Language And Structure In An Inspector Calls

Front 1

Imagery
quote

Back 1

"build up a kind of wall" - Sheila warning Sybil

Front 2

Irony example

Back 2

Sybil turns down the help of her own grandchild unknowingly and Eva uses the name Mrs Birling because of Eric but Mrs Birling is unaware of it

Front 3

symbolism example

Back 3

Eva represents all working class, oppressed women (eve from the bible)

Inspector represents those who want to uncover the truth and wrong doings

Front 4

Euphemism (less blunt/rude phasing of a subject)
quote

Back 4

"women of the town" - Gerald uses euphemism to politely talk about prostitutes

Eric euphemises possibly raping Eva while being drunk

Front 5

how does Priestley use language to make the play realistic?

Back 5

he gives the characters the sort of language people used in 1912

Front 6

how does Inspector goole speak?

Back 6

"carefully, weightily"
mostly questioning and commanding
DIDACTIC

Front 7

why does he speak like this?

Back 7

so that he can control, direct and develop the plot

Front 8

in his final speech, how does he speak?

Back 8

he uses the language of a prophet

Front 9

why do they use euphemism?

Back 9

often men in the presence of women because they don't want to shock them

Front 10

give three examples of slang and who are they used by?

Back 10

"squiffy" "chump" "don't be an ass"

Front 11

give an example of a euphemism when its just 'man to man'

Back 11

"so you had to go to bed with her?" - still some boundaries but Eric is blunt too - "fat old tarts"

Front 12

why is dramatic irony used with Mr birling?

Back 12

to make him come across and stupid and ignorant and so, all his other ideas and opinions seem wrong

Front 13

where is the irony in who the inspector's speeches and ideas?

Back 13

they are directed as much to the audience as they are to the characters.

Front 14

how does this make the audience think and feel?

Back 14

they become aware that perhaps they are equally guilty of being irresponsible as the characters are

Front 15

what makes the play follow the tradition of being a well-made play?

Back 15

action flows smoothly and the characters and parts of the play fit perfectly together

Front 16

what is the impact of the well-made play on the characters?

Back 16

the characters move from a state of ignorance to a state of knowledge

Front 17

describe the use of the unities

Back 17

in Greek plays, they used the unity of action and time but in an inspector calls, Priestley uses the unties of time and place with action running throughout the three acts. This gives a sense of being trapped in a world with no escape of denial - we HAVE to change

Front 18

what do the exits of the characters allow within the plot?

Back 18

they are plausible and allow the plot to develop in a way that they couldn't have if they were there e.g. when eric leaves they explore his relationship with Eva in a way that couldn't have happened if Eric was there

Front 19

how does the mood change in the play

Back 19

happy and celebratory ----> sombre and tense -----> danger for the future -----> relief of 'hoax' ----> shatter of relief - worried

Front 20

give a quote of how stage directions show the change in mood

Back 20

lighting changes from "pink and intimate" to "brighter and harder"

Front 21

what are the two twists in the play?

Back 21

at the end, we realise that perhaps the Inspector is not real (who is he?!)
The phone call is a time-release and allows us to see that if they are "ready to go on in the same old way" then the inspector will carry out of his threat of "fire and blood and anguish"

Front 22

in the build up to Priestley/inspector's speech, what is the dialog like?

Back 22

rapid exchange of short sentence to build up tension and emphasise the varying moods, seeming very realistic

Front 23

give 4 examples of triplets within the play

Back 23

"as if she was an animal, a thing, not a person" - Inspector to Eric
Eric's triple use of "killed" to his mother
"millions and million and millions" - inspector
"fire and blood and anguish" - inspector links with "heavy price" and "a heavier price still"

Front 24

how does the inspector add dramatic tension?

Back 24

"massiveness, solidity and purposefulness" - audience is intrigued
brings conflict between older and younger
cliff hanger at end of act 1 ("well?") and 2 (Eric's confession)

Front 25

which sound effects add tension?

Back 25

door bangs
bell rings
telephone rings