of just throwing him out. If it doesn’t work then group must to communicate with instructor. 2) Do you think confronting the shrinking group member is justified? Does this depend on the skills of shirker (weather he is capable of doing good-quality work)? I believe that everything depends on situation and the task what members have to do. If person is able to do that but just is trying to avoid the work than it is justified. 3) Social loafing has been found to be higher in Western, more individual nations, that other countries. Do you think this means we should tolerate shirking in these countries to a greater degree than if it occurred with someone from more collectivistic nation? I think that social and cultural background has great influence to human character. This is the reason that group members have to be tolerant with each other and try to find the best working method. . Make case incident 2 page 256 1) What are some factors that led to groupthink in the cases described here? What can teams do to attempt to prevent groupthink from occurring? People have tendency not to make quick and efficient decisions. They are trying to avoid conflicts in the team and are not making changes related with a work. They tend to strict to more t raditional and safe decisions. I think that leader have to promote people to represent different ideas and not to be afraid of using different ways. 2) How might differences in status among group members contribute to groupthink? For example, how might lover-status members react to group’s decisions? Are lower-status members more or less likely to be dissenters? Why might higher-status group members be more effective dissenters? Status has very big impact through group members. Individuals with lower-status are tend to keep quietly and not make decisions. They pretend that situation is appropriate for them and company. Higher-status group members are mostly more active and innovative. 3) Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer says that he encourages dissent. Can such norms guard against the occurrence of groupthink? As a manager, how would you try to cultivate norms that prevent groupthink? I personally believe that encouraging dissent is one of the best ways against the occurrence of groupthink. It stimulates people to think and come up with new ideas or improve the old ones. I would choose the same way. 4) How might group characteristics such as size and cohesiveness affect groupthink? If group is very big and cohesive then it has big risk to be unsuccessful. People are not used to say their opinion or take action. I believe that smaller groups are working more efficient because they get more responsibilities. How to cite Exercise on Group Behavior, Essay examples

J. B. Priestleys life free essay sample

To understand the context of the play, its helpful to know a little about J B Priestleys life and his political views during the early 20th century a time of great global change. He wrote An Inspector Calls after the Second World War and like much of his work contains controversial, politically charged messages. Keen to pioneer a new morality in politics, Priestley’s chief concerns involved social inequality in Britain and the need for nuclear disarmament. The characters we see as the curtain rises are not the same as those at the plays conclusion. The events of the evening change everyone, as well as their Play written in 1945 Play set in 1912 The First World War would start in two years. Birlings optimistic view that there would not be a war is completely wrong. The Second World War ended on 8 May 1945. People were recovering from nearly six years of warfare, danger and uncertainty. There were strong Class distinctions had been distinctions between greatly reduced as a result the upper and lower of two world wars. classes. Women were subservient to men. All a well off women could do was get married; a poor woman was seen as cheap labour. The ruling classes saw no need to change the status quo. As a result of the wars, women had earned a more valued place in society. There was a great desire for social change. Immediately after The Second World War, Clement Attlees Labour Party won a landslide victory over Winston Churchill and the Conservatives. expectations of the future. Inspector Goole is instrumental in disturbing the harmony; a purposeful, mysterious character who forces the characters to confront each others social responsibility, snobbery and guilt. But is the inspector as genuine as he seems? All these changes take place because of the visit of Inspector Goole. But who is Inspector Goole? And who is the girl whose suicide he is apparently investigating? Priestley deliberately set his play in 1912 because the date represented an era when all was very different from the time he was writing. In 1912, rigid class and gender boundaries seemed to ensure that nothing would change. Yet by 1945, most of those class and gender divisions had been breached. Priestley wanted to make the most of