Cognitive dissonance and suspense

In this study, I use cognitive dissonance theory, first put forward by Leon Festinger in 1957, to explore how an audience can react to specific narrative structures. Artfully built by narrators, such structures are aimed at creating anxiety and suspense. This model, I submit, is an effective tool for literary and narratological analysis, useful for examining narratives that maintain a special focus on the emotional response of the audience. As such, it can reveal new aspects of a narrative and open a path towards innovative interpretations.