1. Ms. Moyher Detective Fiction Terms

2. Detective Fiction The terms, mystery, and thriller tend to be employed interchangeably. The detective story thrills the reader with mysterious crimes, usually of a violent nature, and puzzles his reason until their motivation and their perpetrator are, through some triumph of logic, uncovered. The terms detective story, mystery, and thriller tend to be employed interchangeably. The detective story thrills the reader with mysterious crimes, usually of a violent nature, and puzzles his reason until their motivation and their perpetrator are, through some triumph of logic, uncovered.

3. Detective Fiction Suspense Suspense Can be determined by the uncertainty of events or the excitement leading up to an event in a story. Can be determined by the uncertainty of events or the excitement leading up to an event in a story. Suspense is a key element of detective fiction and it helps get the reader involved in trying to crack the case right with the detective. Suspense is a key element of detective fiction and it helps get the reader involved in trying to crack the case right with the detective. Suspense leaves the reader doubtful of the outcome, but excited to know what happens next. Suspense leaves the reader doubtful of the outcome, but excited to know what happens next.

4. Detective Fiction An example of suspense: An example of suspense: “Complete pass. Again. Clock's ticking. Again. Down the field they go. The kid can't miss. The Panthers are nearing the end zone....The whole place is on its feet. Ball's on the 5-yard line. Marve takes the snap. Drops back. Throws.” “Complete pass. Again. Clock's ticking. Again. Down the field they go. The kid can't miss. The Panthers are nearing the end zone....The whole place is on its feet. Ball's on the 5-yard line. Marve takes the snap. Drops back. Throws.” Notice how the writer uses a football game to make the reader wonder how the game will turn out. Doesn’t this excerpt make you want to read on? Notice how the writer uses a football game to make the reader wonder how the game will turn out. Doesn’t this excerpt make you want to read on?

5. Detective Fiction Exposition Exposition Exposition can be defined by the explanation of the introduction and setting of a story. Exposition can be defined by the explanation of the introduction and setting of a story. Exposition prepares the reader for the suspense in the story. Exposition prepares the reader for the suspense in the story. Example of exposition: Example of exposition: “I am a thirty-five-year-old plumber, a single man with a passion for peanuts, police scanners, and women with freckles on their cheeks. I live in the house where I was born, a gray cottage right next to the Susquehanna River in Wilkes-Barre, PA.” “I am a thirty-five-year-old plumber, a single man with a passion for peanuts, police scanners, and women with freckles on their cheeks. I live in the house where I was born, a gray cottage right next to the Susquehanna River in Wilkes-Barre, PA.”

6. Detective Fiction Dramatic irony Dramatic irony Dramatic irony can be defined by the information or clues that the reader and narrator know, but the characters do not. Dramatic irony can be defined by the information or clues that the reader and narrator know, but the characters do not. In detective stories, the detective and the reader are aware of information that the characters are not aware of. In detective stories, the detective and the reader are aware of information that the characters are not aware of. Example of dramatic irony: Example of dramatic irony: "Methinks I see thee, now thou art below,/ As one dead in the bottom of a tomb." Of course, the next time she sees Romeo, he will indeed be "dead in the bottom of a tomb" -- her tomb. "Methinks I see thee, now thou art below,/ As one dead in the bottom of a tomb." Of course, the next time she sees Romeo, he will indeed be "dead in the bottom of a tomb" -- her tomb.

7. Detective Fiction Situational irony Situational irony Situational irony can be defined by what the character expects to happen and what will actually happen. Situational irony can be defined by what the character expects to happen and what will actually happen. An example of situational irony: An example of situational irony: “Grandpa is returning Uncle Daniel to the asylum, but upon arrival, the employees assume that Uncle Daniel is bringing Grandpa to the asylum (since Daniel is the better dressed of the two) and take him away instead.” “Grandpa is returning Uncle Daniel to the asylum, but upon arrival, the employees assume that Uncle Daniel is bringing Grandpa to the asylum (since Daniel is the better dressed of the two) and take him away instead.”

