Suspense
Literary term · say it suh-SPENS
Suspense is the tense feeling of waiting to find out what will happen in a story. It grows when something important is at stake and the reader must wait for an answer, an escape, or a decision.
Ways suspense appears
Danger with an uncertain outcome
A character faces a threat, and the reader waits to see whether they will escape.
In Treasure Island, Jim Hawkins hides in an apple barrel and overhears the pirates planning their mutiny. The danger of being discovered makes his wait tense.
In Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
A mystery awaiting an answer
An unexplained event or hidden identity keeps the reader waiting for the truth.
In The Hound of the Baskervilles, Watson hears a frightening howl while crossing the moor with Sir Henry. Its uncertain source deepens the fear surrounding the Baskerville family.
In The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
An important decision delayed
Suspense can concern hopes and relationships rather than physical danger. The reader waits for a choice that could change someone's life.
In Pride and Prejudice, Lady Catherine demands that Elizabeth promise never to marry Darcy, but Elizabeth refuses. Readers must wait to learn whether Elizabeth and Darcy will come together.
In Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
How to spot suspense
- Find the question whose answer you are waiting for.
- Notice what a character could lose or gain.
- Look for delays that make the outcome feel more urgent.
What is the difference between suspense and surprise?
Suspense is the tension of waiting for an outcome, while surprise is the shock of something unexpected happening. A reader may fear that a hidden enemy will attack for several pages; an attack without warning creates surprise instead.
Can a story have suspense if the ending is already known?
Yes, suspense can remain even when the ending is known. Readers may still feel anxious about how events unfold, what the characters suffer, or when a danger will strike. Caring about a character can make a familiar scene tense on another reading.
Related terms
Books where you can see Suspense
200,000+ classics to read and hear, and printed books, large print included, at cost.
Try 3 months free
