Beyond “Who Done It?”

Mystery, Suspense, Gothic, and

Horror Literature

Make a ChartElement

StyleProtag Antag setting conflict climax res other

Mystery

Suspense

Gothic

Horror

Elements of Mystery

Characters•detectives/investigators – usually the protagonist

•suspects – usually the antagonist

•detectives/investigators – usually the protagonist

•suspects – usually the antagonist

Setting•a mystery can take place anywhere and any time

•a mystery can take place anywhere and any time

Conflict•a problem or puzzle to solve•something or someone is missing

•a secret•an event that is not explained

•a problem or puzzle to solve•something or someone is missing

•a secret•an event that is not explained

Rising Action•the rising action is created through the discovery of clues

•clues are hints that help the detective and the reader solve the mystery

•the rising action is created through the discovery of clues

•clues are hints that help the detective and the reader solve the mystery

Rising Action•rising action is also developed through the use of distractions

•distractions are things that lead the detective and the reader away from the solution

•rising action is also developed through the use of distractions

•distractions are things that lead the detective and the reader away from the solution

Climax•finding the final clue that solves the crime

•apprehending the bad guy

•finding the final clue that solves the crime

•apprehending the bad guy

Resolution•apprehension of the bad guy

•some other way to tie things up

•apprehension of the bad guy

•some other way to tie things up

Elements of Suspense

Characters•a well-drawn protagonist is important in suspense

•the antagonist does not have to be a person

•a well-drawn protagonist is important in suspense

•the antagonist does not have to be a person

Characters•the main character is placed in an unusual situation

•the main character is placed in an unusual situation

Setting•the setting is very important

•those “dark and stormy” elements help create suspense

•the setting is very important

•those “dark and stormy” elements help create suspense

Conflict•an undefined sense of impending danger

•an event that is not explained

•an undefined sense of impending danger

•an event that is not explained

Rising Action•the rising action is created through foreshadowing

•an intriguing question is asked or an intriguing character is introduced

•the rising action is created through foreshadowing

•an intriguing question is asked or an intriguing character is introduced

Rising Action•the intriguing question/character asks–who?–how?–why?

•the intriguing question/character asks–who?–how?–why?

Climax•often the most suspenseful moment of the story

•the intriguing question is answered or the intriguing person is identified

•often the most suspenseful moment of the story

•the intriguing question is answered or the intriguing person is identified

Resolution•there is no longer tension and suspense

•things return to normal for the main character

•there is no longer tension and suspense

•things return to normal for the main character

Other•Irony–in suspense, writers often use twists to either introduce the story or to end the story

–the “twist” is irony – when what is said or what happens is not what was expected to

•Irony–in suspense, writers often use twists to either introduce the story or to end the story

–the “twist” is irony – when what is said or what happens is not what was expected to

Elements of the

Gothic

Characters•The Pursued Protagonist

–a force is in pursuit of the main character

–that force may be human or supernatural

–the pursuit may be related to a curse the protagonist is under

•The Pursued Protagonist –a force is in pursuit of the main character

–that force may be human or supernatural

–the pursuit may be related to a curse the protagonist is under

Characters•Pursuit of the Heroine

–a virtuous and idealistic young woman is pursued by a villain

–the villain is usually portrayed as wicked (that’s worse than just being bad)

–the heroine is usually brave and often ends up rescuing herself

•Pursuit of the Heroine –a virtuous and idealistic young woman is pursued by a villain

–the villain is usually portrayed as wicked (that’s worse than just being bad)

–the heroine is usually brave and often ends up rescuing herself

Characters•Antagonists can include

–Doppelgänger - a ghostly counterpart of a living person, an alter ego, or even another person who has the same name. 

–Revenant - the return of the dead to terrorize or to settle some score with the living.

•Antagonists can include–Doppelgänger - a ghostly counterpart of a living person, an alter ego, or even another person who has the same name. 

–Revenant - the return of the dead to terrorize or to settle some score with the living.

Characters•Antagonists can include

–Villain-Hero - The villain of a story who either •1) poses as a hero at the beginning of the story or

•2) simply possesses enough heroic characteristics (charisma, sympathetic past, etc) so that either the reader or the other characters see the villain-hero as more than a simple charlatan or bad guy.     

•Antagonists can include–Villain-Hero - The villain of a story who either

•1) poses as a hero at the beginning of the story or

•2) simply possesses enough heroic characteristics (charisma, sympathetic past, etc) so that either the reader or the other characters see the villain-hero as more than a simple charlatan or bad guy.     

Characters•Antagonists can include

–Werewolf - a normal human by day that turns into a wolf at night. A lycanthrope.

–Witches - normally depicted as an elderly hag-like crone or as a beautiful, seductive woman (and she is frequently both).    

•Antagonists can include–Werewolf - a normal human by day that turns into a wolf at night. A lycanthrope.

–Witches - normally depicted as an elderly hag-like crone or as a beautiful, seductive woman (and she is frequently both).    

Characters•Antagonists can include

–Vampire - a preternatural being of a malignant nature (or a reanimated corpse) who seeks nourishment and often bodily harm by sucking the blood of the living.    

•Antagonists can include–Vampire - a preternatural being of a malignant nature (or a reanimated corpse) who seeks nourishment and often bodily harm by sucking the blood of the living.    

