2. Danger!
Adventure stories often contain moments of
suspense. The main character is usually in a
dangerous situation. The situation is tense and
drawn-out, which makes the reader concerned
about what will happen to the character.
3. Silverfin
Read the following extract from a novel by
Charlie Higson. It is about a young spy called
James. At this point in the story, James is trying
to sneak into a castle that hides a deadly secret.
The only way to get in is to walk along a branch
that hangs over the lake. Kelly is James’s friend.
4. Words to ponder!
Loch – lake
Consolation – something that makes you feel
better.
Mounting – getting bigger
Tread- the surface of step or stair
Storyboard - A series of drawings or images
showing the planned order of images in frames in
films and television).
5. List the dangers and problems that the main character
faces.
The difficulty of climbing along the branch; the threat of
the water below; the feeling of loneliness; the
increasingly dangerous branch; the eels; the branch
splitting
6. Note down how you think James feels
Anxious and fearful; lonely; determined
7. Writers use many techniques to create excitement.
1. Use short sentences at the moment of greatest
drama
2. Use a single sentence paragraph.
Look at the short sentences in the last 13 lines of
the extract ( from He stopped.)
8. Language focus
To create excitement in suspense stories, writers often use
verbs that suggest movement and power. In the first paragraph
of Silverpin, there lots of action verbs, including struggles,
gripping, and slid. These powerful verbs create excitement in
the story, helping the reader imagine the movement and danger
that the character is experiencing. Verbs built intensity, so
choosing a powerful verb like struggled is often more effective
in creating excitement than the choice of adjective.
9. Writers can use punctuation to create effects. In the
extract, ellipses is used at the moments of drama. For
example, in paragraph 5, the narrator states:
The castle was six feet away, five. . . four. . . The branch
was swaying alarmingly.
Here the ellipses helps the tension, as if the character and
the reader are holding their breath as the main character
edges along the branch.
12. Remind yourself of the typical events of adventure
stories.
1. You are going to plan part of a story that contains
suspense. Make notes on the following questions
a. Who will the main character be?
b. Where is the story set?
c. What are they trying to do or achieve in the story?
d. What dangers do they face?
