Priestly uses several techniques to keep his audience engaged

Using the form of a Detective Play

• Draws people in
• The audience like to try and solve the mystery
• They contain different twists and turns
• Dramatic themes eg. death
• 

Published in 1946 but set in 1912?

• In 1912 the class system was more rigid and things could dramatically change
• Dramatic Irony
• 

Dramatic Irony

• The audience knows things that the characters don't eg. Titanic sinking and WW1&2
• Arthur Birling: "Absolutely unsinkable I tell you"; "The Germans don't want war"
• Eric's odd behaviour and exits - shows he has done something wrong when Mrs Birling doesn't realise
• 

Unsympathetic Characters

• At the start Gerald seems a bit cold
• Mrs Birling is out…