Agatha Christie and the Mystery Genre A chance to be Sherlock Mystery Literary Terms Logic: a system of reasoning Deduction : the act or process of using logic or reason to form a conclusion or opinion about something : the act or process of deducing something Mystery Genre : genre of fiction in which a detective, either an amateur or a professional, solves a crime or a series of crimes using logic.genre of fiction Cozy Mystery: mystery novels typically set in English country houses, villages, or other benign environments. Cozies feature very little violence, aside for the murder, and few gory details. The term arose from the relatively genteel settings, the common use of amateur sleuths as protagonists, and the fact that all loose ends are tied up and the villain caught and punished by the novel's conclusion. mystery novels Hard-boiled Mystery: a gritty detective story with a street smart professional investigator at its core. These realistic novels are generally set in a world permeated by violence and corruption.detective story Terms Continued Perception: a way of regarding, understanding, or interpreting something Reality: the world or the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them. Situational Irony : occurs when the exact opposite of what is meant to happen, happens. Dramatic Irony : occurs when the audience is aware of what will happen, but the character does not. Verbal Irony : occurs when a speaker says one thing but means the exact opposite (sarcasm) Perception: Are you a half empty or half full? Perception is all about how you choose to view a situation. Look at the fish: One, looks at the situation optimistically (happily). The other, is constantly pessimistic (gloomily). Reality Reality signifies the situation as it actually is. Going back to our fish picture, the reality of the situation is that no matter whether youre an optimist or a pessimist, the glass is still about 50% full of water. Mystery novels rely on the different perceptions of others (suspects) in order to misdirect the reader from the reality of the situation. However, before we begin, we must deconstruct (analyze) the concept of perception vs. reality. Example 1 Perception : On the left side of the picture is the burger you saw in the commercial or ad; the one YOU EXPECT to get for $1.99. Reality: You go into the McDonalds and eagerly order your burger only to receive the sorry looking excuse seen on the right side of the picture. Conclusion: What you see isnt always what you get. Tip: Using the format above will help you easily diagram and analyze any perception vs. reality question. Example 2 What did you see? Perception (pic 1): Old woman/young woman Reality (pic 1): You decide. Perception (pic 2): Young woman/ skull Reality (pic 2): Its both. Conclusion: You cant always pull one answer from the information gathered through your own perception. Close observation and multiple viewpoints is the key. Hint: Think about mystery shows or books you have read. The detective always interviews various people in order to fabricate (create) the event from multiple pieces. Example 3 Scenario: Youve received $60 over the Christmas break, and youre excited to spend it on a new game for your Xbox One. What game is it? Perception: The game youve chosen to buy is exactly $60.00; its brand new. Reality: When you go to the store you realize youve forgotten about the 9% tax thats included. Conclusion: The game is actually $65.40. The Point Your perception does not necessarily mean truth; it is the way you view the situation in order to process a solution. Agatha Christie Take notes as you watch the video Agatha Christies Writing Style 1. She wrote intelligently ; her stories were intricate (like a web) 2. She created characters from scratch. Though she used her ability to observe and manipulate the world around her, she found it hard to base murderous characters from people she really knew. 3. Her characters were believable, and they played to the reader's emotions. In other words, if we grew to like the character or understand them on some level, it was easier for Christie to use them to manipulate us into believing they were innocent. 4. On the same note, Christie used dialogue and inner thoughts heavily throughout her stories to draw a connection between the reader and the main character or characters. Agathas Formula She often used the same story-development formula for many of her crime novels: The main charactera detective or private investigatoreither discovers the murder or a past friend, somehow associated with the murder, contacts the main character for help. As the story unfolds, the main character questions every suspect, investigates the location of the crime, and carefully jots down each clue, allowing readers to scrutinize the clue and try to solve the mystery on their own. Just as readers build up clues and think they know who might have committed the murder, Agatha kills