answersLogoWhite

0

It comes from serialized stories that were popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These were books, films, etc. that were released one episode at a time. The "cliffhanger" is plot device that puts the a main character, usually the hero or heroine, in danger at the end of each episode. The goal was to ensure that audiences would buy the next installment to see how the crisis would be resolved.

The specific term comes from scenes that left the protagonist hanging over the edge of a cliff, although there were many other devices as well; e.g. a train about to crash, a bomb set to go off, a building on the verge of collapse, and so on.

User Avatar

Wiki User

9y ago

What else can I help you with?