To Kill A Mockingbird Suspense Analysis

To Use Uncertainty and Cliffhangers

by J.C. Buchanan

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee doubtlessly contains many elements of suspense. In this book, suspense is produced through literary devices and is intricately woven in to keep the reader hooked on the story’s outcome. Employing uncertainty and cliffhangers, Harper Lee creates suspenseful situations in her novel.

Uncertainty is a very important aspect of literature in creating suspense. One example of this is when Scout is going to bed, right before she discovers Dill is hiding under her bed. As she creeps toward her bed, she steps on something “warm and resilient, rather smooth…I had the sensation it was alive. I also heard it move” (185). In this segment, there is no hint as

to what it could possibly be that Scout is stepping on. By not revealing directly what is happening but instead by merely offering uncertain, descriptive tones, this urges and excites the reader to further curiosity. There is suspense in fear of the unknown. Similarly, another time when the readers are unsure of the situation is when Scout is in the courtroom during the trial. Scout feels that there is an atmosphere change, but she can’t place why. She observes that “I…received the impression that was creeping into me. It was not unlike one I had last winter, and I shivered, though the night was hot” (281). In this paragraph, Scout is trying to explain her sudden unease. Because she does not exactly describe what has happened, tension forms and uncertainty looms. The reader feels Scout’s worry, fear, curiosity, but has no idea what has changed. Is it something important? If so, important in just Scout’s mind or important in the world? This draws out uneasiness. The uncertainty of these situations creates suspense as readers anxiously await to find out what is going on.
Cliffhangers are another excellent way to express suspense.

During the scene where Scout is remembering when she was rolling in the tire and rolled near the Radley house, she remembers something that terrifies her; when she reached the Radley driveway, she “heard another sound…Someone inside the house was laughing” (54). The chapter ends here. By ending abruptly and without any real explanation, this makes the reader intrigued. Who is laughing? Is it Boo or someone else? Are they laughing at her? This, also, further develops the Radley plotline and Scout’s fear of them. All these questions and thoughts whir around the reader’s mind as the chapter is abruptly ended, and by finishing off on such a suspenseful note this practically ensures the reader will keep reading, to find out what comes next. Another fantastic example of a cliffhanger is after the trial, when Atticus is threatened by Mr. Ewell, who “spat in his face, and told him he’d get him if it took the rest of his life” (290). This creates suspense in many different ways. This is a legitimate threat, making the readers worried for Atticus’ safety. Ending here at this moment makes the readers scared; it is already known that Mr. Ewell dislikes Atticus, and this only adds to the tension. Cliffhangers add to the drama, worry the reader, and keep them fixated on the story, as they must see what happens in the following chapter. It jolts the reader to worry and curiosity, and it also allows them to feel the tension in the story.

Suspense is a very powerful tool in literature and a key component in To Kill a Mockingbird. By employing clever tools like uncertainty, which creates unease and curiosity, and cliffhangers, which allows readers to feel tension on the story, this keeps the reader engaged and the story interesting and very suspenseful. Without a doubt these are both crucial literary devices that are significant to not just Mockingbird, but to any and all

stories.