Suspense

Definition

Suspense is a narrative device that creates a feeling of uncertainty or anxiety about what will happen next in a story. It keeps the audience engaged and emotionally invested by heightening tension through conflict, unanswered questions, and stakes. The skillful use of suspense allows for impactful moments throughout the plot, driving the story forward and enhancing emotional responses.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Suspense is often built through pacing, where slower moments can amplify tension and make the audience anticipate upcoming events.
2. The three-act structure effectively uses suspense by establishing stakes early on, escalating tension through conflicts, and resolving those conflicts in a dramatic climax.
3. Conflict is crucial for creating suspense, as it directly impacts the characters' fates and keeps the audience guessing about outcomes.
4. Key plot points serve as turning points that can heighten suspense, introducing new challenges that the characters must face.
5. Exposition delivered through dialogue can also generate suspense by revealing information gradually, creating intrigue as characters navigate their circumstances.

Review Questions

• How does the three-act structure enhance the creation of suspense within a screenplay?
  • The three-act structure enhances suspense by providing a clear framework for escalating tension. In Act One, key elements like conflict and stakes are introduced, which establish the foundation for suspense. As the story progresses into Act Two, complications arise, deepening the audience's concern for the characters' fates. The resolution in Act Three typically involves a climax that resolves these tensions, providing a satisfying payoff after building suspense throughout the narrative.
• In what ways do conflict and stakes contribute to the development of suspense in a screenplay?
  • Conflict and stakes are fundamental to developing suspense because they create uncertainty regarding character outcomes. When characters face significant challenges or dangers, it raises the stakes of their actions. This uncertainty about whether characters will succeed or fail engages the audience's emotions, making them more invested in the story. The higher the stakes and more intense the conflict, the greater the suspense, as viewers are left wondering how things will resolve.
• Evaluate how effective scene structure can manipulate suspense within a screenplay.
  • Effective scene structure manipulates suspense by controlling pacing and revealing information strategically. Each scene should build on tension by creating questions that remain unanswered until later in the narrative. For example, scenes can begin with an unresolved situation or introduce an unexpected twist that raises new questions. By crafting scenes that maintain uncertainty while pushing characters toward pivotal moments, screenwriters keep audiences engaged and eager to see what happens next.

Related terms

Tension:

The mental or emotional strain caused by the conflict in a story, which often leads to suspense.

Foreshadowing:

A literary technique used to give hints or clues about what might happen later in the story, thereby building suspense.

Cliffhanger:

An ending that leaves the audience in suspense by not resolving the plot, making them eager to find out what happens next.