SUSPENSE

:''For the film, see Suspense (film).''
:''For the radio program, see Suspense (radio program).''
:''For the genre, see Thriller (genre).''
'Suspense' or 'tension' is the feeling of uncertainty and interest about the outcome of certain actions, most often referring to an audience's perceptions in a dramatic work. However, suspense is not exclusive to literature.

Contents

Aristotle

Suspense in Dramatic Works

See also

Aristotle

According to Aristotle's Poetics, suspense is an important building block of drama. In very broad terms, it consists of having some real danger looming and a ray of hope. The two common outcomes can be

★ the danger hits, whereby the audience will feel sorrowful

★ the hope comes true, whereby the audience will first feel joy, then satisfaction.
If there is no hope, the audience will feel despair.

Suspense in Dramatic Works

★ Alfred Hitchcock is considered to be one of the premier directors of suspense film.

★ Robert Ludlum has written many books in the international suspense genre. In The Bourne Identity series, the main character has amnesia. He does not remember who he is, what he does, or how he got there -- these techniques are used to increase suspense and curiosity in the reader.

★ Video games such as the ''Half-Life'' series and ''Crysis'' have certain degrees of suspense. In ''Crysis'', the aliens will not be revealed until the player enters the alien ship.

See also

★ Aristotle's Poetics