Mystery FictionMystery Fiction

““The Whodunit”The Whodunit”Invented by Edgar Allan Poe Invented by Edgar Allan Poe

(1809-1849)(1809-1849)

Elements of Mystery Elements of Mystery Fiction / Detective Fiction / Detective

StoriesStoriesCreepy SettingsCreepy Settings Forests or Forests or desolate natural desolate natural placesplaces

Dark places or Dark places or night-time night-time atmospheresatmospheres

Run-down Run-down buildings buildings

Elements of Mystery Elements of Mystery Fiction / Detective Fiction / Detective

StoriesStoriesMysterious CharactersMysterious Characters Super detectives as Super detectives as protagonists—can protagonists—can solve crimes the solve crimes the police can’tpolice can’t

Detective’s friend Detective’s friend often serves as often serves as narratornarrator

Criminals as Criminals as antagonistsantagonists

Elements of Mystery Elements of Mystery Fiction / Detective Fiction / Detective

StoriesStoriesSuspenseful PlotsSuspenseful Plots Crime is committed (usually murder)Crime is committed (usually murder) Suspects are identified and Suspects are identified and investigatedinvestigated

Expert detective examines evidence, Expert detective examines evidence, deduces solutiondeduces solution

Solution is revealed to the Solution is revealed to the characters and readercharacters and reader

Elements of Mystery Elements of Mystery Fiction / Detective Fiction / Detective

StoriesStoriesSpecialized ThemesSpecialized Themes Good will triumph over evil.Good will triumph over evil. The truth will always come The truth will always come out.out.

People get their just People get their just rewards.rewards.

Crime doesn’t pay.Crime doesn’t pay. Even the smallest detail is Even the smallest detail is important.important.

Sir Arthur Conan DoyleSir Arthur Conan Doyle

Born 1859 in ScotlandBorn 1859 in ScotlandStudied Medicine and became a Studied Medicine and became a doctor in 1885doctor in 1885Began writing in 1887, Began writing in 1887, A Study A Study in Scarletin Scarlet– 1– 1stst Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes storystoryWrote dozens of Sherlock Wrote dozens of Sherlock Holmes stories for the Holmes stories for the StrandStrand magazinemagazineKilled off Sherlock Holmes in Killed off Sherlock Holmes in 1893 because he was tired of 1893 because he was tired of writing that kind of fictionwriting that kind of fictionBrought Holmes back ten years Brought Holmes back ten years later due to fan outragelater due to fan outrageKnighted in 1902 by Edward VIIKnighted in 1902 by Edward VII

Works of Sir Arthur Conan DoyleWorks of Sir Arthur Conan DoyleSherlock Holmes FictionSherlock Holmes Fiction

A Study in ScarletA Study in Scarlet (1887) (1887)The Sign of FourThe Sign of Four (1890) (1890)Adventures of Sherlock HolmesAdventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892)(1892)Memoirs of Sherlock HolmesMemoirs of Sherlock Holmes (1893) (1893)The Hound of the BaskervillesThe Hound of the Baskervilles (1902) (1902)Return of Sherlock HolmesReturn of Sherlock Holmes (1905) (1905)The Valley of FearThe Valley of Fear (1915) (1915)His Last Bow: Some Reminiscences His Last Bow: Some Reminiscences of Sherlock Holmesof Sherlock Holmes (1917) (1917)Case-book of Sherlock HolmesCase-book of Sherlock Holmes (1927)(1927)

Other WorksOther WorksFictionFiction

The White CompanyThe White Company (1891) (1891)The Great ShadowThe Great Shadow (1892) (1892)The Lost WorldThe Lost World (1912) (1912)The Poison BeltThe Poison Belt (1913) (1913)

Non-FictionNon-FictionThe Great Boer WarThe Great Boer War (1900) (1900)The War in South Africa: Its The War in South Africa: Its Cause and ConductCause and Conduct (1902) (1902)The British Campaign in France The British Campaign in France and Flandersand Flanders (1916-1920) (1916-1920)

Sherlock HolmesSherlock Holmes

Amateur DetectiveAmateur Detective

Based on Dr. Joseph BellBased on Dr. Joseph Bell

Solves crimes by using Solves crimes by using deduction—looks at clues deduction—looks at clues

Knowledgeable in Chemistry, Knowledgeable in Chemistry, Botany (poisons), Criminal Botany (poisons), Criminal cases, Anatomycases, Anatomy

Can tell where people are from Can tell where people are from and what their occupation is and what their occupation is by looking at themby looking at them

Sherlock HolmesSherlock Holmes

Plays the violin badlyPlays the violin badlySmokes pipe & at times, opiumSmokes pipe & at times, opiumWhen goes out wears hunting cap When goes out wears hunting cap and capeand capePartner is Dr. Watson Partner is Dr. Watson Some people believed he was a Some people believed he was a real personreal personChief antagonist is Dr. MoriartyChief antagonist is Dr. MoriartyAvoids romantic attachmentsAvoids romantic attachmentsExcerpt from Excerpt from A Study in ScarletA Study in Scarlet

WebsiteWebsite

http://www.sherlock-holmes.co.uk/

The Adventure of The Adventure of the Speckled Bandthe Speckled Band

Sir Arthur Conan DoyleSir Arthur Conan Doyle

TermsTerms

Clue—anything that serves to guide or Clue—anything that serves to guide or direct in the solution of a problem, direct in the solution of a problem, mystery, etc mystery, etc Red Herring—something that diverts Red Herring—something that diverts attention from the actual facts of a case; a attention from the actual facts of a case; a misleading clue misleading clue Motive—reasons to commit the crimeMotive—reasons to commit the crimeMeans—resources to commit the crimeMeans—resources to commit the crimeOpportunity—chances to commit the crimeOpportunity—chances to commit the crime

Clues from Clues from Helen’s StoryHelen’s Story

Connection to the Connection to the story / red-herringstory / red-herring

Clues from Clues from Stoke MoranStoke Moran

Connection to the Connection to the story / red-herringstory / red-herring

Deduction (How do you think Julia’s murder occurred?)Deduction (How do you think Julia’s murder occurred?)

SUSPECTSUSPECT: : Person Person

suspected of suspected of committing committing the crimethe crime

MOTIVEMOTIVE: :

Reason to Reason to commit the commit the

CrimeCrime

MEANSMEANS: : Resources to Resources to commit the commit the

CrimeCrime

OPPORTUNITYOPPORTUNITY: : Chance to Chance to

commit the commit the crime crime

Stoke Moran

Dr. Roylott’s

Room

Julia Stoner’s

Room

Helen Stoner’s

Room

Wing of the house in use

Julia Stoner’s Room Dr. Roylott’s Room

Setting

Stoke Moran

Dr. Roylott’s RoomJulia

Stoner’s Room

Helen Stoner’s Room

Wing of the house in use