What makes a good mystery? A good example of a mystery would be The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. Over the past two months, GLMS 6th grade students have watched and read The Westing Game. At some points in the movie, the class wondered why so many good parts of the book were missing from the movie? The Westing Game book contains book contains many similarities and differences that are worth explaining.…
Mystery novels always make the reader solve a puzzle alongside the main character/detective. “Stolen is a moody psychological novel with a series of finely drawn characters.”(Chudley 293) Ron Chudley the author of Stolen creates a mystery, where he introduces the crime in the first few chapters and then injects many literary techniques to generate a sequence of suspenseful events. In Stolen, Ron Chudley incorporates narration, imagery, and diction to generate suspense rendering the novel an effective mystery. Ultimately, this story portrays a father losing his beloved son to strangers who are obsessed with obtaining the innocent child Nate.…
The detective of the story, Hercule Poirot, obtains the mysterious ABC letters. Using the clues from the letter and his wits, he jumps from city to city to search for the mysterious man. After a few murders, the murderer slips up with more clues behind. Manipulating the platform, he checks around for clues and finds one. The red herring unknowingly lead him and his group to the true murderer, solving the ABC Mystery.…
Murder, crime, suspense, secrets; what else can you ask for in a mystery novel? The Westing Game by Milwaukee native Ellen Raskin is a great read due to its constant mysteries, incorporation of thematic subjects, and attention to detail. It is hard to understand however, so a computer may be needed to keep from getting lost.…
Suspense is a necessity for any story, facilitating a reason for readers to continue flipping the pages. A powerful literary device indeed, but it is exceptionally hard to master. However, noted author Richard Connell is one of the exceptions. In “The Most Dangerous Game” by Connell, the nigh palpable conflict between the characters is certainly a key reason to turn the pages. Through the utilization of foreshadowing and foreboding words, Connell constructs a rock-solid sense of suspense.…
In the making of the story “The Most Dangerous Game” it is evident that the author, Richard Connell, spent a great deal of time formulating the characters and how they would affect the story. The way the characters act also builds on the theme of the story.…
Authors use a number of different tones, settings, themes, characterizations, and points of view in order to create a fictional world inside the readers head. We see these tools used in contrasting ways in “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe and “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson. The distinctive techniques used in these short stories leave you feeling uneasy once you finish them. Using different methods, both authors create a story of horror for their readers.…
Maurice LeBlanc, a French 19th Century mystery writer, has been a catalyst for the mystery genre! Maurice LeBlanc was born on November 11, 1864, in Rouen France. As a maturing adolescent, he was recognized as an especially reticent boy who excelled in his scholar achievements. He spent ample time utilizing his imagination which would later be used to conceive his prominent detective stories. As a result of his creativity, Maurice LeBlanc often wrote fictional stories during his time of leisure. Additionally, he enjoyed reading the intriguing works of writers such as Balzac and Poe. The author encountered a few difficulties during his juvenility. Furthermore, Maurice LeBlanc had been rescued from a burning building at the young age of four. Despite the stressful event, his family recovered. Not only did Maurice LeBlanc suffer from the physical travesty of the devastation, but grew up in the time of war. As the son of a wealthy shipping owner, Maurice LeBlanc was raised quite lavishly. His family consisted of his mother, father, and two sisters, Johanna and Georgette. These women, notably Georgette, were thought to be influences to his writing. As well as academics, the author sought pleasure in chess. Maurice LeBlanc’s upbringing molded him to develop into the captivating novelist we know today.…
Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window continues and expands on traditional themes of the Detective Fiction Genre. In 1841, Murder in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe broke the traditional character constraints of the Crime Fiction Genre, by introducing a new type of lead detective figure. The ideal detective figure encompassed traits of superiority, intelligence, wit and a keen sense for observation. The lead detective figure is a sophisticated character that is not bound to the constrictions and limitations of the Law and the exploration of this figure through the use of visual aid and techniques, provides contrast and variation on the common themes within the genre. Hitchcock provides an alternative approach through a new medium carving way for varied interpretations of the Crime Fiction genre.…
THESIS: As and avid reader and a having a love for writing, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle changed the way people read mystery stories with Sherlock Holmes.…
People have always sought to escape their mundane realities through fantastic stories. Richard Connell “The most dangerous game” provides this type of reprieve from reality. Through hyperbolic, stock protagonist and antagonist, a simplistic conflict, and a happy end “The most dangerous game” presents itself to be purely commercial fiction.…
Have you ever heard of Sherlock Holmes? Have you ever read one of his books? Sir Author Conon Doyle wrote one of Sherlock’s famous stories, “The Speckled Band.” Doyle likes to write detective stories. This essay will be explaining how “The Speckled Band” is considered a detective story.…
True crime stories play a large role in current literature that embed themselves into the daily lives of people, creating a curious phenomenon. Their sensational plots attract attention and keep people longing for more. On the other hand, true crime journalism informs others and provides the facts. True crime journalism, such as “The Hossack Murder,” bears an informative purpose and centers on factual information, while true crime stories, such as “A Jury of Her Peers,” serve a purpose of entertaining by dramatizing conflict.…
Next to Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple are two of the most recognizable detectives in fiction because of their distinctive attributes. Hercule Poirot, the Belgian detective, is noted for moustaches and his “egg-shaped head”. From the rather violent village of St. Mary Mead, Miss Jane Marple is known for her knitting needles. A third detective, Ariadne Oliver, is an author with a fondness for apples. Interestingly, the last character is also thought to be the Christie’s alter ego. Through her characters, Christie is able to express her own views on the social issues of her time.…
This is the second short story I picked for the reading logs, and I openly declare that this is the best short story because it is shortest one, beating Short Story by Vikram Karkev by 1 page. The real reason for loving the story is the title itself is so appealing. The title is short and simple, yet it made me wonder how a simple board game could be so murderous. The second reason for labeling this story is the best because Scrabble used to be my favourite board game when I was in primary school. It brings back memories of building the longest words with highest marks (with help from mini Oxford Dictionary), and of course the winning strategy which is by popping some tiles, especially the blank tiles in my pocket. The third reason is the…