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Understanding the form and structure of An Inspector Calls is essential for AO2 (analysing language, form, and structure). Priestley makes deliberate structural choices that shape the audience's experience and reinforce his message. This lesson covers the well-made play form, the three-act structure, unity of time and place, and the play's cyclical ending.
An Inspector Calls is divided into three acts. Each act has a distinct dramatic function:
| Act | Focus | Key events | Dramatic function |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exposition and early revelations | Engagement celebration; Birling's speeches; Inspector arrives; Birling and Sheila questioned | Establishes characters, introduces conflict, builds tension |
| 2 | Deepening investigation | Gerald confesses; Mrs Birling questioned; Act ends with Eric exposed | Escalates stakes; increases dramatic irony |
| 3 | Climax and aftermath | Eric confesses; Inspector's final speech; family debates; phone call | Moral confrontation; characters tested; cyclical ending |
Priestley crafts each act ending as a cliffhanger:
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