these changes. Through this play, he encourages people to seize the opportunity the end of the war had given them to build a better, more caring society. Political views During the 1930s Priestley became very concerned about the consequences of social inequality in Britain, and in 1942 Priestley and others set up a new political party, the Common Wealth Party, which argued for public ownership of land, greater democracy, and a new morality in politics. The party merged with the Labour Party in 1945, but Priestley was influential in developing the idea of the Welfare State which began to be put into place at the end of the war. He believed that further world wars could only be avoided through cooperation and mutual respect between countries, and so became active in the early movement for a United Nations. And as the nuclear arms race between West and East began in the 1950s, he helped to found CND, hoping that Britain would set an example to the world by a moral act of nuclear disarmament. Mr Arthur Birling Arthur Birling †¢ †¢ He is described at the start as a heavy-looking, rather portentous man in his middle fifties but rather provincial in his speech. He has worked his way up in the world and is proud of his achievements. He boasts about having been Mayor and tries (and fails) to impress the Inspector with his local standing and his influential friends. †¢ However, he is aware of people who are his social superiors, which is why he shows off about the port to Gerald, its exactly the same port your father gets. He is proud that he is likely to be knighted, as that would move him even higher in social circles. †¢ He claims the party is one of the happiest nights of my life. This is not only because Sheila will be happy, but because a merger with Crofts Limited will be good for his business. He is optimistic for the future and confident that there will not be a war. As the audience knows there will be a war, we begin to doubt Mr Birlings judgement. (If he is wrong about the war, what else will he be wrong about? ) †¢ He is extremely selfish: o He wants to protect himself and his family. He believes that socialist ideas that stress the importance of the community are nonsense and that a man has to make his own way. o He wants to protect Birling and Co. He cannot see that he did anything wrong when he fired Eva Smith he was just looking after his business interests. He wants to protect his reputation. As the Inspectors investigations continue, his selfishness gets the better of him: he is worried about how the press will view the story in Act II, and accuses Sheila of disloyalty at the start of Act III. He wants to hide the fact that Eric stole money: Ive got to cover this up as soon as I can. At the end of the play, he knows he has lost the chance of his knighthood, his reputation in Brumley and the chance of Birling and Co. merging with their rivals. Yet he hasnt learnt the lesson of the play: he is unable to admit his responsibility for his part in Evas death. Mrs Sybil Birling Mrs Sybil Birling †¢ †¢ She is described at the start as about fifty, a rather cold woman and her husbands social superior. She is a snob, very aware of the differences between social classes. She is irritated when Mr Birling makes the social gaffe of praising the cook in front of Gerald and later is very dismissive of Eva, saying Girls of that class. †¢ She has the least respect for the Inspector of all the characters. She tries unsuccessfully to intimidate him and force him to leave, then lies to him when she claims that she does not recognise the photograph that he shows her. She sees Sheila and Eric still as children and speaks patronisingly to them. She tries to deny things that she doesnt want to believe: Erics drinking, Geralds affair with Eva, and the fact that a working class girl would refuse money even if it was stolen, claiming She was giving herself ridiculous airs. †¢ She admits she was prejudiced against the girl who applied to her committee for help and saw it as her duty to refuse to help her. Her narrow sense of morality dictates that the father of a child should be responsible for its welfare, regardless of circumstances. At the end of the play, she has had to come to terms that her son is a heavy drinker who got a girl pregnant and stole money to support her, her daughter will not marry a good social catch and that her own reputation within the town will be sullied. Yet, like her husband, she refuses to believe that she did anything wrong and doesnt accept responsibility for her part in Evas death. Sheila Birling Sheila Birling †¢ †¢ She is described at the start as a pretty girl in her early twenties, very pleased with life and rather excited. Even though she seems very playful at the opening, we know that she has had suspicions about Gerald when she mentions last summer, when you never came near me. Does this suggest that she is not as naive and shallow as she first appears? †¢ Although she has probably never in her life before considered the