Flashcards
An Inspector Calls: Context, Staging & Techniques
Cards in this deck (8)
- 1CONTEXT: BRITAIN IN 1912 AND 1945 • In 1912, Britain was firmly divided along class lines • Only men who owned property could vote • There was not as much government help for people in need as there is today • There were conflicts between business owners and workers, such as the 1926 General Strike • The Labour party won the 1945 general election • Labour went on to introduce 'The Welfare State', so that people like Eva would be entitled to benefits and housing. Priestley supported this.• In 1912, Britain was firmly divided along _____ lines
• Only ___ who _____ ________ could vote
• There was not as much __________ ____ for people in need as there is today
• There were conflicts between business owners and _______, such as the 1926 _______ ______
• The ______ party won the ____ general election
• Labour went on to introduce 'The Welfare State', so that people like Eva would be entitled to benefits and housing. Priestley supported this. - 2CONTEXT: SOCIAL CLASS • The upper class inherited money and land • The middle class were professionals or owned factories • The working class had the hardest jobs and little money • The upper classes didn't question the class system because it worked for them • The Birlings (and Gerald) are caricatures of the ruling classes' bad qualities • The Birlings are shown to be foolish and out of touch, and represent the entire ruling class in 1912• The upper class _________ money and ____
• The middle class were _____________ or owned _________
• The working class had the _______ jobs and little _____
• The upper classes didn't question the class system because __ ______ ___ ____
• The Birlings (and Gerald) are ___________ of the ruling classes' ___ _________
• The Birlings are shown to be _______ and ___ __ _____, and represent the entire ruling class in 1912 - 3CONTEXT: GENDER • Stereotypically, women are supposed to be obsessed with 'pretty clothes', shopping, and weddings. • They are protected against 'unpleasant and disturbing' things • Sheila is accused of being hysterical • Men, on the other hand, are preoccupied with work and public affairs • There are different rules for men and women. For example, men are allowed to have affairs, but women are not. • The rules were very different depending on class.• Stereotypically, women are supposed to be obsessed with 'pretty _______', shopping, and ________.
• They are protected against '__________ and __________' things
• ______ is accused of being hysterical
• Men, on the other hand, are preoccupied with ____ and ______ _______
• There are different rules for men and women. For example, men are allowed to ____ _______, but women are not.
• The rules were very different depending on class. - 4CONTEXT: SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY • Priestley was a supporter of socialism, where wealth is shared by society as a whole • The message of the play is clear in the Inspector's final speech: 'We are members of one body. We are responsible for one another.' • By contrast, Mr Birling is a capitalist. He believes that every man 'has to look after himself' • Mr Birling is interrupted in the middle of a lecture about his capitalist 'creed', suggesting Priestley didn't approve of these capitalist ideas.• Priestley was a supporter of socialism, where ______ is shared by _______ __ _ _____
• The message of the play is clear in the Inspector's final speech: 'We are members of ___ ____. We are responsible for ___ _______.'
• By contrast, Mr Birling is a __________. He believes that every man 'has to look after _______'
• Mr Birling is interrupted in the middle of a lecture about his capitalist 'creed', suggesting Priestley didn't approve of these capitalist ideas. - 5STAGING • All the action takes place in the dining room, which makes the mood more intense and claustrophobic. • It also emphasises the Birlings' private, self-centred, and close-minded lifestyle. • The lighting is 'pink and intimate' at the start, but 'brighter and harder' when the Inspector arrives. • The clothes and furniture look wealthy. In contrast, the Inspector looks relatively plain. • Stephen Daldry's 1992 production had the house set on stilts which collapsed at the end of the play.• All the action takes place in the ______ ____, which makes the mood more _______ and ______________.
• It also emphasises the Birlings' _______, ____-_______, and _____-______ lifestyle.
• The lighting is '____and ________' at the start, but '________ and ______' when ___ _________ _______.
• The clothes and furniture look _______. In contrast, the Inspector looks relatively _____.
• _______ ______'_ 1992 production had the house set on ______ which _________ at the end of the play. - 6DRAMATIC TECHNIQUES • Information is revealed slowly to create tension • An exit can signal a character trying to escape • The front door bangs every time someone leaves or exits the house, which creates tension • The characters all start seated, but by the end there are people standing, shouting, and crying • Between acts, Priestley freezes the action to create tension • There is significant dramatic irony. This engages the audience as it manipulates our feelings towards characters (e.g. the foolishness of Mr B when he is talking about the 'absolutely unsinkable' Titanic)• Information is revealed ______ to create _______
• An exit can signal a character trying to ______
• The front door _____ every time someone leaves or exits the house, which creates _______
• The characters all start ______, but by the end there are people ________, ________, and ______
• Between acts, Priestley _______ ___ ______ to ______ _______
• There is significant ________ _____. This engages the audience as it manipulates our feelings towards characters (e.g. the foolishness of Mr B when he is talking about the 'absolutely unsinkable' Titanic) - 7CHARACTERS' LANGUAGE • Slang is used by the younger generation (e.g. squiffy) • Sheila uses simple and childish language at the start, but at the end is more blunt • Words like 'chaps' and 'jingo' show that characters of the same class are comfortable with each other • The Inspector is plain and direct. For example, he says that Eva Smith was burnt 'inside out' • He also uses silence: he has a 'disconcerting habit' of staring for a while • The older Birlings often use the 'language of manners', when they say 'rude' and 'impertinent'• _____ is used by the younger generation (e.g. _______)
• Sheila uses simple and ________ language at the start, but at the end is more _____
• Words like '_____' and '_____' show that characters of the same _____ are comfortable with each other
• The Inspector is _____ and ______. For example, he says that Eva Smith was burnt '______ ___'
• He also uses _______: he has a '_____________ _____' of _______ for a while
• The older Birlings often use the 'language of manners', when they say '____' and '___________' - 8LANGUAGE TECHNIQUES • Dramatic irony also makes it seem as if the Inspector knows everything - as if he is omniscient • Euphemisms are used to hide the truth and avoid talking about something unpleasant • The Inspector uses graphic imagery to shock the audience • He also uses biblical imagery, which makes him sound like a religious figure• ________ _____ also makes it seem as if the Inspector knows everything - as if he is __________
• __________ are used to hide the truth and avoid talking about something __________
• The Inspector uses ______ imagery to _____ the audience
• He also uses ________ imagery, which makes him sound like a _________ ______
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- GCSE English (English Literature) Flashcards on An Inspector Calls: Context, Staging & Techniques , created by Caitlin Neville on 23/04/2019.
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- Caitlin Neville
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