Theatrical techniqueEvidence and page numberEffect on the audienceLink to another per of the text (find another quotation or expain a moment in the text that this links to)
Chloe McCharthyDramatic Irony"Titanic...absolutely unsinkable" page 7Audience know this was false as the Titanic sank. It shows the Birlings are ignorant and over-confidene."If that girl's death is due to anybody, then it's due to him" - Her own son. Once agian, sure it won't happen to them because they are ignorant.
Hannah GilmourDramatic Irony"The world's developing so fast that it'll make war impossible" (pg. 6/7)The audience learn that Birling is confident about his predictions about there not being a war, although the audience already know that there has been war, which puts the audience at an advantage over the characters.Throughout the play, Birling tries to take charge and wants to be in control of the situation rather than the Inspector, however, the audience know that everyone played a part in Eva Smith's death.
Jasmine RossDramatic Irony"Secondly, I blame the young man who was the father of this child" (pg 47) The audience know that Eric is likely to be the father of the child and so it shows how hypicritical Mrs Birling can be. The audience would have a negative impression of Mrs Birling and may feel that this is how the upper class all act, only to help themselves and change their views to suit them and their family.This links to later on in the play when Mrs Birling changes her view when she says "But I didn't know it was you-". This shows how hypicritcal she is and suggests that the most important thing in her life is how she is seen by society (which was important to upper class people in the Edwardian times) and she will do anything to talk herself and family out of trouble.
CarlamaritaDramatic Irony"...just because the miners came out on strike, there's a lot of wild talk about possible labour trouble in the near future... we've passed the worst of it." (6)The audience would know that it did happen despite Birling's optimistic predictions about the future. This shows that Priestly thinks that the upper classes were ignorant. They were refusing to accept the reality that things were going to change- the Edwardian era was coming to an end but they were all still stuck in their upper class bubbles. This links to Mr Birling making further predictions in the rest of the play that the audience know are wrong. This could possible be foreshadowing the last wrong prediction that Mr Birling makes- that Eva Smith didn't die because the inspector was a fake but infact she did die in the end.
Charlotte HillDramatic Irony"In 1940...you'll be living in a world that'll have forgotten all these Capital versus Labour agitations." (won't add the page number as it's different to everyone else's)The audience know that the Captial versus Labour 'agitations' don't end and instead can maybe even be blamed for causing the war. Priestly may have done this to portray what he thought was wrong with Edwardian society or to cause the audience to reflect on something that they probably thought before the war, and show them how quickly their views on society can change.The idea that people's thoughts on society can change quickly due to different events could link to later on in the play when the characters of Sheila and Eric become decidedly more socialist than capitalist after learning of Eva's death and how they helped to cause it.
Tom BlackDramatic Irony"If, as she said, he didn't belong to her class, and was some drunken young idler, then that's all the more reason why he shouldn't escape."The audience knows that Mrs Birling is talking about Eric, but she is completely unaware of this. This creates a negative feeling towards Mrs Birling as it makes her seem stupid. Preistley may have done this to show how the upper class are stupid and hypocritical."I don't believe it, I won't believe it." Mrs Birling says this when she finds out that Eric is the father of Eva Smiths child. This turns her opinion into one of sipathy and disbelief.
Amy KedwardsDramatic Tension"(Sharply)" "(Protesting)" "(Very Sharply)"The audience is aware og the conflict and tension between the Birlings. Pristley may have written this to to describe the difference between the two generations within the family and how it can create diagreements and problems."(Smiling)" "(Ecxited)" "(Quietly)" Pristley wrote these stage directions at the start of the play, it shows a contrast between the family in celebration, and the family's reaction when the truth was told and the inspector revealed all.

Hollie WagerDramatic Irony"Secondly I blame the young man who was the father of the child she was going to have." (pg 47)From this quote, the audience have an indication that Eric is the father of Eva's child. The fact the audience is hinted this shows what a hypocrtical person Mrs Birling is when she later finds out in the play that Eric does happen to be the father. The fact her words and opinions (that she has made quite clear) are not exactly put into practise, this technique of dramatic irony allows the reader to see how public persona was critical, and had a huge effect towards this important idea of the 'Edwardian Apperence.' It also allows the reader to see that Mrs B's intention are not always put into place as the reader finds out later into the play.A few pages later on in the text, Mrs B's hypicrosy is addressed, when she says in a 'distressed manner', "Eric, I can't believe it. There must be some mistake. You dont know what we've been saying." (pg 50) This shows that Mrs B is concerned of what she has made strictly clear in front of her family and the Inspector. The fact she says "But I never dreamt it was you (you in ittalics) clearly points out her hyprocisy to the audience, and this is due to Priestley using the technique of Dramatic Irony.
Hattie McQuillenDramatic IronyIf men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire, blood and anguish' (56)This immediately makes the audience think of the two wars that they have experienced and begin to wonder how the inspector would know this. This could cause them to like/respect the inspector because they feel that if people had listened to people like him, the wars may possibly not have happened.You'll hear some people say that war is inevitable. And I say to that- fiddlesticks!' (6) This again is about the war and Mr Birling's igorance towards the current threat. The fact that he ignores all the negatives in society is evident at this point. It could be quite an endearing quality to be optimistic however Mr Birling is so arrogant that this could only breed dislike.
Sian AllisonDramatic TensionThe stage directions go from: (staring at the inspector) (dryly) (bursting out) (angrily) (sulkily) pg 16This portrays what the characters are feeling and how different characters are going through feeling different things. This would also make the audience question what the inspector has done to recieve such big reactions from the characters.You can link this to the the stage directions in the beginning when the Birlings and Gerald find out why the Inspector has come to there home to investigate them. (rather immpatiently) ( cutting through, massively) (thoughtfully) (slowly) (showing annoyance) (coolly, looking hard at him)

	Created by sian.allison about 10 years ago

GCSE English Note on Theatrical Techniques in an Inspector calls, created by sian.allison on 02/02/2014.

Theatrical Techniques in an Inspector calls