Performance Assessment Essay Suspense; Suspense is the intense feeling that an audience goes through while waiting for the outcome of certain events. It basically 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. Without suspense, a reader would lose interest quickly in any story because there is nothing that is making the reader ask, “What’s going to happen next?” In writing, there has to be a series of events that leads to a climax that captivates the audience and makes them tense and anxious to know what is going to happen. And Suspense, is what “August heat” primarily uses to keep its story so invigorating. The first element of “August …show more content…
It was extremely heavy and sometimes obvious with the amount of foreshadowing. It starts on the first lines of the story. “Penistone Road, Clapham, 20th August, 19-” (Harvey 385). The year being missing gives a clue to a major point later in the story. With good analytical skills, the reader can (correctly) assume that the end of the story will be the narrator writing about himself writing the story. The narrator most likely did not include the year because he wanted the reader to figure out that it was not supposed to be a year, but another date. The way the story is told is like a diary entry. The missing date at the end helps the reader determine the end for himself. In the end it is suggested that the character dies. However if the character does die, he does it after the story ends. This piece of foreshadowing shows that the narrator most likely dies. The story was finished being wrote close to midnight. If the character did in fact live, he would have made it to the next day and the date for the next day would have been written. Since the date is not there, the reader can assume that the character died, which fills in the missing pieces that the narrator leaves the reader to figure out. The foreshadowing continues on the same page. The main character, Withencroft draws a sketch depicting a criminal, who he meets later that day. Three pages later comes the next case of foreshadowing. The criminal that …show more content…
The use of first person narration limits the reader to the perspective of Withencroft, so the reader only knows as much as he does. The narration also allows the reader to know Withencroft’s feelings. “A sudden impulse made me enter” (Harvey 385), moments such as that in the story show Withencroft’s feelings. This expands the reader 's knowledge of the story, because the actions of the narrator are explained. In the previous quote, the inside knowledge on the character lets the reader know why the character went inside. This, again, expands the understanding of the story. The limited view and Withencroft’s feelings create a shady view in the story. “Then a cold shudder ran down my spine.” This is another sentence that seems simple. It is, yet it adds to the story. By including small details like this, the author not only broadened the reader 's knowledge of the story, but made it more enjoyable. The first person point of view also helped the story more personal to the reader. This made the story more enjoyable, because at the end of the story the feeling of suspense is greater, and the reader was hoping that the main character would not be killed. The first person view gave the reader more comprehension of the story, made it more enjoyable, broadened their knowledge on the story and let the reader connect and feel closer to the
In John Irving's novel titled, A Prayer for Owen Meany, suspenseful events are of abundance, and there are multiple ways the author creates this suspense. Among these methods of creating suspense, four that stand out are the use of setting, the pace of the story, the involvement of mysteries to be solved, and the ability of the reader to easily identify and sympathize with the protagonist. By placing a character in a gloomy or solitary place, uncomfortable feelings are created, which append to the suspense. Pace and structure of the story also play into the foundation of suspense, as shorter sentences and stronger, more cutting verbs and adjectives are often used to keep the reader highly interested and reading at a rapid speed. Of course, suspense could not be considered what it is if there were no mystery involved. The element of not knowing what is in store for the future and having the urge to find out is the essence of suspense. Also, if the reader cannot easily relate to and sympathize with the character in the suspenseful situation, a loss of interest can arise, and therefore spoil the spirit of the tension. Uncomfortable settings, pace and structure, use of mysteries, and capability to relate to the main character are four techniques that John Irving uses to create suspense.
This novel is told from the first person point of view. George Walton begins narrating the story through his letter to his sister. After he rescues Victor from the ice and nurses him back to health, Victor begins to tell Walton his tale. As the story begins the perspective shifts from Walton's to Victor's point of view while still being told in first person. The first person narration really helps give the reader insight into the true state of the main character's mind, and it is indeed a dark place.
Characters getting the "first-person" treatment are not just means to an end either, as they are fully developed and intrigue the reader to care about them, adding yet another layer to the larger story.
In the Heat of the Night takes place during the civil rights movement. Chief Gillespie in conjunction with the racist residents of Sparta, do not welcome outsiders, especially not a black man, which is obvious upon Virgil Tibbs unjust arrest at the train station. Gillespie appears as a corrupt, prejudiced, and narrow-minded police chief, yet he and Virgil continue working collectively to solve Colbert’s murder. Chief Gillespie appears to experience self-isolation and loneliness which he expresses in the scene in his house with Virgil. For example, Gillespie asks Tibbs if he has a family or if he is or has been married. Chief Gillespie reacts to Tibbs’ responses as a consolation of pity, yet they similarly share a common bond of employment
Even though some suspense doesn’t let the audience know anything, real suspense involves the audience being aware of everything that occurs. In the essay, it states, “The fact that the audience watches actors go blithely through an atmosphere that is loaded with evil makes for real suspense.” (6) This shows that whenever the audience watches the characters don't know anything that’s going on
The fragment we were given is a three paragraph narration that has longer sentences at the beginning and little by little begins shortening them until by the final paragraph they are very short. The long sentences being used to slow down the time that will be very important in the passage and hence to build up the suspense and tension in the ambience until the sentences become short and speed up the time in the story, building the tension more and more to a point where it seems like something is coming or something will occur. The story is also told by a protagonist narrator which we know thanks to the use of the first person and the direct access to the character’s mind along with his feelings and thoughts. This narrator is retelling us the story (“I have naturally no wish to enlarge on this phase of my story. (…) I would have passed it over if I didn’t think that some account of it was necessary for a full understanding of what follows”[line 19-20]) of his trip over to Ransom’s house, a path which will trigger his paranoia and fear. The style of the writing is very direct as the narrator is practically in a one-sided dialogue with his readers.