conditions of the workers, she shows her compassion immediately she hears of her fathers treatment of Eva Smith: But these girls arent cheap labour theyre people. Already, she is starting to change. †¢ †¢ She is horrified by her own part in Evas story. She feels full of guilt for her jealous actions and blames herself as really responsible. She is very perceptive: she realises that Gerald knew Daisy Renton from his reaction, the moment the Inspector mentioned her name. At the end of Act II, she is the first to realise Erics part in the story. Significantly, she is the first to wonder who the Inspector really is, saying to him, wonderingly, I dont understand about you. She warns the others hes giving us the rope so that well hang ourselves (Act II) and, near the end, is the first to consider whether the Inspector may not be real. She is curious. She genuinely wants to know about Geralds part in the story. Its interesting that she is not angry with him when she hears about the affair: she says that she respects his honesty. She is becoming more mature. †¢ She is angry with her parents in Act 3 for trying to pretend that nothing much has happened. Sheila says It frightens me the way you talk: she cannot understand how they cannot have learnt from the evening in the same way that she has. She is seeing her parents in a new, unfavourable light. †¢ At the end of the play, Sheila is much wiser. She can now judge her parents and Gerald from a new perspective, but the greatest change has been in herself: her social conscience has been awakened and she is aware of her responsibilities. The Sheila who had a girl dismissed from her job for a trivial reason has vanished forever. Eric Birling Eric Birling †¢ †¢ He is described at the start as in his early twenties, not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive. Eric seems embarrassed and awkward right from the start. The fist mention of him in the script is Eric suddenly guffaws, and then he is unable to explain his laughter, as if he is nervous about something. There is another awkward moment when Gerald, Birling and Eric are chatting about womens love of clothes before the Inspector arrives. Do you feel that there is tension in Erics relationship with his father? †¢ It soon becomes clear to us (although it takes his parents longer) that he is a hardened drinker. Gerald admits, I have gathered that he does drink pretty hard. †¢ †¢ When he hears how his father sacked Eva Smith, he supports the workers cause, like Sheila. Why shouldnt they try for higher wages? He feels guilt and frustration with himself over his relationship with the girl. He cries, Oh my God! how stupid it all is! as he tells his story. He is horrified that his thoughtless actions had such consequences. †¢ He had some innate sense of responsibility, though, because although he got a woman pregnant, he was concerned enough to give her money. He was obviously less worried about stealing (or borrowing from his fathers office) than he was about the girls future. So, was Eric, initially, the most socially aware member of the Birling family? He is appalled by his parents inability to admit their own responsibility. He tells them forcefully, Im ashamed of you. When Birling tries to threaten him in Act III, Eric is aggressive in return: I dont give a damn now. Do you think Eric has ever stood up to his father in this way before? †¢ At the end of the play, like Sheila, he is fully aware of his social responsibility. He is not interested in his parents efforts to cover everything up: as far as he is concerned, the important thing is that a girl is dead. We did her in all right. Gerald Croft Gerald Croft †¢ †¢ He is described as an attractive chap about thirty, rather too manly to be a dandy but very much the easy well-bred man-about-town. He is an aristocrat the son of Lord and Lady Croft. We realise that they are not over-impressed by Geralds engagement to Sheila because they declined the invitation to the dinner. †¢ He is not as willing as Sheila to admit his part in the girls death to the Inspector and initially pretends that he never knew her. Is he a bit like Mr Birling, wanting to protect his own interests? †¢ He did have some genuine feeling for Daisy Renton, however: he is very moved when he hears of her death. He tells Inspector Goole that he arranged for her to live in his friends flat because I was sorry for her; she became his mistress because She was young and pretty and warmhearted and intensely grateful. †¢ Despite this, in Act 3 he tries to come up with as much evidence as possible to prove that the Inspector is a fake because that would get him off the hook. It is Gerald who confirms that the local force has no officer by the name of Goole, he who realises it may not have been the same girl and he who finds out from the infirmary that there has not been a suicide case in months. He seems to throw his energies into protecting himself rather than changing himself (unlike Sheila). †¢ At the end of the play, he has not