To Kill A Mockingbird Suspense Analysis

Suspense is what makes a book become an outstanding book. This is why Harper Lee, author of To Kill a Mockingbird, heaped suspense into the book. Interestingly, suspense is defined as a state or feeling of excited or anxious uncertainty about what may happen. Lee uses numerous literary techniques to develop suspense in the story. Two that she uses to employ suspense is cliffhangers and imagery. The author applies cliffhangers and imagery to create suspense.

Lee employs cliffhangers throughout her story to conjure suspense. For example Lee shows Scout’s uneasiness after the fire incident at the Radley’s house thus creating suspense for the reader, “Through all the head shaking… Someone inside was laughing” (54). The laughing coming from

For example Lee incorporates imagery to create suspense in the scene where Jem, Scout, and Dill try to peek into the Radley’s house. “Then I saw a shadow of a man with a hat on… and the shadow was crisp as toast, moved across the porch toward Jem” (71). The fact that this takes place in the night creates a restless atmosphere. Incorporating suspense through imagery seems easy for Lee as she uses imagery that does not quite fit in with the story. For example, “the shadow was crisp as toast” (71) This conjures an uneasy feeling in the back of the reader's mind. Another instance of imagery creating suspense is the time when Atticus is sitting by the jail in the middle of the night and a gang confronts him. To set up the scene Lee uses imagery to create a creepy feeling for the reader. “The south side of the square was deserted. Giant monkey puzzle bushes bristled on each corner… otherwise the courthouse was dark” (200). Before any of the action Lee delivers discomfort to the consumer of the content. Plenty of people dislike the dark so this already helps introduce suspense to the reader. A deserted town also creates a sense of nervousness. Lee brings suspense into the story through intriguing