Suspense

Definition

Suspense is a literary device that creates a feeling of excitement or anxiety about what will happen next in a story. It builds tension and keeps the reader engaged by delaying the resolution of conflicts or questions, often using elements such as cliffhangers, foreshadowing, and pacing to enhance the emotional experience. In literature, suspense serves to draw readers deeper into the narrative, making them eager to discover the outcome.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Suspense is often enhanced by pacing; authors may slow down the narrative during crucial moments to increase tension.
2. The use of unreliable narrators can also create suspense, as readers may question the truth of the information being presented.
3. In Aristotelian poetics, suspense is connected to the concept of catharsis, where emotional tension is eventually resolved, leading to relief or satisfaction for the audience.
4. Effective use of suspense can lead to a stronger emotional investment from readers, as they become more involved in the fate of characters.
5. Suspense can be found across various genres, including mystery, thriller, and horror, where maintaining an air of uncertainty is crucial for engagement.

Review Questions

• How does suspense function as a literary device within narratives, and what are some techniques authors use to create it?
  • Suspense functions by creating anticipation in readers about future events, drawing them into the story. Authors employ techniques such as foreshadowing, which hints at future outcomes, and pacing, where they might slow down key moments to build tension. Additionally, cliffhangers can leave readers hanging at critical points, ensuring they remain engaged and eager to find out what happens next.
• In what ways can suspense contribute to character development and audience engagement in a literary work?
  • Suspense plays a vital role in character development by placing characters in challenging situations that require them to make difficult choices. As readers experience this tension, they develop a deeper emotional connection with the characters and their struggles. This engagement is further enhanced when readers are invested in the characters' fates, leading them to care about the resolution of conflicts and ultimately feel satisfied when tensions are resolved.
• Evaluate how Aristotle's concepts in poetics relate to modern interpretations of suspense in literature.
  • Aristotle's concepts in poetics emphasize the importance of plot structure and emotional resonance in storytelling, which directly relates to modern interpretations of suspense. By understanding that well-crafted plots should evoke feelings of tension and anticipation, contemporary writers harness suspense as a tool for deeper emotional engagement. The balance between tension and resolution aligns with Aristotle's idea of catharsis, where audiences experience purging emotions through suspenseful storytelling that eventually leads to satisfying conclusions.

Related terms

Tension: Tension refers to the mental or emotional strain created by conflicting elements in a story, which often heightens the sense of suspense.

Foreshadowing:

Foreshadowing is a technique used by authors to give hints or clues about what may happen later in the story, contributing to the buildup of suspense.

Cliffhanger: A cliffhanger is a dramatic and unresolved ending to a chapter or scene that leaves readers eager to find out what happens next, effectively heightening suspense.