changed. He has not gained a new sense of social responsibility, which is why Sheila (who has) is unsure whether to take back the engagement ring. Inspector Goole Inspector Goole †¢ He is described on his entrance as creating an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness. He is a man in his fifties, dressed in a plain darkish suit. He speaks carefully, weightily, and has a disconcerting habit of looking hard at the person he addresses before actually speaking. He works very systematically; he likes to deal with one person and one line of enquiry at a time. His method is to confront a suspect with a piece of information and then make them talk or, as Sheila puts it, hes giving us the rope so that well hang ourselves. †¢ He is a figure of authority. He deals with each member of the family very firmly and several times we see him massively taking charge as disputes erupt between them. He is not impressed when he hears about Mr Birlings influential friends and he cuts through Mrs Birlings obstructiveness. He seems to know and understand an extraordinary amount: He knows the history of Eva Smith and the Birlings involvement in it, even though she died only hours ago. Sheila tells Gerald, Of course he knows. He knows things are going to happen He says Im waiting To do my duty just before Erics return, as if he expected Eric to reappear at exactly that moment †¢ He is obviously in a great hurry towards the end of the play: he stresses I havent much time. Does he know that the real inspector is shortly going to arrive? His final speech is like a sermon or a politicians. He leaves the family with the message We are responsible for each other and warns them of the fire and blood and anguish that will result if they do not pay attention to what he has taught them. †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ All this mystery suggests that the Inspector is not a real person. So, what is he? Is he a ghost? Goole reminds us of ghoul. Is he the voice of Priestley? Is he the voice of God? Is he the voice of all our consciences? Do you have any other suggestions? Eva Smith Eva Smith †¢ †¢ Of course, we never see Eva Smith on stage in the play: we only have the evidence that the Inspector and the Birlings give us. The Inspector, Sheila Gerald and Eric all say that she was pretty. Gerald describes her as very pretty soft brown hair and big dark eyes. †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Her parents were dead. She came from outside Brumley: Mr Birling speaks of her being countrybred. She was working class. The Inspector says that she had kept a sort of diary, which helped him piece together the last two years of her life: However, in Act 3 we begin to wonder whether Eva ever really existed. Gerald says, Weve no proof it was the same photograph and therefore no proof it was the same girl. There wasnt the slightest proof that this Daisy Renton really was Eva Smith. Yet the final phone call, announcing that a police inspector is shortly to arrive at the Birlings house to investigate the suicide of a young girl, makes us realise that maybe Eva Smith did exist after all. What do you think? †¢ Think about Evas name. Eva is similar to Eve, the first woman created by God in the Bible. Smith is the most common English surname. So, Eva Smith could represent every woman of her class. STAGE DIRECTIONS In the course of An Inspector Calls the Birling family and Gerald Croft change from a state of great self-satisfaction to a state of extreme self-doubt. The play is in real time in other words, the story lasts exactly as long as the play is on the stage. So, what happens in a comparatively short time to create such a dramatic contrast? How is the drama maintained and the audience involved? Think about these points. Setting and Subtle Hints The Setting and Lighting are very important. Priestley describes the scene in detail at the opening of Act 1, so that the audience has the immediate impression of a heavily comfortable house. The setting is constant (all action happens in the same place). Priestley says that the lighting should be pink and intimate before the Inspector arrives a rose-tinted glow when it becomes brighter and harder. The lighting reflects the mood of the play. The dining room of a fairly large suburban house, belonging to a prosperous manufacturer. It has good solid furniture of the period. At the moment they have all had a good dinner, are celebrating a special occasion, and are pleased with themselves. There are subtle hints that not is all as it seems. For example, early on we wonder whether the happy atmosphere is slightly forced. Sheila wonders where Gerald was last summer, Eric is nervous about something, Lord and Lady Croft did not attend the engagement dinner. This arouses interest in the audience we want to find out what is going on! Dramatic Irony and Tone There is dramatic irony. For instance, the audience knows how wrong Mr Birling is when he makes confident predictions about there not being a war and is excited