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Narrative Absorption
Edited by Frank Hakemulder, Moniek M. Kuijpers, Ed S. Tan, Katalin Bálint and Miruna M. Doicaru
[Linguistic Approaches to Literature 27] 2017
► pp. 177–197

Chapter 9
The effect of suspense structure on felt suspense and narrative absorption in literature and film

| Tilburg University
| Utrecht University
| University of Amsterdam

The present study was to further the understanding of the conceptual relationship between narrative absorption, that is the intense engagement with a story world, and felt suspense, that is the anticipation of a narrative outcome event. To this end, a media comparative online experiment was conducted with a 2 (Media format: film vs. literature) × 2 (Suspense structure: diegetic vs. non-diegetic delay) × 2 (Stories) between subject design. Results revealed a complex relationship among felt suspense, attention, emotional engagement, and transportation, showing the high importance of attention in felt suspense, and the moderating effect of media format and gender. Findings indicate that non-diegetic suspense delay unlike diegetic suspense decreases felt suspense and narrative absorption independently of media format.

Keywords: absorption, narrative, literature, film, suspense, discourse structure, delay
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
    • 1.1Narrative suspense structures
    • 1.2Felt suspense and narrative absorption
  • 2.Method
    • 2.1Design and procedure
    • 2.2Participants
    • 2.3Stimulus material
    • 2.4Measures
      • Suspense Scale
      • Story world Absorption Scale
      • Aesthetic Appreciation
      • Attention check
  • 3.Results
  • 4.Discussion
    • 4.1Relation between suspense and absorption
    • 4.2The effect of suspense structure on felt suspense and narrative absorption
    • 4.3The effect of media format on felt suspense and narrative absorption
    • 4.4Limitations and recommendations
    • 4.5Suggestions for further research
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • References
Published online: 9 November 2017
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/lal.27.10bal
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