Suspense
Analyzing elements of suspense
Thursday, November 5th, 2009
• Word of the Day: Code
• Discuss Scavenger Hunt Results
• Quick Write: Spine Chilling Event
• “The Horror! The Horror!” Activity
• Notes on Suspense
• Writing Activity: Suspenseful Narrative
Word of the Day: Code
Word and Part of Speech
Dictionary Definition
Synonym and Antonym
Visual
Scavenger Hunt Results
• In small groups, compare
answers to Scavenger Hunt
questions.
• Discuss which questions
were the most difficult to
answer. Why?
Quick Write
(5 minutes)
• When was the last time you found
yourself getting chills down your
spine? What made that scene so
suspenseful? How did the movie
director slow down the moment of
doubt?
Watch & Write
• Watch the following film clips.
• Why are these clips so
suspenseful?
• Do they have any elements in
common?
• Do you recognize any of the
elements from your notes on
Gothic Literature?
“The Horror! The Horror!”
• http://www.totaleclips.com/player/Splash.a
spx?formatId=10&bitrateId=314&vendorId
=9&eclipId=e57843&playerId=38
• http://www.totaleclips.com/player/Splash.a
spx?formatId=10&bitrateId=314&vendorId
=9&eclipId=e57811&playerId=38
• http://www.totaleclips.com/player/Splash.a
spx?formatId=10&bitrateId=314&vendorId
=9&eclipId=e43724&playerId=38
Brainstorm

Brainstorm methods used to
create suspense in films:
1) ______________________
2) ______________________
3) ______________________
4) ______________________
5) ______________________
Possible Answers
Brainstorm

Now brainstorm methods used
to create suspense in stories
as well as in films:
1) ______________________
2) ______________________
3) ______________________
4) ______________________
5) ______________________
Possible Answers
1) characters working against a
deadline or conflict
2) readers knowing more than the
characters (dramatic irony)
3) slowing down the moment when
the main character is in doubt
4) using sensory details to
create an air of mystery
5)
adding an element of surprise
The Mummy
• Watch the
following clips
from the movies
The Mummy and
The Mummy
Returns.
• Answer the
Literary Guide
Questions about
the sounds and
images from the
movies.
Just listen… Answer the following questions by
just listening to the clips:
1. What sound effects do you hear?
2. What kind of music do you hear?
3. What kind of film do you
associate these sound effects
with?
4. When does the music stop?
5. Describe the character’s voice
when they finally speak at the
end of the music/sound effects.
Now watch…Answer the following questions
after reviewing the movie this time w/ images.
1. Describe the color and lighting
of the set.
2. What images and colors are
chosen for the scene? Why?
3. Whose point of view is the
scene told through? Would the
scene be as suspenseful if
portrayed through another
character’s perspective?
Sensory Details
• If you were going to create a
suspenseful scene, what sensory
details would you focus on?
Why?___________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
The Thinking Reader’s Guide to Fear
• Magnet Summaries Activity
• In small groups, read your assigned
paragraph
• On the front of an index card, write
the words that your group is drawn to
in the paragraph
• On the back of the card, use the
words from the front to create a
short summary of the information in
the paragraph
• One person from the group will share
the summary with the class.
Formulating Suspense

You are now going to create a short
suspenseful narrative that uses sensory
details to explore what a character is
thinking, feeling, and experiencing
during a moment of doubt.

Write a brief paragraph for the
following story starter.
1. He thought he heard someone in the house.
2. What was the disturbing sound he heard?
3. Let the character move closer to the disturbing sound.
4. Let the character discover what's really going on.
Your Turn…
Revision
• Exchange and revise a
classmate’s narrative.
• Provide three suggestions to
improve the story’s suspense.
• Return to original writer.
• Rewrite your narrative to
reflect the suggestions of your
classmate.
• Final and rough drafts due at
the end of the period.