Final answer:
The setting of a story shapes the mood and atmosphere, contributing to suspense by affecting the reader's emotional response. Dark and oppressive environments, the dangers associated with specific times and places, and foreboding weather conditions can all heighten tension. Additionally, exposition of the setting establishes context and anticipates conflicts, which can make suspenseful elements more impactful.
Step-by-step explanation:
The setting of a story contributes significantly to the suspense by influencing the mood and atmosphere, which in turn affect the reader's emotional response. For example, in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher", the dark, oppressive setting instills feelings of confinement and depression, increasing the story's suspense.
As the reader encounters the description of the Usher house, with its cracked facade and gloomy interiors, they feel the characters' dread and anticipation, each room's details heightening the sense of impending doom.
Moreover, the time and place aspects of setting can also contribute to suspense. If a story is set in a war-torn country, the constant danger and unpredictability associated with war can keep readers on edge. The season and weather within a story's setting, such as a thunderstorm during a terrifying scene, can also increase suspense through a dismal or foreboding ambiance.
Finally, the setting's role in exposition is to lay out the groundwork for the plot and character development. Introducing the setting early on allows readers to visualize the narrative and connect with the characters, thus making any subsequent threatening elements in the setting more impactful and suspenseful.
The effective use of setting details, from the general mood to the specific props mentioned, can turn a mere backdrop into a catalyst for tension and excitement.