The Elements of Suspense

All Stories Contain Certain Elements Plot Plot Character Character Setting Setting Dialogue Dialogue Narrative Narrative

Suspense Anxiety or apprehension resulting from an uncertain, undecided, or mysterious situation Dictionary.com

In suspense there must be an unknown; a suspicion, a mystery, a danger we expect In suspense there must be an unknown; a suspicion, a mystery, a danger we expect

Suspense (mystery, intrigue, tension) is built with: Facts Facts Innuendo Innuendo Atmosphere Atmosphere Action Action

Ways to deepen suspense… Dreams foreshadowing what may happen foreshadowing what may happen showing the character’s deepest fears, his haunting past showing the character’s deepest fears, his haunting past

Ways to deepen suspense… Clues journals / diaries / letters / notes / pictures, etc. journals / diaries / letters / notes / pictures, etc. physical evidence that can be used to determine time of death, how, and where physical evidence that can be used to determine time of death, how, and where

Ways to deepen suspense… The Weather the season can match or contrast the characters’ emotional state the season can match or contrast the characters’ emotional state

Ways to deepen suspense… The Senses the smell of blood, the stench of an alley the smell of blood, the stench of an alley the taste of fear the taste of fear reaction to finding a dead body reaction to finding a dead body the feel of blood-soaked clothing the feel of blood-soaked clothing

Ways to deepen suspense… The Villain his/her motivations or intentions his/her motivations or intentions simple greed, jealousy, money simple greed, jealousy, money the complicated serial killer mind the complicated serial killer mind

Ways to deepen suspense… Other characters plant red herrings plant red herrings shift suspicion onto them shift suspicion onto them

Themes Concerning People Terror inflicted upon the often unknowing and innocent victim Terror inflicted upon the often unknowing and innocent victim Innocent people caught up in events they cannot control Innocent people caught up in events they cannot control Transference of guilt: innocent character’s failings are transferred to another character and magnified Transference of guilt: innocent character’s failings are transferred to another character and magnified Explored the compatibility of men and women (especially a mother figure) Explored the compatibility of men and women (especially a mother figure) The wrong man The wrong man

Themes Concerning the Mind Guilt (real or the appearance of it) Guilt (real or the appearance of it) Redemption Redemption Early films reflected the political climate of Europe during the war Early films reflected the political climate of Europe during the war Preferred to use suspense rather than surprise Preferred to use suspense rather than surprise

The Nightmarish Mind of Edgar Allen Poe

Background Born Born His mother died during his youth and his father abandoned them His mother died during his youth and his father abandoned them After the death of his grandmother, he married his 13-year-old cousin, Virginia in 1835 After the death of his grandmother, he married his 13-year-old cousin, Virginia in 1835 Virginia died in 1847 Virginia died in 1847 Died in 1849 Died in 1849

Education of Poe Entered and dropped from both the University of Virginia and West Point Entered and dropped from both the University of Virginia and West Point Ran into debt and started borrowing money, gambling and getting deeper into debt Ran into debt and started borrowing money, gambling and getting deeper into debt

Writing Style of Poe Wrote in a Gothic Style Wrote in a Gothic Style Deep and intense Deep and intense Explorations of а world of dream and of nightmare Explorations of а world of dream and of nightmare In his stories the past is darker, more ominous and oppresses his heroes and heroines In his stories the past is darker, more ominous and oppresses his heroes and heroines

Poe’s Characters Many of his characters are filled with madness Many of his characters are filled with madness Obsessed with the irrational side of the mind Obsessed with the irrational side of the mind

Edgar Allen Poe’s The Tell-Tale H E A R T

Setting Setting The story opens with the narrator telling readers that he is not mad. His narrative is supposed to be a vehicle to show he is not insane. The story opens with the narrator telling readers that he is not mad. His narrative is supposed to be a vehicle to show he is not insane. The story is set in a house occupied by the narrator and an old man during the mid 1800’s. The story is set in a house occupied by the narrator and an old man during the mid 1800’s. General Information

Genre Genre Horror story and Horror story and psychological thriller Story and Style Story and Style The Tell Tale Heart is one of Poe’s shortest stories. It’s lack of detail only adds to its suspense by creating a mood of paranoia for the reader that mirrors the feelings of the narrator The Tell Tale Heart is one of Poe’s shortest stories. It’s lack of detail only adds to its suspense by creating a mood of paranoia for the reader that mirrors the feelings of the narrator

Literary Focus Point of View Point of View The story is told in first-person point of view by an unreliable narrator. The story is told in first-person point of view by an unreliable narrator. The narrator is obviously deranged, even though he declares at the outset that he is sane. The narrator is obviously deranged, even though he declares at the outset that he is sane. As in many of his other short stories, Poe does not name the narrator. As in many of his other short stories, Poe does not name the narrator.

Literary Focus Irony Irony The irony of the story stems from the narrator’s claims of sanity being disproved by his own claims. The irony of the story stems from the narrator’s claims of sanity being disproved by his own claims. Although he proclaims himself to be too calm to be a madman, he is defeated by a noise that may be interpreted as the beating of his own heart Although he proclaims himself to be too calm to be a madman, he is defeated by a noise that may be interpreted as the beating of his own heart

Literary Focus Imagery and Repetition Imagery and Repetition Poe’s use of sound throughout the narrative, combined by using repetition adds to the story’s suspense. Poe’s use of sound throughout the narrative, combined by using repetition adds to the story’s suspense. The effect is a building of noise in the readers’ ears and a building of tension The effect is a building of noise in the readers’ ears and a building of tension

Themes Mankind ’ s wicked side–another self Mankind ’ s wicked side–another self Mankind ’ s paranoia Mankind ’ s paranoia Mankind ’ s Fear Mankind ’ s Fear Mental Pressure and Fatigue Mental Pressure and Fatigue Appearance vs. Reality Appearance vs. Reality Dark Appearances vs. Dark Thoughts Dark Appearances vs. Dark Thoughts

Character Analysis The Narrator Deranged unnamed person who tries to convince the reader that he is sane. Deranged unnamed person who tries to convince the reader that he is sane. He is intelligent and has the ability to commit a crime with skill and precision He is intelligent and has the ability to commit a crime with skill and precision He nagged by what he calls heightened senses, something that is a condition found in several various Poe stories He nagged by what he calls heightened senses, something that is a condition found in several various Poe stories

Character Analysis The Old Man: The Old Man: Neighbor: Neighbor: Three Policemen: Three Policemen: Seemingly harmless elder who has a hideous "evil eye" that unnerves the narrator. Person who hears a shriek coming from the house of the narrator and the old man, then reports it to the police. Officers who search the narrator's house after a neighbor reports hearing a shriek.