Many authors use a technique called a 'cliff-hanger' at the end of a chapter or a section of their work as a means to build suspense and to entice you to read on. At the end of Chapter 8, Lois Lowry writes,
But at the same time he was filled with fear. He did not know what his selection meant. He did not know what he was to become.
Or what would become of him.
In your comment consider the following questions:
- What is the affect of this cliff-hanger?
- Where else have you seen authors use this technique?
- Have you seen another example in The Giver?
- To what extent is using a cliff-hanger effective?
- Where do you think the term cliff-hanger may have come from?
I think a cliff hanger sometimes creates a bond between the reader and the book and is used as a "trap" to compel the reader to read ahead. I did not know the term of cliff hanger very well earlier, however, in the book Wipeout, Mimi Thebo uses a cliff hanger at the end of almost every chapter that leaves the reader in mid air. Another example in the Giver is at the end of Chapter Two where Jonas is still anxious after the talk he had with his parents. According to the Wikipedia Encyclopedia, the first time a Cliffhanger was used was in the book of One Thousand and One Nights.
ReplyDeletethe term cliff hanger mnay have come from a movie that left everyone in suspence when someone was hanging over a cliff and the people who were watching callede this a cliffhanger henceforth
ReplyDeletethe cliffhanger is a clever technique which leaves the reader wondering..... mysterious... in suspense..... curious... etc...awesome!
ReplyDeleteilham:)
seemrun: yes i have seen other authors use this affect becasue its one which has to be there for a person to be interested in what they read.
the book " a thousand splendid suns" and "secret smile" have a gr8 cliff hanger effect!!!!!
overusing the cliff hanger just makes you bored of waiting. cliff hangers should be used at the end of chapters only...
i think that because cliff hanging is exciting that thats why the term "cliff-hanger" for books came from!!!
=))))))
I think the cliff-hanger is very effective because it leaves readers in suspence and that makes them just want to keep reading. Another example of a cliff-hanger is at the end of chapter two, wich made me wonder which assignment Jonas would accquire. Another place where i have seen an example of a cliff-hanger, is in the olden days when there were shows on the radio, and they would leave you in suspense until the next episode. You will also find this when watching series. The cliff-hanger is very effective.
ReplyDeleteDzidze & Sumayya 7K
This is a good page that you can learn what is cliff-hangers.Also you canlearn about cliff-hanger.
ReplyDeleteI think the effect of the Cliff-hanger its that it gives you a really annoying feeling. It is like they don't want to tell you and it gives you that feeling of just wanting to read on.
ReplyDeleteI cannot remember a book, but i remember it ffrom movies i have whatched. You now it is a cliff-hnager, because you cant tell a second movie will be made like the movie New Moon!
Yes! i have ssen another example of a cliff-hanger in the giver in chapter 2.
i think a cliff hanger is a writers device that they use to help keep the readers interested and wanting to find out what happens. i have seen lots of other authors use this device, such as; Dean Lorey, Anthony Horowitz and Robert Muchamore
ReplyDeleteI am not sure, but I think the term "cliff hanger" may have come into more popular use via a famous book or movie where the literary technique involved a character actually hanging over a cliff? Am I right? DO you know, Mrs. Fenton? What did they call it before that book/movie then?
ReplyDeletei think that the effect of cliffhanger is that it makes the reader continue to read more because there is like a question mark at the end of the last chapter and so they will be eager to read more as that would answer the cliff hanger.
ReplyDeleteathor places where cliff hangers are used is at the end of an episode where you make a suspense (predict) of what would happen.
another example of a cliff hanger in the giver is which assignment will Jonas get and why he wasn't mentioned.
a cliff hanger is very effective because it motivates readers and so they will continue reading becaus eif tere is nothing that is hidden then what is the point of continuing to read?
the word cliff hanger came from a moovie where by a protagonist was left hanging from the edge of a cliff and so the audience were left with a suspense of what would happen.
This is from AIKA 7M
ReplyDeleteI think a cliff hanger is a creative writing device that most authors use to "entrap" their readers in the book. They usually have them at the end of chapters, leaving the readers in suspense about what is going to happen next. The effect cliff hangers have on readers is that it makes readers irritated because when an interesting part comes, the authors leave you in suspense and so you want to keep reading on to find out what happens next.
Mr. Kassam found this in the dictionary when I asked him about which movie it might have been.
ReplyDeleteORIGIN: 1930's - from early film serials in which episodes ended with characters in desperate situations such as hanging off the edge of a cliff.