STRANGE AND MYSTERIOUS STORY ELEMENTS The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious....

STRANGE AND MYSTERIOUS

STORY ELEMENTS

The most beautiful thing we can experience

is the mysterious. It is the source of all true

art and science.

-Albert Einstein

TALES OF THE STRANGE AND MYSTERIOUS

Strange:

TALES OF THE STRANGE AND MYSTERIOUS

Strange: something that is

unfamiliar or out of the ordinary.

Mysterious:

TALES OF THE STRANGE AND MYSTERIOUS

Strange: something that is

unfamiliar or out of the ordinary.

Mysterious: something that is

difficult or impossible to explain.

TALES OF THE STRANGE AND MYSTERIOUS

“The Raven”

“The Tell-Tale Heart”

“Annabel Lee”

“The Fall of the

House of Usher”

STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS STORY

ELEMENTS

SUSPENSE: The uncertainty

or anxiety that a reader feels

about what will happen next

in a story, novel or drama

STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS STORY

ELEMENTS

4 Elements of SUSPENSE:

1. Foreshadowing:

STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS STORY

ELEMENTS

4 Elements of SUSPENSE:

1. Foreshadowing: The use of

clues or hints to suggest events

that will occur later in the plot.

STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS STORY

ELEMENTS

4 Elements of SUSPENSE:

2. Mystery: something that is

difficult or impossible to explain.

STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS STORY

ELEMENTS

4 Elements of SUSPENSE:

3. Dilemma: a difficult or puzzling

situation where the character must

choose a dangerous course of

action.

STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS STORY

ELEMENTS

4 Elements of SUSPENSE:

4. Reversal: a sudden change

in a character’s situation from

good to bad, or vice versa.

STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS STORY

ELEMENTS

Identify:

1. Foreshadowing:

2. Mystery:

3. Dilemma:

4. Reversal:

Watch "The Tell-Tale Heart" on YouTube

STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS STORY

ELEMENTS

MOOD

the feeling a reader

gets from the story.

STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS STORY

ELEMENTS

Creating a mysterious MOOD:

Expressing character’s

fears through thoughts &

feelings.

STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS STORY

ELEMENTS

Creating a mysterious MOOD:

Producing vivid

descriptions of sights and

sounds.

STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS STORY

ELEMENTS

Creating a mysterious

MOOD:

Repeating words,

phrases or actions.

STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS VOCABULARY

alibi – n. a person used as another’s excuse.

deduction – n. process of drawing a conclusion based on evidence/clues

façade – n. a false front or appearance

STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS VOCABULARY

hunch – n. a suspicion or guess

intercept – v. to take or cut off from the intended destination

investigation – n. a search or examination for facts or clues.

STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS VOCABULARY

motive – n. something that causes a person to act a certain way or do a certain thing.

oppressive – adj. unjustly harsh

rapacious – adj. extremely greedy

STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS VOCABULARY

red herring – n. a distraction from the real problem

sinister – adj. evil; wicked, dishonest

sleuth – n. a detective or private eye

STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS VOCABULARY

tantalizing – adj. teasing by withholding something; tempting

victim – n. a person who suffers from a disaster or injury

witness – n. one who sees or watches

STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS STORY

ELEMENTS

Creating Suspense & Mystery:

Use of irony: A contrast

between expectation and

reality.