Discuss two ways that JB Priestley creates a sense of foreshadowing in the first act of 'An Inspector Calls'.

In 'An Inspector Calls', JB Priestley uses many literary techniques to create a tense atmosphere that foreshadows the events that occur later in the play. Firstly, Priestley uses the technique of dramatic irony, when Mr Birling says that the new Titanic ship is 'unsinkable...absolutely unsinkable'. The repetition of the adjective 'unsinkable' increases the anticipation felt by the modern audience of the play, who would already know that the Titanic sunk two years after the play is set. Here, Priestley amuses the audience with his use of dramatic irony and the over-confidence of Mr Birling, but also warns the audience that the characters too could find themselves in the middle of a disaster like the Titanic.

Secondly, Priestley creates an atmosphere of foreshadowing when Sheila teases Gerald about him being 'awfully busy at the works all the time'. Sheila replies 'yes, that's what you say'. Although Priestly uses stage directions to show that Sheila says this in a 'half serious, half playful' manner, it foreshadows her surprise later in the play when it is revealed that Gerald had an affair with Eva. The fact that Sheila was 'half serious' shows the audience that she was suspicious from the beginning of the play, which makes the audience suspect that Gerald was not faithful to her, and helps them to anticipate when these secrets will be revealed.