Suspense is a key point in any story or plot. Suspense is a feeling of expectation, anxiousness, or curiosity created by questions raised in the mind of a reader or a viewer. Richard Connell builds suspense in the story by making readers question what will happen next. One way Connell constructs suspense is through the description of the vast chateau. The story describes how the chateau looks. “He opened the tall spiked iron gate. The stone steps were real enough; the massive door with a leering gargoyle knocker” (30). Connell is describing how eerie looking the chateau is to Rainsford. It builds suspense by making Rainsford rigid and afraid of what’s inside of the massive chateau. It also gives a robust description around the chateau. Connell …show more content…
He introduces Ivan as “The largest man Rainsford had ever seen” (30). This makes Rainsford feel intimidated by Ivan. He feels like he’s lost all confidence. This builds suspense by presenting how Rainsford feels about Ivan. Another way he builds suspense is through the way Ivan acts when he meets Rainsford. Connell exclaims- “ THe man’s only answer was to raise his thumb the hammer of the revolver. Then Rainsford saw the man’s free hand go to his forehead in a military salute, and he saw him click his heels together and stand at attention” (30). In this quote, it makes Rainsford feel a little more trustworthy with Ivan. Ivan also feels comfortable with Rainsford now. But Rainsford probably feels edgy with Ivan because of his size. Out of all the points of suspense, they are all helpful to making the readers feel anxious about what will happen next. They really feel curious when Richard Connell gives a description of Ship-Trap Island. It makes the readers want to know what will happen next. So suspense really is a key point in every story, authors want readers to think about the story. Suspense also helps reader comprehend the story because again, it makes readers think. They may not know it, but suspense helps them to become better