Lesson 8-9: Suspense 9/24/2017

Learning Objective To define the literary device suspense. To explain how the author creates suspense in their stories. 2

What is Suspense?

I’m going to tell you what suspense is…Are you ready?

Are you ready to learn about suspense?

Suspense is so awesome. You’re going to love it.

Just wait until I tell you about suspense. It will change your life.

Are

you

ready

To

learn

About

Suspense?

What is Suspense? the intense feeling that an audience goes through while waiting for the outcome of certain events. It leaves the reader holding their breath and wanting more information. The amount of intensity in a suspenseful moment is why it is hard to put a book down

How do Authors Create Suspense? Create some uncertainty, anxiety, doubt and apprehension. who is behind the door? what is making the spooky sound? To whom does the mysterious foot steps belong.

Example of Suspense in Roald Dahl “Suddenly she froze. There was something coming up the street on the opposite side. It was something black…something tall and black…Something very tall and very black and very thin.” -The BFG

The Magic of Three – 3 Hints to Build Suspense Hint #1 – Raise a story question by getting inside the main characters mind! Hint #2 – Slow down the action and use five senses. Hint #3 – Discovery! The main character discovers what is happening!

3 Hints 1st Hint – the main character smells something, hears something, sees something or feels something 1st Reaction – the main character reacts to the hint by moving, jumping, stopping, staring, or any other body or sense reaction. 1st Thought – the main character thinks something in response to the hint (couldn’t be, nothing there, going crazy, something else, questioning, etc.)

Raising Story Questions What was that noise? Was it just the wind or was it something else? (Stating a question the main character is wondering about) “What was that noise?” he whispered. Was it just the wind or was it something else? (Same thing done with dialogue) “I wonder if that noise is just the sound of the shutters banging against the house.”(A statement of concern, wonder, or worry) “I hope that noise isn’t a ghost,” she whispered. (A statement of hope, but with worry and foreshadowing a problem that is about to occur in the story)

Example of how to use Word Referents: Word Referents are words that stand for other words. This technique teases the reader by holding back some piece of critical information. The reader reads on to discover the missing piece. Example of how to use Word Referents: “Daniel froze. It loomed over him, at least seven feet of matter brown fur. It snarled and swatted at him with heavy powerful claws. Daniel stared, horrified at its yellowed teeth visible behind its curled-back snout. The beast came closer and closer to him and Daniel backed up, afraid to turn his back for a second.”

Red Flag Words When using the Magic of Three, authors use red flag words or phrases to grab the readers attention to build suspense and to let the reader know that something important will happen. Examples: Suddenly Just then all of a sudden A moment later Without warning The next thing I knew Instantly To my surprise

Red Flag Words Just then I heard a strange rustling sound in the bushes, I slowed down and glanced over. The sound stopped and I didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. A moment later I caught a glimpse of something moving off behind the trees. Without warning the ground began to tremble. I spun around and gasped. I found myself facing the monster.

Now it’s your turn… If you dare! Write a suspenseful scene, continuing from your previous scene. Raise Story Questions Use three hints Use word referents Use red flag words Reveal something (not necessarily the monster) 24