8. Detective Fiction Socratic irony Socratic irony Socratic irony can be defined by the feigning ignorance a person acquires in order to expose the weakness of another’s position. Socratic irony can be defined by the feigning ignorance a person acquires in order to expose the weakness of another’s position. Example of Socratic irony: Example of Socratic irony: A child asks his parents about the present underneath their Christmas tree and the parents exclaim, "I have no idea how those gifts got there!" A child asks his parents about the present underneath their Christmas tree and the parents exclaim, "I have no idea how those gifts got there!"

9. Detective Fiction Foreshadowing Foreshadowing Foreshadowing can be defined by the supplying hints or clues about what might occur later. Foreshadowing can be defined by the supplying hints or clues about what might occur later. Foreshadowing can be very broad and easily understood, or it may be a complex use of symbols, that are then connected to later turns in the plot. Sometimes an author may deliberately use false hints, called red herrings, to send readers or viewers off in the wrong direction. This is particularly the case with mystery writers, who want to bury clues to a mystery in information that is partially true and partially false. Foreshadowing can be very broad and easily understood, or it may be a complex use of symbols, that are then connected to later turns in the plot. Sometimes an author may deliberately use false hints, called red herrings, to send readers or viewers off in the wrong direction. This is particularly the case with mystery writers, who want to bury clues to a mystery in information that is partially true and partially false. An example of foreshadowing: An example of foreshadowing: “Sam wished he could rid himself of the sick feeling in his gut that told him something terrible was going to happen, and happen soon.” “Sam wished he could rid himself of the sick feeling in his gut that told him something terrible was going to happen, and happen soon.”

10. Detective Fiction Humor Humor Humor can be defined by what makes you laugh or smile and usually involves the element of surprise. Humor can be defined by what makes you laugh or smile and usually involves the element of surprise. An example of humor: An example of humor: “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.”

11. Detective Fiction Verbal irony Verbal irony Verbal irony can be defined by what is said is not what is meant in a story. Verbal irony can be defined by what is said is not what is meant in a story. There is usually an understatement involved where there is verbal irony. There is usually an understatement involved where there is verbal irony. Example of verbal irony: Example of verbal irony: "My Uncle Daniel's just like your uncle, if you've got one—only he has one weakness. He loves society and he gets carried away" "My Uncle Daniel's just like your uncle, if you've got one—only he has one weakness. He loves society and he gets carried away"

12. Detective Fiction Similes Similes Similes are used to compare two things; the words like and as are used to help describe. Similes are used to compare two things; the words like and as are used to help describe. Examples of similes: Examples of similes: “My love is like a red, red rose” —Robert Burns “My love is like a red, red rose” —Robert Burns “Her hair was like gravy, running brown off her head and clumping up on her shoulders.” “Her hair was like gravy, running brown off her head and clumping up on her shoulders.” “The day we passed together for a while seemed a bright fire on a winter's night” — Maurice Sceve “The day we passed together for a while seemed a bright fire on a winter's night” — Maurice Sceve

13. Detective Fiction Metaphor Metaphor Metaphors can be defined as one thing is said to be another thing. Metaphors are comparing two unlike things in a sentence. Metaphors can be defined as one thing is said to be another thing. Metaphors are comparing two unlike things in a sentence. Examples of metaphors: Examples of metaphors: “No man is an island.” —John Donne “No man is an island.” —John Donne “For ever since that time you went away I've been a rabbit burrowed in the wood.” — Maurice Sceve “For ever since that time you went away I've been a rabbit burrowed in the wood.” — Maurice Sceve “Life is a beach.” “Life is a beach.”

14. Detective Fiction Authors Authors Agatha Christie- “Wasps’ Nest” Agatha Christie- “Wasps’ Nest” Sue Grafton- “Full Circle” Sue Grafton- “Full Circle” Edgar Allan Poe- “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” Edgar Allan Poe- “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” Ray Bradbury- “Death is a Lonely Business” Ray Bradbury- “Death is a Lonely Business”