1. The Hound of the Baskervilles
Pre-Reading Lesson

2. Elements of drama
Drama/Play- A form of literature that is performed for an audience. It has a plot or story line.
Script- A special writing format used for drama.
Cast of Characters- Usually found at the beginning of a play. Often gives a short description of the characters
Dialogue- In a drama, the story is mainly told through dialogue- the words the characters speak
Stage Directions- These are instructions for the director, performers, and stage crew. They are often printed in italic type and in parenthesis
Acts/Scenes- The action of a play is divided into scenes. A scene changes whenever the setting (time, place, or both) changes

3. Elements of Drama
Protagonist- The main character of the story. The “good guy” who the audience roots for!
Antagonist- The character who opposes the protagonist. The “bad guy” of the story
Conflict- A struggle between two opposing forces. The conflict is what drives the plot forward.
Exposition- The beginning of the play, when the setting and characters are introduced
Rising Action (Complications)- The action of the story- the conflict will become more intense, and in a mystery, clues and suspects will develop

4. Elements of Mystery
Red Herrings- A red herring is a clue in a story that is meant to be misleading or distracting
For instance, a character may seem particularly evil or menacing, which might make the audience assume that he or she is the guilty party, even though that character is innocent.
Witnesses- People who saw the crime take place or were in the area when the crime occurred
Alibis- A piece of evidence proving that someone was elsewhere when a crime took place.

5. Elements of Mystery
Other Clues- Clues are little hints dropped throughout the story to point to a guilty party. They may be very difficult to spot, so pay close attention! Remember, the author wants the big reveal of “who done it” to be saved for the ending, so the clues will not always be obvious.
Dark Horse- A little-known person who rises to importance, a person who seems unlikely to succeed
Victim- The person who has suffered from a crime