Suspense

Definition

Suspense is a literary device used to create a feeling of excitement or anxious uncertainty about what will happen next in a story. It keeps readers engaged, as they are eager to discover the outcome of a situation or the fate of characters. Suspense often involves elements such as foreshadowing, tension, and dramatic irony, which collectively heighten emotional engagement and maintain interest throughout the narrative.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Suspense is central to sensation novels, as they often feature shocking events and secrets that propel the plot forward.
2. Wilkie Collins effectively uses cliffhangers at the end of chapters to enhance suspense, leaving readers eager to continue reading.
3. The blend of mystery and revelation in Collins' work often creates a back-and-forth effect that sustains suspense throughout the narrative.
4. Collins explores themes such as betrayal and morality, which intensify suspense by putting characters in morally ambiguous situations.
5. Readers often feel emotionally invested in characters' fates due to the suspenseful situations they find themselves in, making the experience more immersive.

Review Questions

• How does Wilkie Collins use suspense to enhance reader engagement in his sensation novels?
  • Wilkie Collins employs suspense by incorporating unexpected twists and cliffhangers that leave readers in eager anticipation. His strategic use of foreshadowing and tension creates an environment where readers are invested in uncovering secrets and resolving conflicts. This keeps them turning pages as they seek answers and become emotionally involved with the characters’ journeys.
• Discuss how elements like tension and dramatic irony contribute to the overall sense of suspense in Collins' works.
  • Tension is built through conflicts and high-stakes situations that characters face, making readers anxious about potential outcomes. Dramatic irony enhances this by allowing readers to know information that characters do not, creating a sense of dread as they anticipate how characters will react when they eventually learn the truth. Together, these elements ensure that suspense is maintained throughout the narrative.
• Evaluate the role of moral ambiguity in creating suspense within Wilkie Collins' sensation novels and its impact on character development.
  • Moral ambiguity plays a critical role in heightening suspense by placing characters in situations where their choices have significant consequences. This complexity leads readers to question characters' motivations and predict their actions, deepening their engagement with the story. As characters navigate dilemmas that challenge their ethics, suspense grows not only from plot developments but also from the psychological depth of character struggles.

Related terms

foreshadowing:

A technique where hints or clues are provided early in the story that suggest what will happen later, building anticipation for future events.

tension: The mental or emotional strain experienced by characters or readers, often caused by conflict, uncertainty, or the threat of danger.

dramatic irony: A situation in which the audience knows more about the circumstances than the characters do, creating heightened suspense as the audience anticipates characters' reactions.