Reader Impact: Suspense, Shock, Relief Flashcards
(6 cards)
How does McEwan create suspense through limited perspective?
By filtering much of Part One through Briony’s childlike viewpoint, McEwan creates dramatic irony and tension. The reader senses danger and misunderstanding before the characters do, which builds suspense as we wait for the inevitable mistake to unfold.
How does delayed revelation contribute to suspense and shock?
The truth about Robbie and Cecilia’s deaths is withheld until the final section, leading readers to believe in a happy ending. When it’s revealed as fictional, it creates a profound emotional shock and forces a reassessment of everything that came before.
How does McEwan manipulate reader expectations through structure?
The narrative mimics a redemption arc, leading the reader to expect reconciliation or justice. By reversing this at the end, McEwan undermines the reader’s sense of narrative comfort, producing emotional disruption rather than relief.
How is suspense used to involve the reader in Briony’s guilt?
As the story unfolds, the reader becomes increasingly aware of Briony’s misjudgment. McEwan withholds full truth until the end, which forces the reader to participate in Briony’s self-deception, increasing emotional tension.
Why does McEwan deny the reader relief at the end of the novel?
Instead of providing closure, McEwan reveals that the resolution was a lie. This denial of relief serves as a commentary on the limits of fiction to offer justice or emotional satisfaction, reinforcing the novel’s moral ambiguity.
