Suspense

Definition

Suspense is a feeling of excitement or anxiety about what may happen next in a story, keeping the audience engaged and eager to know the outcome. It often arises from uncertainty and tension, and is crucial for driving the narrative forward, particularly in the context of storytelling structures that rely on conflict and resolution.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Suspense is often built through pacing and timing, where the careful control of information keeps the audience guessing.
2. It is closely linked to the development of characters and their conflicts, as audiences become invested in their fates.
3. In narratives following the Hero's Journey, suspense typically escalates during moments of trials and challenges faced by the hero.
4. Effective use of suspense can lead to emotional responses such as fear, excitement, or curiosity from the audience.
5. Suspense can be created through various techniques, including dialogue, music cues, and visual storytelling elements that suggest impending danger.

Review Questions

• How does suspense enhance the emotional engagement of an audience with a narrative?
  • Suspense enhances emotional engagement by creating a sense of anticipation and uncertainty regarding the characters' fates. When audiences feel unsure about what will happen next, they become more invested in the story and its characters. This emotional involvement drives them to continue watching or reading, as they seek resolution to the tension created throughout the narrative.
• Discuss how suspense is utilized within the Hero's Journey framework to propel the storyline.
  • In the Hero's Journey framework, suspense plays a critical role during key moments such as the hero's trials and tribulations. These moments create tension as the audience wonders whether the hero will succeed or fail. By strategically placing obstacles that threaten the hero's mission, storytellers can maintain high levels of suspense, compelling the audience to stay engaged until the resolution is reached.
• Evaluate how different narrative techniques contribute to building suspense and their effectiveness in storytelling.
  • Different narrative techniques such as pacing, foreshadowing, and cliffhangers are crucial for building suspense. Pacing controls how quickly information is revealed, keeping audiences on edge. Foreshadowing provides hints that create anticipation for future events. Cliffhangers leave stories open-ended, prompting immediate desire for resolution. When combined effectively, these techniques create an immersive experience where audiences remain emotionally invested and eagerly await outcomes.

Related terms

tension: The mental or emotional strain that creates anticipation and uncertainty in a narrative, often leading to suspense.

cliffhanger: A dramatic and suspenseful ending to a chapter or episode that leaves the audience eager to find out what happens next.

foreshadowing: A literary device used to give an indication or hint of what is to come later in the story, which can heighten the sense of suspense.