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Priestley J B Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
Priestley J B Quizzes, Trivia

J B Priestley Trivia

J B Priestley Trivia Quizzes

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Prietley first gained success with his 1929 novel 'The Good Companions', which reflected his Yorkshire background. In the 1930s he changed his efforts to concentrate on writing for the stage. His best known play is 'An Inspector Calls' (1945), a classic example of drawing-room drama.
5 quizzes and 55 trivia questions.
1.
  The Ultimate An Inspector Calls Quiz    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
I studied "An Inspector Calls" by J.B. Priestley for my GCSE English Literature and found it a captivating read. Here are ten questions to test your knowledge of the play.
Average, 10 Qns, Buzby, Oct 20 18
Average
Buzby
Oct 20 18
2616 plays
2.
  Average An Inspector Calls Quiz - 10 Questions   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Test yourself on J B Priestley's classic - the 'Whodunnit' that isn't!
Average, 10 Qns, Plumbus, Nov 11 21
Average
Plumbus gold member
Nov 11 21
911 plays
3.
  An Inspector Calls Quiz Challenge    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
10 questions on one of J.B. Priestley's most direct attacks on human nature and society.
Easier, 10 Qns, whufc88, May 15 06
Easier
whufc88
764 plays
4.
  Fifteen Questions about 'Time and the Conways'    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
The Conways' lives over nineteen years are shown in the most famous of J.B. Priestley's time plays.
Average, 15 Qns, cseanymph, May 05 22
Average
cseanymph
May 05 22
70 plays
5.
  Multiple Choice Quiz about An Inspector Calls    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Good Luck!
Easier, 10 Qns, sas15, Nov 08 17
Easier
sas15
1294 plays
trivia question Quick Question
After the inspector leaves, which two members of the Birling family seem to have learnt from the experience?

From Quiz "An Inspector Calls"




Related Topics
  Plays [Literature] (60 quizzes)


J B Priestley Trivia Questions
1. Who is the eldest of the Conway children, and who is the youngest?

From Quiz Fifteen Questions about 'Time and the Conways'

Answer: Alan is the eldest and Carol is the youngest

The Conways are apparently very close together in age, although the only ages that are given exactly are Robin's and Kay's. Robin is twenty-three in 1919, in the first act; and it is Kay's twenty-first birthday party. Carol is the youngest 'perhaps sixteen'. Alan is the eldest, 'in his earlier twenties'; Madge is a 'year or two older than Hazel'; and Hazel is the same age as Joan Helford, who is forty-one in Act Two. So, with this detective work, we can guess the Conways' ages fairly accurately as: Alan (25), Madge (24), Robin (23), Hazel (22), Kay (21) and Carol (16).

2. Where is most of the play set?

From Quiz An Inspector Calls

Answer: The dining-room

"An Inspector Calls" was written in 1945 and contains many references to what would be future events for the characters living in 1912.

3. What fictional town is the play set in?

From Quiz An Inspector Calls

Answer: Brumley

Described as an industrial town in the Midlands, its name suggests it's based on Birmingham.

4. Inspector Goole is investigating the death of a young girl named Eva Smith. How does the inspector say she died?

From Quiz An Inspector Calls

Answer: Drank disinfectant

"Two hours ago a young woman died in the Infirmary. She'd been taken there this afternoon because she'd swallowed a lot of strong disinfectant. Burnt her inside out of course."

5. In the original play, what is the Inspector's name?

From Quiz An Inspector Calls

Answer: Goole

6. How did the Conways' father die?

From Quiz Fifteen Questions about 'Time and the Conways'

Answer: He was drowned while on holiday

Hazel and Carol are talking about their father's death at the beginning of Act One. Hazel feels Carol is being morbid, and wants to change the subject. Later on, Mrs Conway says to Gerald Thornton that when her husband died she wouldn't have wanted to go on living if it hadn't been for the children.

7. Who announces their engagement at the beginning of the meal?

From Quiz An Inspector Calls

Answer: Gerald and Sheila

Their marriage seems doomed from the start due to the revelations brought about by the inspector.

8. How many characters appear in the play?

From Quiz An Inspector Calls

Answer: Seven

Arthur Birling, Sybil Birling, Sheila Birling, Eric Birling, Gerald Croft and the inspector. Whoops - don't forget Edna the maid! Eva Smith, although much discussed, never makes an actual appearance onstage.

9. Eva Smith was sacked from Mr Birling's factory for being a ringleader in a strike. How much money did the factory girls want a week?

From Quiz An Inspector Calls

Answer: Twenty-five shillings

The girls were already averaging about twenty-two and six, but wanted to average twenty-five shillings a week.

10. What is the daughter's name?

From Quiz An Inspector Calls

Answer: Sheila

11. How does Mr Birling view the engagement?

From Quiz An Inspector Calls

Answer: As a business opportunity

Mr Birling represents the capitalist, narrow-minded corporate owner that Priestley so despised.

