Discussion Questions (Act1)

1)What do we learn about each of the characters on stage in the opening stage directions?

2)What does Sheila’s engagement to Gerald mean to Arthur Birling?

3)What is Birling’s attitude to the future and the progress he forsees? What are we meant to think of this attitude and why?

4)Why does the front doorbell ring when it does?

5)How do the reactions of Mr Birling and Sheila differ when confronted by their involvement in Eva’s death?

Discussion Questions (Act 2)

1)Why does Sheila react differently to the Inspector from her mother?

2)How guilty is Gerald?

3)What is Mrs Birling’s attitude regarding Eva Smith and why?

Discussion Questions (Act 3)

1)What is the growing effect of the evening’s events on the Birling family as a whole?

2)How should each of the Birlings react to the Inspector’s final speeches (p.55-56)?

3)How do the family react to each other once the Inspector has left?

4)Why does it ‘not much matter’ (p.58) to Sheila if the Inspector was not a policeman?

5)Why does it matter ‘a devil of a lot’ to Mr Birling if he was not a policeman?

6)Why does the telephone ring when it does?