How does J.B. Priestley create suspense and tesnsionin the play "An inspector calls"?

Question

How does J.B. Priestley create suspense and tesnsionin the play "An inspector calls"?

Answer 1

He confines the action to the dining room to create focus on the action. He also strings out the questioning of each of the family in turn so that each scenario can be explored. He also throws in cliff-hangers at the end of each act to give food for thought before the next section.

Answer 2

Check out BBC Bitesize revision notes and/or simply Google the play and you will be presented with some sound examples of the way in which Priestley uses the characters and situations to build suspense and tension.

I simply love the play because the underlying tension between the dead girl - Eva, the family and the Inspector is one around gender and class!

The period around 1912 is one of great change in UK society.

Women's rights

Workers' rights and the welfare state

Revolution building ; challenges to the ruling classes, the rumblings of a World War...

All of the inter relations in An Inspector Calls raise these issues...acted out in the family, the younger generation attempting to break away from their parents' traditions, yet, holding fast to some of the snobbery and bigotry.

Sorry, not been much help, but what an excellent play to study...enjoy and good luck!