Suspense creates a sense of tension and excitement. In literature, authors tend to use suspense to make the reader feel doubt, uncertainty, and most importantly, anxiety. Aside from withholding information from the readers, or keeping the action intense, these authors are able to use these different techniques to build suspense. Richard Connell and Edgar Allan Poe are such authors. While “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell and “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe both use techniques of suspense to establish a tone of uncertainty and mystery for the reader, Edgar Allan Poe conceals information from the readers to elevate suspense while Richard Connell makes the reader anticipate what is going to happen next.
Both authors use …show more content…
“The Cask of Amontillado” omits information from the reader right as the concept of the plot is introduced. Poe begins writing, “The thousand injuries of Fortunato…when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge”(209). Here, Poe makes known that Montresor seeks revenge on Fortunato, however he doesn’t clarify what the insult is. The idea of an unreliable narrator rises, creating an uncertain environment for the reader. On the contrary, Connell continually foreshadows the plot, creating an urge for the reader to predict and anticipate. Rainsford’s conversation with Whitney acknowledges “‘Off there to the right--somewhere--is a large island…the place has a reputation-a bad one’”(39-40). From the start, Connell describes the island very vaguely, creating mystery. This makes the reader wonder how this island will have an effect on the story, adding some tension. In addition, when Rainsford and Zaroff are having dinner, Zaroff claims “‘I hunt more dangerous game...instinct is no match for reason...I wanted the ideal animal to hunt’”(Connell 47-49). As Zaroff’s desire to hunt man rather animal is implied, the reader is left ponder how the plot will be
Both authors use …show more content…
“The Cask of Amontillado” omits information from the reader right as the concept of the plot is introduced. Poe begins writing, “The thousand injuries of Fortunato…when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge”(209). Here, Poe makes known that Montresor seeks revenge on Fortunato, however he doesn’t clarify what the insult is. The idea of an unreliable narrator rises, creating an uncertain environment for the reader. On the contrary, Connell continually foreshadows the plot, creating an urge for the reader to predict and anticipate. Rainsford’s conversation with Whitney acknowledges “‘Off there to the right--somewhere--is a large island…the place has a reputation-a bad one’”(39-40). From the start, Connell describes the island very vaguely, creating mystery. This makes the reader wonder how this island will have an effect on the story, adding some tension. In addition, when Rainsford and Zaroff are having dinner, Zaroff claims “‘I hunt more dangerous game...instinct is no match for reason...I wanted the ideal animal to hunt’”(Connell 47-49). As Zaroff’s desire to hunt man rather animal is implied, the reader is left ponder how the plot will be