Suspense and Foreshadowing

What Is Suspense? Suspense is the uncertainty or anxiety you feel about what will happen next in a story. Suspense makes a story exciting. Suspense makes you want to read more to find out what will happen next.

How Writers Create Suspense When exciting, dramatic, or scary plot events occur in the action of the story, you feel suspense. Aki looked around, but she couldn’t tell which way the campsite was. The trees and shrubs did not reveal any path. “Hello,” she shouted. “Can anybody hear me?” But there was no answering yell, just her own voice echoing off the mountains. It was beginning to get dark. She would have to spend the night in this clearing. Then, she heard a low growl off among the trees. A second later, she heard it again. This time it was louder. Whatever was making the growl was coming closer.

How Writers Create Suspense Sometimes the mood of a story creates suspense. Thunder rumbled softly in the distance as I walked slowly up the driveway towards the huge, dark mansion. The oak trees towered over my head; their bare branches grabbed at the gray sky like fingers. As I reached the end of the driveway, I could see how old and deserted the mansion looked. Long cobwebs coated the windows like curtains. As I stepped onto the crumbling stone stairs, the front door slowly creaked open.

How Writers Create Suspense Characters’ actions, words, and feelings can create suspense in a story. “Don’t follow me,” David told the others. “This is something I have to do alone.” Holding the lantern high, he began to walk along the beach. It was dark except for a sliver of moon, but he didn’t feel nervous until he saw the tide pool up ahead. Cautiously, he crept towards it. His knees were trembling as he held the lantern over the pool. The light glinted on a small gold box. David knew this box held the answer to all of their problems. But at what price? His hand shook as he reached slowly into the cool, still water.

How Writers Create Suspense What the narrator says and how he or she says it can create suspense. Yes, after reaching the age of one hundred and four, I’ve seen many amazing things. Many terrifying things, too. Actually, the most amazing sight I’ve ever beheld was also the most terrifying. It was many years ago, but I’ll never forget that day. I was with an expedition deep in the mountains on an uncharted planet. None of the other twenty—poor wretches—ever left that planet’s surface. I’m the only one who’s left to tell the story, and I have told it to no one before today.

What Is Foreshadowing? Foreshadowing is the use of clues to suggest events that will happen later in the story. Writers often use foreshadowing to increase suspense. Readers can use foreshadowing to try to guess what will happen next in the story.

Foreshadowing I was very excited the day I adopted my new puppy, Fig. I took her home and made a bed for her out of old blankets. As I was pouring dry food in her bowl, I thought I heard a soft voice speaking behind me. Startled, I spun around, but there was nobody there but Fig.

The next day I left Fig alone while I went to the grocery store The next day I left Fig alone while I went to the grocery store. Fig hadn’t seemed to like the dry food very much, so I decided to buy her some canned food. When I came back, I saw that the phone was off the hook. “That’s funny,” I said aloud. “I thought I hung that up.”

Just then there was a knock on the door. “Deli delivery for Ms. Fig!”

What Have You Learned? 1. What is foreshadowing? a. the uncertainty or anxiety we feel about what will happen next in a story b. the use of clues to suggest events that will happen later in the story

1. What is foreshadowing? a. the uncertainty or anxiety we feel about what will happen next in a story b. the use of clues to suggest events that will happen later in the story

2. Foreshadowing is used to increase suspense. a. true b. false

2. Foreshadowing is used to increase suspense. a. true b. false

The End