Building Tension and Contrast Flashcards
All 12 cards in this deck
How does withholding information build tension?
The writer deliberately keeps something back, such as what a letter says or who is at the door. The reader's need to know creates suspense, and the longer the delay, the stronger it gets.
What is rising action, and what effect does it have?
A sequence of events that steadily increases the danger, conflict or uncertainty. Each step raises the stakes, so tension builds towards a climax.
What is a climax, and why is it often placed late in an extract?
The point of highest tension, where the conflict comes to a head. Placing it late means the earlier build-up pays off and the reader feels its full force.
What is an anticlimax, and what effect does it have?
Tension builds towards something dramatic, then the outcome turns out to be ordinary or disappointing. It suddenly releases the tension and can create humour, relief or a sense of let-down.
What is juxtaposition, and what does it do?
Placing two contrasting things side by side, such as two scenes, moods or characters. The closeness sharpens the difference, so each seems more extreme, and it often reveals a hidden threat or irony.
What is the effect of a sudden shift in mood or tone?
A change, for example from calm to fear or from tension to comedy, unsettles the reader and signals that something has changed. It often marks the pivotal point of an extract.
What is a 'false sense of security', and how does it build tension?
The writer creates a calm, safe or happy mood just before something goes wrong. The peace makes the later disruption more shocking. Readers who sense the pattern also feel uneasy because things seem too calm.
How does escalation (repeating a threat that grows closer each time) build tension?
Each return of the sound, sighting or warning is nearer or stronger than the last. The reader can feel the danger approaching but can't stop it, so suspense rises with every step.
What is the difference between contrast and juxtaposition?
Contrast is any difference between two things anywhere in a text. Juxtaposition is a contrast created by placing them directly next to each other, which makes the difference hit harder because the reader meets both at once.
In 'The kitchen was warm and smelled of cinnamon; someone was singing along to the radio. In the hall, the letter lay on the mat, face down.', what structural technique is used and what is its effect?
Juxtaposition of a warm, happy kitchen with the silent, unopened letter. The cosy mood makes the letter seem more threatening. The reader senses it will disrupt the family's happiness, which builds tension.
A writer builds up scraping noises in a dark loft over two paragraphs, then reveals the cause is a neighbour's cat. What structural technique is this and what does it do?
An anticlimax. Tension rises through escalating, unexplained sounds and is then suddenly released by an ordinary explanation. The tone shifts from fear to comedy and the reader feels relief.
How can you track tension across a whole extract?
Picture a graph: note where tension starts, where it rises, where it peaks and whether it falls by the end, and what choice causes each change. It gives you structure points for Question 3, and in Question 4 it helps you judge how successfully tension is built across the whole extract.