2. The author creates tone, which changes from peaceful and calm to horror. Words in the story like humorlessly and awkwardly help the reader feel the tension in the town. In the story, “She held her breath while her husband went forward” proved that the characters was dealing with ...
Everyone at one point has been captivated and intrigued by the plot of a movie or a book. This captivation is generated by the one tool that authors and directors love the most, suspense. Authors want their audience and readers of their writing to be enthralled by creating tension and thrill in their plot. The usage of style, characterization, point of view, and foreshadowing allows authors and directors to create suspense in their work. Suspense is a very difficult approach to master but with the correct tools it can be as simple as a walk through the park.
6. Writing in first person can often be limiting, but if used correctly, it can bring the reader into the narrator’s mind and provide effective characterization resulting in the feeling of relation or connection to the narrator.
Reading a novel is an active experience. Opinions are formed and changed during the course of a plot. Not knowing what is going to happen next, or what is lurking around the corner, can provide the same sort of fear in a novel that is present in a scary movie. Brown's use of first person narration may have exposed some bad judgement in the characters, especially Clara. Her ever-changing views and assessments of Carwin, however, play a large part in maintaining the suspense of the story. It is the use of first person narration that allows us to see Clara's judgement of Carwin for what it is, without the help of an omniscient narrator. As a result, the story is able to capture our attention and instill us with fear.
Suspense is a key factor to the story, “The Masque of the Red Death” by Edgar Allen Poe. According to the Oxford Dictionary, suspense is the state or feeling of excited or anxious uncertainty about what may happen. Poe uses the senses to bring the reader aware of the building suspense. He does this by telling the reader about the ominous setting of all the chambers, especially the seventh chamber. The sound of the grandfather clock, sending sinister shivers throughout the party goers each hour, keeps them on their toes. Finally, the fast-paced chase of the intruder and the Prince build to the suspense at the final moments of the story.
Since the story was written in the third person objective, it is easier for the reader to remain objective while analyzing the story. If we one were to hear the story from on of the character’s point of view, the retelling of the story would be clouded with various em...
The plot is entertaining and suspenseful which allows it to hold up to the standards of the list. Foreshadowing maintains interest, and is a prominent part of the suspenseful nature of the plot. After the first murder of Mrs. Ascher, Hastings believed that the crime is a singular event, but Poirot stated, “This is only the beginning” (Christie 22). The author uses a delightful example of foreshadowing to hint to the later murders. This keeps the plot suspenseful which makes one want to continue reading. After discussing possible coincidences on the day of the murder with the victims’ friends and families, Poirot realized, “I tell you my friends, it cannot be a coincidence. Three crimes---and every time a man selling stockings and spying out the land” (Christie 211). The finding of clues allows the plot to continue, thus maintaining the reader’s interest and preventing the story from becoming too tedious to enjoy. While Monsieur Poirot finished pronouncing the name of the murderer, the narration stated, “Two detectives...
Suspense is the feeling of uncertainty or excitement, in waiting for an outcome or decision. Edgar Allan Poe uses suspense in his story “Masque of the Red Death” by using objects and great descriptive detail. Poe’s story is about a prince that tries to escape from the inevitable. He tries to lock himself away from the ‘red death’ and has a masquerade ball that doesn’t end happily. Prince and all of his guests die inside or around the seventh apartment room. The seventh room is preceded by six colored rooms which are meant to symbolize either the stages of life, or the seven sins. Inside the last room there are black velvet tapestries that hang all over the ceiling and down the walls. The window panes are a deep blood red color which gives the room an unwelcoming atmosphere. On the western wall, there is a gigantic clock of a deep black wood. Inside it has a pendulum that swings back and forth with a dull monotonous clang. When the minute hand marks a new hour, there is a clear, loud, deep sound, which can be heard from far away. Although it can give off an eerie feeling, the great eb...
Having Christopher narrating the book in first person is important because it is easier for the reader to understand his written account of the murder of Mr. and Mrs. Sheers dog (Wellington); A step by step investigation is projected and shown to the reader when narrated in first person.