Symbols• Symbols are objects which represent an idea or several ideas. Priestley uses

several of them in An Inspector Calls because they are frequently used as a short-cut to attitudes and values and they have wider meanings than their face value.

Here are some things to which Priestley gives symbolic value: • a port and whisky• b the engagement ring• c the Inspector• d the Titanic• e the door bell• f disinfectant• g the telephone.

Speech

• Priestley creates and develops characters not only by what they say but also by their uses of speech.

• There are distinctive catchphrases, turns of phrase, linguistic features (such as register, vocabulary and slang) as well as content which make the voices of the characters distinct from each other.