about the sailing of The Titanic: famously, the ship sank on her maiden voyage. This puts the audience at an advantage over the characters and makes us more involved. The Birlings Living Room †¢ There is a lot of tension as each member of the family is found to have played a part in Evas death. New pieces of information contribute to the story being constructed. The audience is interested in how each character reacts to the revelations. †¢ †¢ †¢ Inspector himself adds drama: He controls the pace and tension by dealing with one line of enquiry at a time. Slowly the story of Evas life is unravelled, like in a whodunnit. He is in command at the end of Act I and the start of Act 2, and the end of Act 2 and the start of Act 3. He is a brooding, inescapable presence, very much in control. Tension and Timing There are numerous changes in tone. For instance, Mr Birlings confidence is soon replaced first by self-justification as he tries to explain his part in Evas death, and then by anxiety. Timing of entrances and exits is crucial. For example, the Inspector arrives immediately after Birling has told Gerald about his impending knighthood and about how a man has to look after himself and his own. The Ending The ending leaves the audience on a cliff-hanger. In Act 3 the Birlings believed themselves to be off the hook when it is discovered that the Inspector wasnt real and that no girl had died in the infirmary. This releases some of the tension but the final telephone call, announcing that a real inspector is on his way to ask questions about the suicide of a young girl, suddenly restores the tension very dramatically. It is an unexpected final twist. THEMES In An Inspector Calls, the central theme is responsibility. Priestley is interested in our personal responsibility for our own actions and our collective responsibility to society. The play explores the effect of class, age and sex on peoples attitudes to responsibility, and shows how prejudice can prevent people from acting responsibly. In addition, the play also considers the following themes of morality and lies and deceit. RESPONSIBILITY Everyone in society is linked The words responsible and responsibility are used by most characters in the play at some point. Each member of the family has a different attitude to responsibility. Make sure that you know how each of them felt about their responsibility in the case of Eva Smith. The Inspector wanted each member of the family to share the responsibility of Evas death: he tells them, each of you helped to kill her. However, his final speech is aimed not only at the characters on stage, but  at the audience too:. One Eva Smith has gone but there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us, with their lives, their hopes and fears, their suffering and chance of happiness, all intertwined with our lives, and what we think and say and do. The Inspector is talking about a collective responsibility, everyone is society is linked, in the same way that the characters are linked to Eva Smith. Everyone is a part of one body,the Inspector sees society as more important than individual interests. The views he is propounding are like those of Priestley who was a socialist. Remember at the time the ethos was based on the individualism ethos of laissez faire ( leave alone), Priestly wanted the characters to consider a social conscience and to embrace a collective responsibility. He adds a clear warning about what could happen if, like some members of the family, we ignore our responsibility: And I tell you that the time will soon come when, if men will not learn that lesson, when they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish. What would Priestley have wanted his audience to think of when the Inspector warns the Birlings of the fire and blood and anguish? Probably he is thinking partly about the world war they had just lived through the result of governments blindly pursuing national interest at all costs. No doubt he was thinking too about the Russian revolution in which poor workers and peasants took over the state and exacted a bloody revenge against the aristocrats who had treated them so badly. CLASS Apart from Edna the maid, the cast of the play does not include any lower class characters. We see only the rich, upwardly mobile Birlings and the upper class Gerald Croft. Yet we learn a lot about the lower class as we hear of each stage in Evas life and we see the attitude the Birlings had for them. This table looks at the way the Birlings saw lower-class Eva when they came into contact with her, and the way that they see themselves within their own class. Characters Attitudes to the lower class: Attitudes to the upper class: To this character, Eva was Cheap labour At the start of the play, this character was: Mr Birling keen to be knighted to cement his hard-fought rise to the upper class happy spending a lot of time in expensive shops prepared to marry Sheila, despite her lower social position awkward about his public-school-andVarsity