12. After she left Mr Birling's employ, Eva Smith got a job at which shop?

From Quiz An Inspector Calls

Answer: Milwards

The Inspector told the Birlings "It seems she liked working there. It was a nice change from the factory. She enjoyed being among pretty clothes, I've no doubt. And now she felt she was making a good fresh start."

13. Who gets the 'girl' pregnant?

From Quiz An Inspector Calls

Answer: Eric

14. What politician is mentioned in Act One?

From Quiz Fifteen Questions about 'Time and the Conways'

Answer: Lloyd George

Carol and Hazel are imitating a local shopkeeper who despises Lloyd George. "I tell you what, Mish Conway, they'll be shorry they ever put that little Welshman where they did." Lloyd George headed the war-time coalition government formed with Asquith in 1916. He was a Liberal and an anti-imperialist.

15. Mr Birling makes two predictions that we know to be false. What do these predictions concern?

From Quiz An Inspector Calls

Answer: World War I and the Titanic

His incorrect predictions reveal his ignorance of foreign affairs and his belief in the power of Great Britain.

16. What is the reason for the dinner party at the beginning of the play?

From Quiz An Inspector Calls

Answer: to celebrate the engagement of Sheila Birling and Gerald Croft

At the beginning of the play Gerald and Sheila have just got engaged to be married. Arthur Birling is delighted at the prospect of his company and family having closer ties to the Crofts.

17. Who had Eva sacked from her job at the shop?

From Quiz An Inspector Calls

Answer: Sheila Birling

Sheila had tried on a dress that didn't suit her. She caught Eva looking at the assistant as if to say 'Doesn't she look awful'. Sheila was so angry that she told the manager the girl had been impertinent and if he didn't get rid of her, that she would never shop there again.

18. What is the father's first name?

From Quiz An Inspector Calls

Answer: Arthur

19. How many grandchildren has Mrs Conway in Act Two?

From Quiz Fifteen Questions about 'Time and the Conways'

Answer: Four

Robin and Joan have two children, and Hazel and Ernest also have two. None of the other Conways is married.

20. Who is the first person to be interviewed by the Inspector?

From Quiz An Inspector Calls

Answer: Mr Birling

Here we learn how Eva Smith died and Mr Birling's callous feelings towards his workers.

21. The inspector connects the dead girl, Eva Smith, with Arthur Birling. He had sacked her two years ago from his factory. Why did Arthur Birling sack her?

From Quiz An Inspector Calls

Answer: She was the ringleader for workers demanding more pay.

Birling had faced a deposition of workers at his factory demanding better pay. He refused and sacked Eva who he judged to have been the ringleader.

22. After losing her job at the shop, what did Eva change her name to?

From Quiz An Inspector Calls

Answer: Daisy Renton

She had felt life for Eva Smith wasn't going too well, so changed her name to Daisy Renton.

23. Who wrote the play?

From Quiz An Inspector Calls

Answer: Priestley

J.B. Priestly wrote this play which was first performed in 1945.

24. Who does Ernest Beevers describe as "the best of the lot of you, worth all the rest of you put together"?

From Quiz Fifteen Questions about 'Time and the Conways'

Answer: Carol

Ernest shocks his wife, Hazel, by suddenly bursting out with this opinion. He has married Hazel, the prettiest, and the one he always wanted; but he remembers sourly how he was looked down on and snubbed by the entire family when he was first introduced to them - all except for Carol, who was natural and friendly towards him. "It didn't take me two minutes to see that little Carol was the best of the lot. Didn't surprise me when she went off like that. Out! Finish! Too good to last!"

25. How does the Inspector describe the cumulative effects of everyone's involvement?

From Quiz An Inspector Calls

Answer: A chain of events

"A chain of events" becomes an important symbol in the play as it reflects on the malevolent impact the Birlings and Gerald had had on Eva Smith.

26. Eva found another job at Millwards. What kind of business was it?

From Quiz An Inspector Calls

Answer: a department store.

Eva was a shop assistant before she was sacked thanks to Sheila Birling. Sheila was put out when she caught Eva smirking in the mirror while she was trying on a new hat.

27. Where did Gerald meet Eva?

From Quiz An Inspector Calls

Answer: The bar of the Palace Music Hall

Gerald discovered that she had no money, and was about to be made homeless, so he kept her as his mistress for the summer.

28. When is the play set?

From Quiz An Inspector Calls

Answer: 1912

29. What happened to Jessie, Hazel's maid?

From Quiz Fifteen Questions about 'Time and the Conways'

Answer: She took an overdose

Hazel is feeling melancholy and depressed at the family meeting. This leads her to wonder how far one can tell tell what other people are feeling. She remembers that Jessie had always been particularly cheerful, and then one day she suddenly took all her asprins, claiming afterwards that she had simply had enough of everything. The maid's act reflects the mood of Hazel and most of the other Conways in Act Two. They are tense, on bad terms with each other, the shadow of the next war is looming, and nearly all of them have money problems.

30. How did Eva Smith lose her job at Milwards?

From Quiz An Inspector Calls

Answer: Sheila complained about her

Sheila complained after she saw that Eva looked better in the dress that Sheila wanted.

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