The Open Window Suspense

With the proper use of foreshadowing, unanswered questions, and irony, suspense can be created throughout a story. To begin with, foreshadowing creates suspense through the reader’s anticipation of what is to come. This is due to the reader wanting to know what the outcome of the story is, further increasing suspense. For example, in The Necklace, Madame Loisel goes to the jeweler whose name was found inside the case of the necklace she lost, in order to replace it. Surprisingly, the jeweler responds with “It was not I, madame, who sold that necklace; I must simply have furnished the case” (Maupassant, 4). This foreshadows the outcome of the story because if the necklace had really been as precious as she thought, it would not have been sold

When questions arise about an event or action, the reader becomes curious in order to further comprehend the story. This curiosity creates a suspenseful atmosphere for the reader. In The Open Window, Vera mentions the window multiple times. For example, Vera says “You may wonder why we keep that window wide open on an October afternoon” (Saki, 1). Furthermore, the reader becomes interested as to find out the significance of the window. A suspenseful atmosphere is created when this sense of curiosity drives the reader to answer this unsolved question. Thus, unanswered questions are used in order to create suspense through curiosity. Lastly, irony is used to create suspense through pity. For instance, in The Stolen Party, Rosaura thought she was Luciana’s best friend, but instead, she treated Rosaura like a servant. This is evident when Senora Ines gives Rosaura money instead of toy, and says “Thank you for all your help, my pet” (Heker, 5). This event of dramatic irony clearly creates suspense because the reader is knowledgeable of what is happening but Rosaura is not, thus feeling pity. Also, the reader can step into the shoes of Rosaura and enter the suspenseful atmosphere she is