life socially superior to her husband, and embarrassed at his gaffes Sheila someone who could be fired out of spite a mistress who could be discarded at will easy sex at the end of a drunken night out a presumptuous upstart Gerald Eric Mrs Birling †¢ The Palace Variety Theatre was a music hall. It was not seen as quite respectable entertainment probably not somewhere where Sheila would have gone. The stalls bar of the Palace Variety Theatre, where Eva Smith met both Gerald and Eric, was the bar for the lower classes and a favourite haunt of prostitutes. We could ask what Gerald and Eric were there in the first place! Alderman Meggarty, a local dignitary, also went there a lot. Priestley is trying to show that the upper classes are unaware that the easy lives they lead rest upon hard work of the lower classes. GENDER Eva Smith Because Eva was a woman in the days before women were valued by society and had not yet been awarded the right to vote she was in an even worse position than a lower class man. Even upper class women had few choices. For most, the best they could hope for was to impress a rich man and marry well which could explain why Sheila spent so long in Milwards. For working class women, a job was crucial. There was no social security at that time, so without a job they had no money. There were very few options open to women in that situation: many saw no alternative but to turn to prostitution. Look at these quotations, showing the attitude to women of some characters: †¢ Mr Birling is dismissive of the several hundred women in his factory: We were paying the usual rates and if they didnt like those rates, they could go and work somewhere else. †¢ †¢ Gerald saw Eva as young and fresh and charming in other words, someone vulnerable he could amuse himself by helping. Mrs Birling couldnt believe that a girl of that sort would ever refuse money. Her charitable committee was a sham: a small amount of money was given to a small amount of women, hardly scratching the surface of the problem. Why did Priestley decide to hinge his play on the death of a young working class woman rather than the death of a young working class man? AGE The older generation and the younger generation take the Inspectors message in different ways. While Sheila and Eric accept their part in Evas death and feel huge guilt about it, their parents are unable to admit that they did anything wrong. This table looks at these contrasting ideas: The Old (Mr and Mrs Birling) The old are set in their ways. They are utterly confident that they are right and they see the young as foolish. The Young (Sheila and Eric) The young are open to new ideas. This is first seen early in Act 1 when both Eric and Sheila express sympathy for the strikers an idea which horrifies Birling, who can only think of production costs and ignores the human side of the issue. The young are honest and admit their faults. Eric refuses to try to cover his part up, saying, the fact remains that I did The old will do anything to protect themselves: Mrs Birling lies to the Inspector when he first shows her the photograph; Mr Birling wants to cover up a potential scandal. They have never been forced to examine their consciences before and find they cannot do it now as the saying goes, you cant teach an old dog new tricks. Mr and Mrs Birling have much to fear from the visit of the real inspector because they know they will lose everything. what I did. Sheila and Eric see the human side of Evas story and are very troubled by their part in it. They do examine their consciences. Sheila and Eric have nothing to fear from the visit of the real inspector because they have already admitted what they have done wrong, and will change. Gerald Croft is caught in the middle, being neither very young nor old. In the end he sides with the older generation, perhaps because his aristocratic roots influence him to want to keep the status quo and protect his own interests. Ultimately, we can be optimistic that the young those who will shape future society are able to take on board the Inspectors message. EXAM QUESTION PRACTICE 1. The mood in this Act 1 changes from relaxed to tense. Explore the ways Priestley transforms the tone throughout the Act. 2. How does Priestley hint at the tensions within the group that later become more clear in Act 1? 3. How does Priestley present the Inspector as an unusual policeman in the play? What do we learn about Eva Smith from Act II? How does Priestley contrast her behaviour with that of the Birling family and Gerald Croft? 5. Act II ends with Mrs. Birling finally weakening. What is the cause of this? How does the Inspector trap her into condemning her own son? 6. Compare and contrast the reaction of Gerald Croft and Mrs. Birling to interrogation by the inspector. 