Shakespeare and the use/concept of suspension of disbelief (i.e. tools of the trade)

Suspension of disbelief or willing suspension of disbelief is a formula for justifying the use of fantastic or non-realistic elements in literary and/or film works of fiction. It was put forth in English by the poet and aesthetic philosopher Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who suggested that if a writer could infuse a "human interest and a semblance of truth" into a fantastic tale, the reader would suspend judgment concerning the implausibility of the narrative. Suspension of disbelief often applies to fictional works of the action, comedy, science fiction and faux documentary genres.Cognitive estrangement in fiction involves using a person's ignorance or lack of knowledge to promote suspension of disbelief.

Suspension of disbelief is sometimes said to be an essential component of live theater, where it was recognized by Shakespeare, who refers to it in the Prologue to Henry V:

"[...] make imaginary puissant [...] 'tis your thoughts that now must deck our kings [...] turning accomplishment of many years into an hourglass."

The phrase "suspension of disbelief" came to be used more loosely in the later 20th century, often used to imply that the onus was on the reader, rather than the writer, to achieve it. This might be used to refer to the willingness of the audience to overlook the limitations of a medium, so that these do not interfere with the acceptance of those premises.

These fictional premises may also lend to the engagement of the mind and perhaps proposition of thoughts, ideas, art, film and theories.