Lauren Miller

AP Literature
Suspense & Mystery in The Boarded Window
Outline
WHAT: Ambrose Bierce creates suspense and mystery through his writing and style
choices.
HOW: Bierce accomplishes the tone and mood of mystery and suspense through the
Literary elements for plot, point of view, and developing character.
Paragraph 1: Introductory Paragraph.
- Use the above central and idea and thesis, but (note to self) make sure to
add a stellar introductory sentence, and perhaps slight elaboration of the
elements.
Paragraph 2 topic: Plot Analysis
- Plot pacing: explain how Bierce spends time in the initial phases of plot
(exposition, rising action, etc) but the climax and resolution is fast.
- How does this writing style create suspense? Explain.
- Provide textual evidence.
- Revisit how this creates suspense
Paragraph 3 topic: Point of View analysis
- Narrative frame- describe how it is used in the piece.
- Provide example/evidence
- Explain how this POV stylistic choice creates mystery perhaps add that it
is a young boy narrating the story and address this credibility?
- Note to self: the narrators credibility might lead to more interesting
analysis! Hmmmm.
Paragraph 4 topic: developing character analysis
- Murlocks character is seemingly non-descript, but the suspense is built
through his direct and indirect characterization.
- Direct characterization: explain how Bierce chooses to describe the
character
- Text example
- Explain how this example shows how Bierce creates suspense and
mystery.
- Indirect characterization: explain how Bierce accomplishes this.
- Text example
- Explain how this example creates suspense and mystery.
- Note to selfI run the risk of summarizing too much. Be careful!
Concluding paragraph.
- Revisit the tone and mood (atmosphere) of suspense and mystery that is
experienced by the reader.
- Rephrase how Bierce accomplishes this (topic of each paragraph)
- How can I connect this story and/or analysis to myself or the human life? I
will worry about this when I get there :/