An Inspector Calls Key Content List: Context Stage

Transcript:An Inspector Calls Key Content List: Context Stage:
An Inspector Calls Key Content List: Context Stage Directions and Location Character Analysis Themes Plot and Analysis Context - What can you remember? Who was J.B. Priestley and what do we need to know about him? Born in Burnley, in the UK - closely linked to the fictional town of Brumley in the text Priestley experienced both WW1 and WW2 Priestley served in WW1 (1911 – 1915) and he describes that these years ‘set their stamp upon me’, meaning that he was incredibly affected by them. He had an issue with the way that poor officers were treated and this view is reflected within his presentation of the behaviour of the classes in ‘An Inspector Calls’ Known for political views and concerns about social inequality – started up the ‘Common Wealth Party’, which encouraged a moral and collectivist approach to politics. War could be avoided through co-operation His highly successful radio show was cancelled due to concerns about his highly politicised content An Inspector Calls Key Content List: Context Stage Directions and Location Character Analysis Themes Plot and Analysis Example Question Stage Directions/ Location and Setting – What can you remember? What are Stage Directions? stage direction noun an instruction in the text of a play indicating the movement, position, or tone of an actor, or the sound effects and lighting. Important Examples from the Text Stage Directions The use of stage directions is very explicit in this play, possibly because Priestley wanted the message of his play to be very specifically communicated to the audience. The stage directions indicate a number of things about the Birlings. 1. Wealth – the descriptions of the room and furniture, give the impression of a rich and privileged background. 2. Relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Birling – Mr. Birling is at the top of the table, reflecting the acceptable attitudes of the time, but also a potential emotional disconnect between these two characters. You can describe ‘space’ as a metaphor for their separate relationship. 3. Change in the lighting – ‘pink and intimate, becomes ‘ brighter and harder’ when the Inspector calls. Pink – rose tinted glasses reference – the Birling’s don’t live in the real world and look at things in their own way. The ‘brighter and harder’ light could be the truth, and also could be seen to be angelic. Also, behaves as a spot light on the Birlings’ mistakes. Stage