Tension is the feeling of suspense that keeps readers turning the page. Writers create it in several ways: a ticking clock or deadline, a difficult choice, a threat, or information the reader knows but the character does not.
Sentence structure matters. Short sentences speed up the pace and create a jolt: “He picked up his queen.” Longer sentences can slow things down and build anticipation with detail.
Writers also delay the outcome. When a character's match goes out twice before it lights, the reader is kept waiting. When you analyse tension, name the method, quote it and explain its effect on the reader.
Worked example
Why might a writer describe a match going out twice before it lights?
- The reader wants the character to succeed.
- Each failure delays success and increases worry.
Answer:To build tension by delaying the outcome the reader is hoping for.
Key words
- tension
- suspense that makes readers anxious to know what happens
- pace
- how quickly events seem to happen
- anticipation
- waiting with excitement or worry
New questions every time.
Common Core-referenced: RL.7.1, RL.7.3