Vocabulary Words for Describing Tension

3. A two-word term for when the reader or audience knows something important that a character does not.
7. A struggle created when something prevents a character from getting what they want.
11. A feeling of nervousness or uncertainty created when an outcome matters but is not yet known.
12. Hints or warnings about something that may happen later in the story.
14. A character’s wish, goal or something they strongly want to achieve.
15. Pressure that increases as danger, difficulty or emotion becomes greater.

1. A feeling of anxiety caused by the possibility that something may go wrong.
2. A character’s freedom and ability to make their own choices. Vladek loses this as his options narrow.
4. Something that blocks a character’s progress towards their goal.
5. A person, force or situation that could cause harm to a character.
6. A lack of certainty about what will happen next.
8. The anxious excitement we experience while waiting to discover what will happen.
9. Expecting or looking ahead to an event that has not happened yet.
10. The possible consequences of success or failure: the more serious these become, the greater the tension.
13. Resisting someone or something, or working against their aims.