Different Ways John Irving Creates Suspense in a Prayer for Owen MeanyIn John Irving's novel A Prayer for Owen Meany, suspenseful events are abundant, and there are multiple ways the author creates this suspense. Among these methods of creating suspense, four that stand out are the use of setting, the pacing of the story, the implication of the mysteries to be solved, and the reader's ability to easily identify and empathize with the protagonist. By placing a character in a dark or lonely place, uncomfortable feelings are created, which add to the suspense. Story pacing and structure also play a role in the basis of suspense, as shorter sentences and stronger, sharper verbs and adjectives are often used to keep the reader highly interested and reading at a fast speed. Of course, suspense could not be considered what it is if there was no mystery. Not knowing what awaits us and wanting to find out is the essence of suspense. Additionally, if the reader cannot easily identify and empathize with the character in the suspenseful situation, a loss of interest may occur, and thus spoil the spirit of the tension. Uncomfortable settings, pacing and structure, the use of mysteries, and the ability to identify with the main character are four techniques that John Irving uses to create suspense. Firstly, a key method used to create suspense is the use of setting. When a character is in an unwelcoming or unwelcoming place, feelings of unease or tension can form. When you feel like you don't know what's around the corner or that you're hiding in the shadows, suspense is built. Additionally, ominous weather conditions, such as threatening thunderstorms, may cause the reader to anticipate an unfortunate event occurring. An example of an uncomfortable setting is the secret passage, dark, dirty and most often occupied by only one person. Under these conditions, many people become anxious, and because of these feelings of unease that one may experience, when a character is subjected to these conditions, the reader may become worried, which leads to the formation of a suspense. When Dan Needham locks John Wheelwright in the secret passage while both are drunk, a high level of suspense is created. The description of the secret passage adds to the suspense of the scene: “The passage was dark; yet I could discern the spider races..