1. An Inspector Calls dramatic Tension
Wednesday, 19 September 2018
An Inspector Calls dramatic Tension
To understand the meaning and purpose of dramatic tension
To explore how and why Priestley uses tension in the play
Dramatic techniques
Tension
“Why – you fool – he knows. Of course he knows. And I hate to think how much he knows that we don't know yet. You'll see. You'll see.”

2. Tension A feeling of potential conflict between a group of people.
In an audience or reader, a sense of potential conflict, or a feeling of anxiety due to what may be about to happen.
Alfred Hitchcock on tension

3. Tension
Tension builds as each member of the family is found to have played a part in Eva's death.
New pieces of information contribute to the story being constructed.
The audience is interested in how each character reacts to the revelations.
Fill in the tension chart with the following events from the play that contributed to the building tension:
Eric’s entrance
Inspector Goole does not exist
Uneasiness before the Inspector’s arrival
Telephone rings; A new police Inspector is on his way
Inspector’s exit
Inspector’s entrance, “Well?”
Inspector’s arrival
Interrogation of Gerald
Inspector’s final speech
Interrogation of Sheila
No suicide cases received by the infirmary
Were they all involved with the same girl?
Eric’s interrogation
Interrogation of Birling
Interrogation of Mrs. Birling

4. 1 2 3 Act 1 Act 2 Act 3 END Inspector’s exit
END
BEGINNING
Act 1
Act 2
Act 3 1 2 3
Inspector’s exit
Eric’s entrance
Were they all involved with the same girl?
Inspector’s final speech
Interrogation of Gerald
Inspector’s entrance, “Well?”
Eric’s interrogation
Interrogation of Mrs. Birling
Interrogation of Sheila
Inspector Goole does not exist
Uneasiness before the Inspector’s arrival
No suicide cases received by the infirmary
Interrogation of Birling
Telephone rings; A new police Inspector is on his way
Inspector’s arrival

5. Tension
How does the play change once the Inspector arrives? How does it change once he leaves? What is Priestley’s intention in designing the play this way?
How do the three acts end? What is similar about the ending of Acts 1 and 2? How would you classify the ending of the play?
How is the structure of the tension in the play different from the usual structure in other stories? Why was this done?

6. The play has a very compact structure, nothing is allowed to distract the audience from the central storyline. There are no sub-plots.
The play takes place in just one location; the action is continuous and takes place over one evening. 1 2 3
With the departure of the Inspector, it would appear that what follows will be some kind of an anticlimax.
Tensions increase, firstly as Gerald’s affair is unveiled (and the scandal it would cause) and Sheila begins to realise that they are all implicated in some way: “He is giving us rope – so that we’ll hang ourselves.”
Act One begins by introducing the characters, establishing the happy and united family looking forward to the future with a degree of confidence.
The tension is heightened at this point by the dramatic entrance of Eric
The audience realises that all the characters are going to have their secrets revealed during the investigation, and the anticipation of the audience raises the level of tension.
There are a number of hints that all is not as it seems, but these are not particularly obvious until later in the play. There is nothing to warn us of the shock of the Inspector’s visit.
The Inspector’s identity is put into doubt by the family’s observations, and the existence of Eva is questioned.
Mrs. Birlings tries to shift the blame for the girl’s suicide to the father of the unborn child. Despite Sheila’s attempts to prevent her from digging herself deeper into a hole, Mrs. Birling continues on relentlessly, adding to the dramatic tension as the audience waits to see what will happen
However, the tension remains to some extent as the two generations show a split in their attitudes, showing the moral divide
Events soon gather speed and it is not long before we are being informed of Birling and Sheila’s involvement with Eva Smith
The final resolution, the phone call announcing that a police inspector is on his way to ask some questions about a girl who recently died, is as shocking as it is surprising and ensures that the audience will leave the theatre in a state of shock.

7. We hear the sharp ring of a door bell. Birling stops to listen.
Tension Motifs
Telephone Ringing
Birling: Now look at the pair of them – the famous younger generation who know it all. And they can't even take a joke –
The telephone rings sharply. There is a moment's complete silence. Birling goes to answer it.
Entrances & Exits
Inspector holds up a hand. We hear the front door. They wait, looking towards door. Eric enters, looking extremely pale and distressed. He meets their inquiring stares. 
Curtain falls quickly.
Interjections
BIRLING: …But I don't understand why you should come here, Inspector –
INSPECTOR: (cutting through, massively) I’ve been round to the room she had, and she'd left a letter there and a sort of diary.
Doorbell
BIRLING: …But take my word for it, you youngsters – and I’ve learnt in the good hard school of experience – that a man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own – and - 
We hear the sharp ring of a door bell. Birling stops to listen.
ERIC: Somebody at the front door.

8. What do all four of these motifs have in common?
They all disrupt/cut the flow of the play
Telephone ringing = “…rings sharply”
Exits & entrances = “They wait, looking towards the door”
Doorbell = “…sharp ring”
Interjections = “cutting through”

9. Dramatic Tension Essay
Choose one of the four motifs of tension that are used in the play, and write an essay exploring the use and effect of the motif on the play:
How does Priestley create tension in the play?

10. How does Priestley create tension in the play?
P = Priestley uses [tension motif] to create dramatic tension. Ev = This can be seen when… Ex = This creates tension because… In addition, it links to the play’s theme of ________ because… L = In the quote, Priestley uses [technique] because… In addition, the word “______________” connotes… Also, the word “___________” connotes… A = Priestley creates tension through [tension motif] because… He wanted the audience to feel/think about…
For a Level 4+, remember to:
Answer directly the essay question
Focus on your point throughout the paragraph
Repeat keywords
Use 2-3 quotations to support your point
Explain the connection between the point and the evidence
Discuss how the evidence links to the themes/symbols of the play
Explain the purpose of the techniques in your evidence (find 2-3 techniques)
Explain the connotations of the keywords in your evidence, and link them to the point (2-3 words)
Link the evidence to the context of 1945/6 (World War II, Suffragette Movement, strikes, socialism/capitalism, Priestley’s life)
Use specific words to answer your question (playwright, connotations, act, themes, symbols, characters, genre)