7. How has Eric’s guilt been suggested by Priestley in Acts I and II? 8. Write about Inspector Goole’s role in the play. How far is he a believable policeman? How does Priestley use the inspector in the play? 9. Write about the way the relationship between Gerald and Sheila develops during the play. 10. An Inspector Calls is full of lies and deceit. Write fully about the way Priestley exposes weakness and wickedness, not only in the characters on stage, but also in society. 11. Write fully about ONE of the characters in the play. Take into account what they have done before the play begins as well as their actions, words and attitudes during the course of the play. Write about the way attitudes, moods and opinions change and develop during the course of the action on stage. 12. The Inspector’s inquiries make the Birlings quarrel among themselves. How does Priestley develop these internal conflicts during the play? 13. Compare and contrast the attitudes of Birling and the inspector throughout the play. 14. How does Priestley show the confidence of the Birlings in their position? 15. Compare and contrast the reaction of Arthur Birling and Sheila Birling to interrogation by the Inspector. 16. Who do you believe is responsible for the death of Eva Smith? 17. How are views on gender presented in the play? 18. How are the views of the youthful characters contrasted with the older characters and how does this reflect the social context of the play? 19. How is the theme of gender inequality explored in the play? 20. What is revealed about family relationships through the events of the play? 21. How does the Inspector build sympathy with the character of Eva Smith throughout the play? 22. How does the play portray the themes of morality and responsibility? 23. How do the dramatic devices help to add suspense to the action of the play? 24. How does the play portray social attitudes and political views of the time? 25. How is the theme of class represented in the play? When writing answers for essay questions- use the guide below to help test your skills. SELF ASSESSMENT- ENGLISH LITERATURE EXAM ANSWERS Not Attempted Secureconfident/ and ok can do this Not well attempted Question Title: 1. Have I attempted to focus on the question throughout by using the language of the question at the start and finish of my paragraphs? 2. Have I used quotes to back up my points? 3. Have I analysed the language in the quotes I’ve used to show my understanding of the character/ theme or sub plot? 4. Have I shown an awareness of the sub text? 5. Have I discussed how meaning is conveyed through language, structure or style? 6. Have I discussed alternative interpretations of events, characters or scenes? Have I shown understanding of dramatic devices? 8. Have I considered a variety of ways in which effects are achieved? 9. Have I discussed the relationships between characters/ situations or events? 10. Can I comment on the social, historical and contextual features? 11. Have I used paragraphs correctly? 12. Have I used a range of vocabulary, sentence structures and punctuation? TARGET FOR EXAM 1. 2. 3. TEST YOURSELF- HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THE PLAY? ACT 1-Find quotes to back up your answer 1. Why is Mr Birling particularly pleased to be celebrating Sheila’s and Gerald’s engagement? 2. Why is Mr Birling’s speech ironic on page 6 and 7? 3. How does Mr Birling show a dismissive attitude to Eric on page 6? 4. What is Mr Birling referring to when he states, â€Å" We can’t let these Bernard Shaws and H G Wellses do all the talking? † page 7 5. Why does Birling think that Lady Croft may object to Sheila? page 8 6. How does Birling try to promote his social status to Gerald and why would he feel the need to do this? page 8 7. How does Birling show his laissez faire attitude in his speech on page 10? 8. How does the sound of the door bell work as a dramatic device considering its position in the script? Page 10 9. How does Birling respond when he first hears of the arrival of the inspector in order to assert his authority in front of Gerald? 10. How does Birling try to assert his authority and status over the Inspector? Page 11 11. How did Eva Smith die? – page 11 12. Why doesthe inspector chose to only show one person the photograph at time? Page 12 13. How is tension shown between Birling and Eric on page 13? 14. Why does Birling deliberately introduce Gerald to the Inspector on page 13? 15. How does Birling show that he has no sense of collective responsibility on page 14? 16. How does Birling describe Eva on page 14? How does Eric show a sense of social compassion on page 15 and 16? 18. How does Birling try to intimidate the Inspector on page 16 and 17? 19. How does Gerald try to assert his social superiority on page 22? 20. Why did Sheila make the complaint against Eva in Milwards? Page 24 21. How does Gerald inadvertently show that he knew Eva Smith on page 25? 22. How does Gerald explain his acquaintance with Eva/ Daisy on page 26? ACT TWO-Use quotes to back up your answers to each question 1. How would you describe the mood in the dining room at the beginning of Act Two? 2. Why is Sheila described as ‘hysterical’? 