An Inspector Calls Reading Journal

1. Write about the rythm or tone of the text.  - Analysis 2. Write about the style of writing the author uses.  - Analysis In this book is a lot of direct speech. As a result of a theatre play are a lot of acting elements in this book. Priestley used a schema. First comes the name. After that the acting part is coming. (optional) And at least, the text which is written to speak, follows. Here an Example: Inspector  ( taking back the photograph ). "You recognise her?" Sometimes the acting part is behind the speaking part. Birling . "I will see." ( He goes out quickly. Inspector turns to Mrs. Birling. ) The english is very easy to understand. Sometimes there are some words, which I didn't know but at the end of every site are some translations so it mostly is not necessary to go in the web and translate the words by your own.  The author is using this schema the whole book long. Just at the beginning there is a description of the place an...

Say what you think the autor is trying to do or say. What is the author's main message or purpose? Say how well you think the author succeeds in what he or she is attempting and give reasons for your answer. - Analysis If we look on the plot so we can see that there are decisions which lead a young woman to suicide. Moreover, some decisions were not evil or deliberately. For example the termination of her job in Birling's company. This decision was not evil at all, Arthur just said that she continues working for the normal pay or she can leave. But the attitude of Sheila Birling was unbelieveable. A little smile lead to the termination of her job by Milwards. And this is not a fault from Eva, it is Sheila's guilt. However, I think that the author wanted to say that you have to take your decisions carefully. Also a message can be that little things can cause greater events. And to take things more easy and be more indulgently.  And nearly everyone, who reads this...

Are there any words you are unsure of their meaning? Write down the words. Then write down what you think they mean, guessing from the context. Then look them up and write down a dictionary meaning. - Analysis " Enquiries of this sort, for instance." (p. 34) That could mean something like "case" or "things". Dictionary: "detailed inspections" (detaillierte Erkundungen) "Nothing but morbid curiosity" (p. 44) Perhaps something like "random" or "unexpected". Dictionary: "krankhaft" " rebuking them" (p. 45) Sounds like "interrupt" Dictionary: "jemandem einen Verweis erteilen" "But we really must stop these silly pretences ." That could mean "Behauptungen" or "Anschuldigungen" Dictionary: "Behauptungen/ Vorwand" "I have been trying to persuade Eric to go to bed, but he won't. "dazu bringen...

In your own words what has happened in the book? At any point of the story, retell the major details of the story´s plot so far. - Recount At the very beginning, they are celebrating. They are lucky and are drinking some port. During this party, Edna pronounces that an Inspector wishes to see Arthur Birling, a wealthy mill owner. It´s important, he said. So Edna let him in the house. And now he start to clear the case. A young women, called Eva Smith, died. Arthur Birling say that he had discharged her, because she wanted to get more money. Nevertheless, this was two years ago and not the reason for her suicide. Sheila enters the room and the Inspector ask her some question. Therefore, she said that she was guilty for her discharge at Milwards, just because of a little smile. After this, as Goole said the she was also known as Daisy Renton. Gerald knows this name. He had been in an affair with her, the whole last summer. Sheila is shocked after she heard this. Therefore, Sybil Birl...

At any point in the story predict how some character is going to change/develop (character development) as the story progresses. How will they change? - Prediction I think the young persons changed the most through the whole plot. Expected Sheila and Eric changed the most. The reason for this is because they did the most fatal acts. Sybil did such a fatal act to, but she has also a strong will and think she did the right thing. The acts of Gerald and Arthur aren't fatal enough so that we can say Eva did the suicide because of this. All of the acts are harmonising together and that’s the reason for her suicide. Sheila was self-confident and with a strong will, but after she heard the termination of Eva's job in Milwards, she felt guilty and she seemed to be broken. Also Eric, he regretted his actions to Eva. Gerald didn't feel guilty to Eva Smith, rather to Sheila.  In opposition to the young persons, the old ones didn't regret their actions. Neither Arthur n...

Describe a Character from the book (3.g physical characteristics, personality, likes, dislikes). Say why you like/dislike the character. - Characterization Let´s take Goole, the mysterious Inspector. He is an interrogator who introduces himself as an Inspector. He tells the Birlings that he has seen the dead body of Eva Smith, after she swallowed a lot of desinfectant. Throughout the play, the Birlings believe that he is a real Inspector. His real identity is a secret until the end of the book. He is like a ghost, who knows all about Eva Smith and the involvement of the Birlings in her life. I think he is like a an angel, who wants the Birlings regret their action and make them a bad conscience. He is very self-confident and determine the speed of the conversation. To make them guilty for their actions is a duty for him. He isn´t very angry, but he speaks with a strong force. He describes Eva Smith as a good woman, but he honestly never see her, nor did he know her. Words: 1...

Write down 5 questions you would like to ask a character. Say why you would like to ask these question. - Empathy I would like to ask Arthur Birling this two questions. 1. Are you lucky about the betrothal because of the luck for your daughter or just about the business advantages that are given because of Gerald Croft? 2. Who do you like more, Gerald Croft or your son, Eric? The answer to the first question would interest me, because it looks like he is just lucky about the cooperation with Croft Ltd.  It seemed so that he doesn´t like his son so much or he wish Eric should be more like Gerald. This is the reason why I ask this question. I would like to ask Eric Birling this question? 1. What is the reason for your drinking? 2. Why didn't you tell your parents about the pregnancy of Eva Smith? I'm wondering why he is drinking so much. Because of the puberty or the father? In my opinion he has to tell about the pregnancy of Eva Smith, because letting ...

Write down your first impressions of the book or play. Ask some questions. Write down quotations. Copy whole passages that are difficult or that you really like a lot. - Reflection At the beginning, I wondered how easy this play is written. I thought it would be more difficult to read because the book was written in 1945. German books, who has been written in this time, are nearly unintelligible. My first impression was the beginning. There is no real beginning of the story, rather a rough entry in a dialog. Later, I noticed that there must be a luckily moment, because they drink port and are happy. A part who I liked a lot was the speech of Sheila´s father. It was a wonderful day and evening for Sheila and Gerald, because of their betrothal. But Arthur Birling was speeking about business “…when Crofts and Birlings are no longer competing but are working together – for lower cost and higher prices.” (p. 10, An Inspector Calls, Priestley) However, I don´t like Sheila Birling ...