Personal relations are the important thing for ever and ever, and not this outer life of telegrams and anger.
E. M. ForsterRead
This element of surprise or mystery — the detective element as it is sometimes rather emptily called — is of great importance in a plot. It occurs through a suspension of the time-sequence; a mystery is a pocket in time, and it occurs crudely, as in "Why did the queen die?" and more subtly in half-explained gestures and words, the true meaning of which only dawns pages ahead. Mystery is essential to a plot, and cannot be appreciated without intelligence.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Mystery in storytelling captivates readers and shapes their understanding through the manipulation of time and suspense.
E. M. Forster emphasizes the vital role of mystery in narrative creativity, suggesting that effective plots often include elements that suspend readers' expectations and provoke curiosity. This creates pockets of suspense that engage the audience and allow for deeper revelations over time, ultimately enhancing the story's emotional and intellectual impact.
Themes
MysterySuspensePlotCreativityStorytelling
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a creative writing workshop to discuss the importance of suspense in storytelling.
More from E. M. Forster
All quotes →A poem is true if it hangs together. Information points to something else. A poem points to nothing but itself.
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One must be fond of people and trust them if one is not to make a mess of life.
E. M. ForsterRead
Oxford is Oxford: not a mere receptacle for youth, like Cambridge. Perhaps it wants its inmates to love it rather than to love one another.
E. M. ForsterRead
The fact is we can only love what we know personally. And we cannot know much. In public affairs, in the rebuilding of civilization, something less dramatic and emotional is needed, namely tolerance.
E. M. ForsterRead
One person with passion is better than forty people merely interested.
E. M. ForsterRead
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