How does the writer build tension with his choice of words?

How does the writer build tension with his choice of words?

In all types of writing, word choice helps create atmospheres, and powerful feelings with the reader if used correctly. In this extract of The Da Vinci Code, tension is the feeling that the author tries to build up. To do this the author uses very powerful verbs to make the moment stressful and tense.

A way to create tension is by creating a sense of urgency and danger. The verb “grabbing” demonstrates that the person is in a hurry and possibly being chased by a threat. The image that is portrayed creates tension.

In addition tension is built through the exaggeration of movements. The action of “lunging” shows that the character is physically throwing himself at the object. This seems like a movement of desperation which builds up tension throughout the passage.

The use of verbs that manipulate time creates tension. The variation between verbs that suggest speed and movement such as “snatched” or “staggered” and verbs that slow down time or stop it such as “slowly” or “stared” makes the story much more interesting. The change in speed helps create a story with fluctuant instances that create tension.

The verb “scanned” is ironic in this context. Scanning is the action of carefully inspecting very detail of an environment and spotting an anomaly. This is often something a police officer, or an inspector would do whilst, here, the robber is scanning which is ironic. This irony may be hinting at what may happen later in the passage as well as creating tension.

Tension is also spotted in the repetition of words in of the lexical field of coldness, which send chills down the back of the reader. The author produces this effect in the words “chillingly” and “froze.”

Finally the word “stared” makes the moment intense as the verb implies a stop in time and total focus on the object or person in question. In the story, the tension is even greater as we know the 2 characters will end up in conflict.  

 To conclude, Dan brown uses various techniques to make his story full of tension and therefore more interesting.

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