Suspense

David Lodge is explaining suspense as an element that is to be delayed as much as possible to build up as many possible questions from the reader; the word itself translates to “to hang”. Lodge gave an example of the story, “A Pair of Blue Eyes” a fictional short story that involves a life or death situation on an actual cliff making it a literal cliff hanger. The suspense in this story happens at the beginning of the story and drags out the entire novel. Unlike Kate Chopin her short stories are relatable throughout the plot and the suspense factor gets involved when the unknowing happens the same exact moment it occurs. While using non-fiction for example in “A Pair of Silk Stalking’s” any reader wealthy, average, or poor has knowledge that there are people in poverty struggle; readers can relate with themselves or from their surroundings. These two groups had no idea what the next item the mother was going to spend on. This is more of a casual suspense implemented in a short story that occurs till this day. Readers appreciate Chopin for similar themes throughout her short stories such as independence and yet she still manages to use suspense in other ways. In “Desiree’s Baby” suspense was executed while using this element through the short story. Nowhere in the story did was the reader given a clue that Armand was of slave decent and therefor when the ending was revealed we find ourselves at a shock. While reading Chopin’s short stories they may feel the relatable aspect, although when the unexpected happens the reader feels shocked and relates more because that’s how life is, full of surprises. Both authors use suspense in their stories by applying many descriptive details to fill in the gap of the introduction and lead it as far away from what the main idea of the ending is. In addition, both authors also have scenario’s where they leave information completely out of the story that answers big questions; this leaves room for the viewer to use their judgement and imagination to complete the story themselves. “How she does it I will not divulge, except to say, by way of encouragement to those…” (Hardy, pg.16). In “The Storm” the readers never new if the spouses ever found out about the cheating situation; is it possible the relationship would still last if everyone new about the entire history between the people that cheated? What if the people who cheated are still meeting up with each and are continuing their unethical actions? All these questions lead up to the big overall picture of suspense used by both authors. With this information writing a relatable short story that seems ordinary in the beginning about a day in a normal life with an unexpected plot twist that involves suspense towards the end of the short story. Therefor it will relate to both authors by having a cliff hanger because the end of the story will not have full details of the readers desire to fully know what happened in the characters life.