3. How does the inspector constantly remind the audience and the Birlings of the fate of Eva? 4. How does the Inspector remind Sheila of her guilt on page 29 in such a way as to be protecting her? How is this a clever technique? 5. How does Mrs Birling try to assert her authority on page 29 , 30 and 31? 6. Why and how does Sheila try to change her mother’s approach? 7. What does Mrs Birling reveal about her view when she says, ‘girls of that class†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢? 8. What does Mrs Birlings being ‘staggered’ about Eric’s drinking reveal about their family relationship? 9. How does the conversation about Eric foreshadow later events and create suspense? Why does Sheila respond ‘wildly with a laugh’ No he’s giving us the ropeso that we’ll hang ourselves’? What does she mean by this and what is implied by the way she states it? 11. Why does Gerald become distressed as he recounts his story and how might he be feeling? 12. What is the Inspector suggesting about class and the Birling’s parenting techniques when he states, ‘Your daughter isn’t living on the moon. She’s here in Brumley too. ’? 13. Why do you think Daisy Renton knew the affair with Gerald ‘couldn’t last’? 14. What does Sheila mean when says, ‘ You and I aren’t the same people who sat down to dinner here’? What could she be saying about Gerald and about herself? 15. How does Sheila show a sense of collective responsibility on page 41? 16. Why was Mrs Birling so prejudiced against Eva Smith when she appealed to the charity? 17. How does the Inspector’s attitude start to change as the act progresses? 18. How does the inspector trick Mrs Birling into condemning her own son? 19. What makes Sheila suddenly aware of Eric’s involvement? 20. Why does Mrs Birling react in a ‘frightened’ way? 21. How would you describe the mood as Eric enters at the end of the scene? ACT THREE- Use quotes to back up your points What do the first three pages  reveal about the family relationships? How does the Inspector over rule Birling on page 51? What do we learn about Eric from his story? How do the family react to Eric’s story? What is Birling’s reaction when he hears how Eric obtained the money and what does he plan to do? 6. What do we learn about Eric’s relationship with his parents? 7. How should each character react to the Inspector’s final speech? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 8. What message is the Inspector trying to communicate when he states, â€Å" We don’t live alone. We are members of one body. †? 9. How do the family react to each other once the Inspector has left? 10. What are Birlings and Mrs Birlings priorities? 11. Why does it ‘not much matter’ to Sheila if the Inspector was not a policeman? 12. What evidence do the family base their judgement on that the Inspector may not have been a real policeman? 13. How does each member of the family react to Gerald’s news? 14. How does Gerald’s news make each character feel about their part in Eva’s life? 15. How should each character react to Gerald’s theory about the photograph? 16. How does the atmosphere change as the scene progresses? 17. How do the characters react to the information received from Gerald’s phone call? How has each character been affected by the evening’s events? 19. What is the effect of the final telephone call on the characters? 20. How should the final telephone call affect the audience? 21. Who do you think Inspector Goole was? 22. What message is the playwright trying to communicate to the audience throughout the play? 23. What is your lasting impression of each character? 24. How is the play ‘a moral mystery’? General questions 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. When is the play set? Why is the date of the play important? When was the play written? What was happening at that time in history? Name two historical events Mr Birling refers to What does this show about Mr Birling? What is the name of the Inspector? Why might this name be important? Write down 2 reasons that Mr Birling is pleased his daughter is marrying Gerald Croft How can we tell that Mr and Mrs Birling come from different backgrounds? How can we tell that the Inspector does not think much of Mr Birling? What was Mr Birling’s involvement with Eva Smith? How can we tell that he does not regret what he did? Does Gerald agree with Mr Birling or the Inspector? What was Sheila’s involvement with Eva Smith? How can we tell that Sheila regrets what she did? 17. What was Eric’s involvement? 18. How can we tell that Mrs Birling has a blinkered view of the world? 19. Which character has most regret for what they did? 20. Which character has least regret? 21. Who do you think the Inspector is and what is his message? 22. How do the younger and older generations react differently to his visit? 23. How do you think the play should be staged – in a traditional way around a table, or in an experimental way? 24. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the experimental setting? 25. In what ways is the play still relevant to us today?