Plot Flashcards
All 23 cards in this deck
Where and when is the whole play set?
The Birlings’ dining room in Brumley, an industrial city in the North Midlands, one spring evening in 1912.
What are the Birlings celebrating at the start of Act 1?
Sheila’s engagement to Gerald Croft.
What does Gerald give Sheila during the dinner in Act 1?
An engagement ring.
What interrupts Birling’s speech to Gerald and Eric in Act 1?
The doorbell: Inspector Goole has arrived.
What news does the Inspector bring in Act 1?
A young woman, Eva Smith, has died in the Infirmary after swallowing strong disinfectant.
Why did Birling sack Eva Smith from his works?
She was one of the leaders of a strike for higher wages (1910).
Why did Sheila have Eva sacked from Milwards?
She thought Eva smiled at her rudely, and was jealous that a dress suited Eva better.
What did Sheila threaten Milwards with unless they sacked Eva?
Closing her family’s account there.
What new name did Eva take after leaving Milwards?
Daisy Renton.
Whose reaction to the name ‘Daisy Renton’ gives him away at the end of Act 1?
Gerald’s.
Where did Gerald first meet Daisy Renton?
In the bar of the Palace Variety Theatre, in spring 1911 (Act 2).
Where did Gerald let Daisy Renton live?
In a friend’s empty rooms in Morgan Terrace.
What does Sheila do after Gerald’s confession in Act 2?
Hands back the engagement ring.
What does Gerald do once he has confessed in Act 2?
Goes out for a walk.
What did Eva call herself when she asked Mrs Birling’s charity for help?
Mrs Birling.
Whom does Mrs Birling say is most to blame for Eva’s death, in Act 2?
The father of the child, who turns out to be her son, Eric.
How does Act 2 end?
Eric walks in, and his mother realises he is the father.
Where did Eric get the money he gave Eva?
He stole about £50 from his father’s office (Act 3).
Why did Eva refuse to marry Eric?
She knew he didn’t love her.
What does Gerald learn from a police sergeant in Act 3?
There is no Inspector Goole on the force.
Whom does Birling phone to check on the Inspector?
The Chief Constable, who confirms there is no Inspector Goole.
What does Gerald find out when he phones the Infirmary?
No girl has been brought in after a suicide for months.
What news does the final phone call bring?
A girl has just died on the way to the Infirmary, and a police inspector is on his way.