Suspense

Definition

Suspense is a literary device used to create a feeling of uncertainty or anxiety about what will happen next in a narrative. This emotional tension keeps the audience engaged and eager to discover the outcome, as it often involves a conflict or a critical situation that requires resolution. The art of building suspense is essential in both feature writing and advertising, as it compels readers and viewers to remain invested in the story being told.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Suspense relies on pacing and timing; effective use of these elements can heighten emotional investment and keep the audience on edge.
2. In feature writing, suspense can be built through detailed storytelling that gradually reveals crucial information, making readers question what will happen next.
3. Suspense is often used in advertising by presenting a problem or challenge without immediately revealing the solution, enticing viewers to stay tuned.
4. Character development is key in creating suspense; the more invested readers are in characters, the more they care about their fates.
5. Manipulating the audience's expectations is essential for suspense; writers often mislead or surprise viewers to maintain interest and tension.

Review Questions

• How does building suspense enhance reader engagement in feature writing?
  • Building suspense enhances reader engagement by creating emotional investment in the narrative. As readers are led through a carefully crafted storyline with rising tension, they become increasingly curious about the characters' outcomes. This technique keeps readers turning pages, as they yearn to discover how conflicts resolve and how characters navigate challenges.
• Discuss how suspense can be effectively used in advertising to captivate an audience's attention.
  • In advertising, suspense captivates audiences by presenting a problem or scenario that leaves them wanting more. Advertisers often create narratives that lead viewers to wonder about the resolution or outcome without giving away the answer right away. This not only holds attention but also encourages viewers to seek out the product or service being advertised as a potential solution to the presented dilemma.
• Evaluate the role of foreshadowing in building suspense and its impact on audience perception.
  • Foreshadowing plays a crucial role in building suspense by subtly hinting at future events, which creates anticipation and heightens emotional tension. When audiences recognize these hints, they become more engaged as they piece together clues about what might happen next. This technique not only deepens their connection to the narrative but also influences their perception of character decisions and plot developments, making resolutions more impactful when they occur.

Related terms

Tension: A sense of strain or unease created in the audience, often leading to emotional engagement with the characters and plot.

Cliffhanger: A dramatic ending to a section of a narrative that leaves the audience eager to know what happens next, often used at the end of chapters or scenes.

Foreshadowing: A technique that hints at events yet to come, helping to build anticipation and suspense within the story.