Suspense

Definition

Suspense is a literary device that creates a feeling of excitement or anxiety about what might happen next in a story. It involves building tension and uncertainty, often through unexpected twists, cliffhangers, or the slow revelation of crucial information. This emotional engagement encourages readers to keep turning pages to see how the story unfolds.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Suspense often relies on the reader's emotional investment in the characters and their fates, making it a powerful tool for engaging audiences.
2. Authors can create suspense through pacing, using short sentences and paragraphs to quicken the narrative flow during tense moments.
3. The use of unreliable narrators can heighten suspense by making readers question the truth of the information presented.
4. Setting can play a crucial role in creating suspense; dark, isolated locations often amplify feelings of dread and uncertainty.
5. Suspense is commonly found in genres like thrillers, mysteries, and horror, where maintaining a sense of danger or intrigue is essential.

Review Questions

• How does an author create suspense through character development?
  • An author can create suspense by deeply developing characters, making their goals and motivations clear while placing them in high-stakes situations. When readers are emotionally invested in a character's well-being or success, any threats or challenges they face become more intense. This connection amplifies the tension as readers worry about whether the character will succeed or survive.
• In what ways can foreshadowing be used effectively to build suspense in a narrative?
  • Foreshadowing can effectively build suspense by planting hints or clues about future events that create anticipation and uncertainty. By subtly hinting at dangers or conflicts to come, authors keep readers on edge as they piece together information. This technique encourages readers to reflect on the narrative and fosters a sense of impending doom or revelation as the story progresses.
• Evaluate how the use of setting contributes to suspense in literature and its impact on the overall narrative experience.
  • The setting plays a vital role in creating suspense by establishing an atmosphere that can evoke feelings of fear or unease. For instance, dark, eerie locations with limited visibility can heighten tension and make readers feel trapped alongside characters. This connection between setting and emotional response enriches the narrative experience, drawing readers further into the story while amplifying their anticipation for what might occur next.

Related terms

tension: The mental or emotional strain that characters experience, often caused by conflict, uncertainty, or impending danger in the narrative.

foreshadowing: A technique used to give hints or clues about what will happen later in the story, which can create suspense by preparing the reader for future events.

cliffhanger:

A dramatic ending to a chapter or scene that leaves the audience in suspense, eager to know what happens next.