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Year 11 - English

'An Inspector Calls' as Brechtian theatre and socialist realism

'An Inspector Calls': Priestley's theatrical strategy; politics, genre, and form

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils look at how Priestly uses dramatic forms to present his ideas. They look at naturalism and expressionism, before thinking about how the play fits with Brechtian theatre and the morality play tradition. They finally write about how Priestly uses form to present his ideas.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain how 'An Inspector Calls' could be considered as both Brechtian theatre and socialist realism.

Key Notes

  • 'An Inspector Calls' uses Brechtian techniques, like alienation, to provoke critical thought.
  • Brechtian techniques and epic theatre contrast with naturalism, urging intellectual engagement over emotional immersion.
  • The play critiques class inequality, aligning with Brechtian and socialist realism themes of social justice.
  • Priestley's Inspector is a symbolic figure of moral authority, resembling socialist realism heroes.
  • Priestley critiques both capitalism and the idealism of socialist realism, avoiding utopian solutions.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • alienation: a technique to make the audience critically aware of the play's social or political issues
  • catharsis: emotional release experienced by the audience, often through pity or fear
  • fourth wall: the imaginary barrier between the actors and the audience in a performance
  • episodic: a narrative structure where the story unfolds through a series of distinct episodes or scenes
  • theatricality: the use of dramatic elements that highlight the artifice and performance in theatre

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • The play is definitely Brechtian or purely social realism.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.

'An Inspector Calls' uses Brechtian techniques, like alienation, to provoke critical thought. Brechtian techniques and epic theatre contrast with naturalism, urging intellectual engagement over emotional immersion.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'alienation'

a technique to make the audience critically aware of the play's social or political issues.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: The play is definitely Brechtian or purely social realism. Correction: The ideas behind Brechtian theatre and social realism were part of the cultural landscape when Priestley was writing. Instead of fitting it into one category, it's better to consider how Priestley may have been influenced by these forms.

More Lessons In This Unit

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