An Inspector Calls Techniques

An Inspector Calls Techniques

1. dramatic irony

   • makes Birling - so we don't trust his capitalist ideas
   • audience has more power than characters - makes them more open to the message

2. stage direction

   • set the audience up to think about character in a certain way before play starts
   • make revelation later in the play carry more weight
   • emphasises character emotions - audience understand social message

3. The Inspector

   • device to move plot along and control the pace of events
     • keeps the pace = interest audience + highlights the socialist message
   • omniscient,uses forceful language

4. setting and lighting

   • pink beginning - looking at life through 'rose tinted glasses'
   • reflects the mood is about to change

5. pace of the action

   • Informations is released bit by bit as the Inspector shows the photograph to one person at a time-this builds tension
   • At the beginning of Act 2,the audience expect to hear Gerald' s confession.Instead,Priestley shifts the attention to Sybil and Sheila which increases audience's curiosity

6. foreshadowing

   • subtle hints given throughout the play about what is going to happen next
   • arouses interest in audience
   • e.g we know that the comfortable atmosphere will change - Eric nervous about something,Sheila wondering where Gerals was last summer-there are signs of problems from the beginning

7. Exits and entrences

   • dramatic effect and add to tensions
   • highlight relevant areas
   • characters escaping from something

8. Euphemism

   • avoid saying something unpleasant by using vaguer words
     • "women of the town" - prostitues

9. Cliffhanger

   • The curtain drops as Eric walks in ''extremely pale and distressed''
     • Priestley makes the audience wait until Act Three for Eric's confession
       • the ending leaves audience on a cliffhanger-it is unexpected final twist

10. imagery

    • religious
      • ''We are members of one body.''-it is our duty to care for one another
        • ''fire and blood and anguish''-Book of Revelation-people are punished for their sins

11. Tone of Voice

    • Power struggle -Mr Birling and The Inspector