Setting•Usually a Haunted Castle or House that is inhabited by or visited regularly by a ghost or other supposedly supernatural being

•Mist is often used to obscure objects, reduce visibility or to prelude terror

•Usually a Haunted Castle or House that is inhabited by or visited regularly by a ghost or other supposedly supernatural being

•Mist is often used to obscure objects, reduce visibility or to prelude terror

Conflict• the protagonist suffers from an Ancestral

Curse (evil, misfortune, or harm that comes as a response to or retribution for deeds or misdeeds committed against  or by one's ancestor(s))

• the protagonist suffers from a "burden of the past," which, like the ancestral curse, concerns misfortunes and evil befalling one as a result of past action

• the protagonist suffers from an Ancestral Curse (evil, misfortune, or harm that comes as a response to or retribution for deeds or misdeeds committed against  or by one's ancestor(s))

• the protagonist suffers from a "burden of the past," which, like the ancestral curse, concerns misfortunes and evil befalling one as a result of past action

Conflict•the struggle to commit or guard

against revenge (the act of repaying someone for a harm that the person has caused) 

•within Gothic literature, revenge is notably prominent and can be enacted by or upon mortals as well as spirits. 

•the struggle to commit or guard against revenge (the act of repaying someone for a harm that the person has caused) 

•within Gothic literature, revenge is notably prominent and can be enacted by or upon mortals as well as spirits. 

Rising Action• the protagonist often deals with entrapment and imprisonment such as being shackled to a floor or hidden away in some dark cell or cloister. 

• the Inquisition was a popular topic in Gothic literature. The Inquisition was a permanent institution in the Catholic Church charged with the eradication of heresies.  The accused had to testify against himself and did not have the right to face and question his accuser; torture became a frequent means of soliciting testimony from the accused.

• the protagonist often deals with entrapment and imprisonment such as being shackled to a floor or hidden away in some dark cell or cloister. 

• the Inquisition was a popular topic in Gothic literature. The Inquisition was a permanent institution in the Catholic Church charged with the eradication of heresies.  The accused had to testify against himself and did not have the right to face and question his accuser; torture became a frequent means of soliciting testimony from the accused.

Rising Action•rising action can be developed using foreshadowing and flashback

•rising action can be developed using foreshadowing and flashback

Climax•the most suspenseful moment of the story

•the curse/burden/revenge is either conquered or it conquers the protagonist

•the most suspenseful moment of the story

•the curse/burden/revenge is either conquered or it conquers the protagonist

Resolution•the curse/burden/revenge is gone

•things return to normal for the main character

•the curse/burden/revenge is gone

•things return to normal for the main character

Other•Unreliable Narrator

–is just that – unreliable–can make an incorrect conclusion

–may not understand the importance of events

–may not be mentally stable

•Unreliable Narrator –is just that – unreliable–can make an incorrect conclusion

–may not understand the importance of events

–may not be mentally stable

Other•Transformation –i.e. werewolf–Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

•the Grotesque –a mutation of the characters, plants and/or animals 

–transforms the normal features and/or behaviors  into extremes that are meant to be frightening and/or disturbingly comic

•Transformation –i.e. werewolf–Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

•the Grotesque –a mutation of the characters, plants and/or animals 

–transforms the normal features and/or behaviors  into extremes that are meant to be frightening and/or disturbingly comic

Other• Supernatural Gadgetry – the physical elements used by the

supernatural •vocal and mobile portraits•veiled statues that come to life•animated skeletons •doors, gates, portals, and hatchways open and close independently and inappropriately

•secret messages or manuscripts delivered by specters

•forbidden chambers or sealed compartments •casket lids seen in the act of rising

• Supernatural Gadgetry – the physical elements used by the

supernatural

Other•Claustrophobia

–an abnormal dread of being confined in a close or narrow space

–actual physical imprisonment or entrapment

–can indicate the victim's sense of helplessness

•Claustrophobia –an abnormal dread of being confined in a close or narrow space

–actual physical imprisonment or entrapment

–can indicate the victim's sense of helplessness

Elements of

Horror

Characters Protagonist - a person we can understand and perhaps identify with

Antagonist – can be a person or a supernatural force

Protagonist - a person we can understand and perhaps identify with

Antagonist – can be a person or a supernatural force

Setting•often described in much detail

•creates a dark, foreboding, menacing, or bleak environment

•creates an immediate response by the reader

•often described in much detail

•creates a dark, foreboding, menacing, or bleak environment

•creates an immediate response by the reader

Conflict•highly improbable and unexpected sequences of events

•events usually begin in ordinary situations and involve supernatural elements

•explores the dark, malevolent side of humanity

•highly improbable and unexpected sequences of events

•events usually begin in ordinary situations and involve supernatural elements

•explores the dark, malevolent side of humanity

Rising Action•plot contains frightening and unexpected incidents

•violence, often graphic, occurs

•plot contains frightening and unexpected incidents

•violence, often graphic, occurs

Rising Action•rising action can be developed using foreshadowing and flashback

•rising action can be developed using foreshadowing and flashback

Climax•the most suspenseful moment of the story

•the most suspenseful moment of the story

Resolution•the protagonist defeats the horror or is defeated by it

•the protagonist defeats the horror or is defeated by it

Other Most stories are told in the third person

mood and setting are as or more important than plot and characters

Lives depend on the success of the protagonist

Most stories are told in the third person

mood and setting are as or more important than plot and characters

Lives depend on the success of the protagonist