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An Inspector Calls

            How far is 'An Inspector Calls' by JB Priestley like a conventional detective story .
            
             In what important respects is it different?.
             'An Inspector Calls' by JB Priestley is like a conventional detective story or 'whodunit' in many ways.
             All detective stories and 'whodunits' always contain stock characters. The stock characters in An Inspector Calls are Mrs. Birling, the stubborn type who never accepts the truth. There Eric, the quiet shy type who lacks confidence and is easily intimidated. There's also Mr. Birling who is a hard headed business man who only thinks about money and his self.
             A 'whodunit' also consists of dramatic devices. A dramatic device is when something happens in the play which is unexpected and happens when a character is vunerable. For example on page 9 Eric says 'yes i remember(checks himself)'. This is a dramatic device because it gives the audience the impression that Eric knows something about the girl that has just died or suggests that he holds an important secret. Another use of dramatic device was when the Inspector showed Mr. Birling a photograph but would not let anyone else see. This is daramtic because it immediately gets the audience thinking that Gerald and Eric may also be involved.
             All 'whodunits' also consist of cliff hangers. A cliffhanger is when a part of the play ends leading the audience to guess what happens next. For example in 'An Inspector Calls' the telephone rings at the end of the last scene. Mr. Birling finds out that a girl has just died and an inspector is on his way round to ask some questions. This is a cliffhanger because just before the phonecall you found out that it was just a hoax, and you would like to know the family's reactions to the new inspector who is on its way.
             The impression we get of the inspector in 'An Inspector Calls' was that he is a mysterious man, and he is puposeful.
             One thing that make him seem mysterious is his name. His name, 'Goole', sounds closely related to Ghoul.


Essays Related to An Inspector Calls

1. Inspector Calls

An Inspector Calls J.B. Priestly "An Inspector Calls" written by J.B. Priestly, 1945, but was set in 1912. As he had lived through both wars he could see what had actually happened in the time the play was set. In the play, he uses the characters to express his views about socialism and possibly about class divisions. This essay will show the role of the inspector, "Inspector ... Goole" and how Priestly puts across his views. The play "An Inspector Calls", is about the Birling family, who are quite well off, and they are ... celebrating their daughters engagement with her "to be" husband, Ge...

  • Word Count: 883
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2. An Inspector Calls

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3. An Inspector Calls

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  • Word Count: 3228
  • Approx Pages: 13
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Inspector Goole

... is set in 1912, and being set at this time there was not only opportunity for predictions but also for a more drastic look at the relationship between rich and poor. An Inspector Calls is a play with many social and political messages. J. B. Priestly believed a great deal in socialism and he used several of his plays to try and influence people to be Socialist as ... form our own ideas about his identity and his intentions. In this way, Priestley has asked his audience to act as a judge and to reach personal conclusions about him. Theme: An Inspector Calls is a play with many social and...

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5. An Inspector Calls" Analysis of Dramatic Events

Analyse the dramatic events which take place in Act three and consider their effect on the audience. An Inspector Calls is a play which investigates the themes behind honesty, fairness, social justice and hypocrisy. It is about a family which consists of Arthur Birling, a ... look all warm and kind. The stage would have been lit with light, bright colours to give the audience the impression of cheerfulness, when the Inspector, Inspector Goole, comes in and tells the family that a young woman has committed suicide by drinking industrial disinfectant. At this point, the lighting would have been...

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6. "The success of "An Inspector Calls"

"An Inspector Calls" was written in 1945 by J.B. Priestley although it is set in the spring of 1912. This coursework will hope to address issues raised in ... the main theme that Priestley is trying to get across in An Inspector Calls. Once the identity of the inspector is out we can analyse him further, his name; Inspector Goole is quite interesting. Priestley perhaps chose this name as a pun, although we learn that he isn't actually an inspector we never find out who he actually is and it is ... are answered and so the audience leave feeling part of the story and left pondering what happe...

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7. An Inspector Calls

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8. Inspector Calls

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9. Inspector Calls

... aims to educate and entertain his audience. Is he successful? Is the message of the play still relevant today? "An Inspector Calls" by J.B Priestly was first performed in 1945. The play was set in 1912 before the First World War. He set the ... at this point because he is there to prove Birling's point wrong. Priestly wanted the Inspector to appear to be threatening. `He wasn't a big man but he creates at once an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness". Inspector Goole persuades the Birling's to confess to their crimes. Even his name has a ghostly form, he ... see horr...

  • Word Count: 1159
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

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