off one or a few main suspects, leaving readers shocked and confused that they were wrong about the murderer's identity. Eventually the main character gathers all of the remaining suspects at one location and reprimands the culprit, revealing numerous unconnected secrets along the way, usually lasting pages. Read more at: And Then There Were None Mystery Terms Alibi: an excuse that an accused person uses to show he/she was somewhere else than at the scene of a crime Breakthrough: an advancement or discovery that helps solve a crime Clue: a fact or object that helps solve a crime Crime: an act committed in violation of the law Detective: person who investigates crimes and gathers information Evidence: something such as a witness statement or object that helps solve a crime Mystery Terms Continued Flashback: an interruption in the plot to tell what happened earlier Foreshadowing: using clues to suggest what will happen later in the story Hunch: a guess or feeling not based on known fact Motive: an inner drive that causes a person to do something in a certain way Mystery: something that is secret or unknown Plot: a sequence of events in a story Mystery Terms Continued Purloin: to steal or filch Red Herring: something used to divert attention from the real issue Setting: time and place of a story Sleuth: another name for a detective Suspect: one thought to be guilty of committing a crime Suspense: anxiety or apprehension resulting from mysterious, undecided, or uncertain circumstances Mystery Terms Continued Victim: one who is harmed or suffers a loss Witness: one who saw or can give first-hand knowledge about something related to the crime Elements of Mystery Fiction Characters Setting Plot Problem Solution Lets read through the worksheet I handed out in class. Rules for a Mystery 1. There must be a crime and the reader must want to see its solution; his interest must be aroused and then he must long to see the mystery solved. 2. The criminal must appear reasonably early in the story. The villain must be evident for a goodly portion of the book. 3. The author must be honest and all clues must be made available to the reader. The reader must know everything the protagonist knows 4. The detective must exert effort to catch the criminal and the criminal must exert effort to fool the detective and escape him. Coincidence is taboo (there are none). Cast of Characters Dr. Edward D. Armstrong: A gullible, slightly timid doctor. Armstrong often draws the suspicion of the other guests because of his medical training. He is a recovering alcoholic who once accidentally killed a patient by operating on her while drunk. Though professionally successful, Armstrong has a weak personality, making him the perfect tool for the murderer. He has spend his whole life pursuing respectability and public success, and is unable to see beneath peoples exteriors. Miss Emily Brent An old, ruthlessly religious woman who reads her Bible every day. The recording accuses Emily Brent of killing Beatrice Taylor, a servant whom she fired upon learning that Beatrice was pregnant out of wedlock. Beatrice subsequently killed herself. Unlike the other characters, Emily Brent feels convinced of her own righteousness and does not express the slightest remorse for her actions. Mr. William Blore A former police inspector. Blore is a well-built man whose experience often inspires others to look to him for advice. As a policeman, he was corrupt and framed a man named Landor at the behest of a criminal gang. On the island, he acts boldly and frequently takes initiative, but he also makes frequent blunders. He constantly suspects the wrong person, and his boldness often verges on foolhardiness (foolishness). Miss Vera Claythorne A former governess who comes to Soldier island purportedly to serve as a secretary to Mrs. Owen. Vera wants to escape a past in which she killed a small boy in her care, Cyril Hamilton, so that the man she loved would inherit Cryils estate. Although the coroner cleared her of blame, Veras lover abandoned her. Vera is one of the most intelligent and capable characters in the novel, but she also suffers from attacks of hysteria, feels guilty about her crime, and reacts nervously to the uncanny events on the island. The Ten Little Indian poem has a powerful effect on her. Dr. Phillip Lombard A mysterious, confident, and resourceful man who seems to have been a mercenary soldier in Africa. Lombard is a far bolder and more cunning than most of the other characters, which allows him to survive almost until the end of the novel. His weakness is his chivalrous attitude toward women, particularly Vera with whom he has a number of private conversations. He cannot think of her as a potential killer, and he underestimates her resourcefulness, which proves a fatal mistake. General John G. MacArthur The oldest guest, MacArthur is accused of sending a lieutenant, Arthur Richmond, to his death during World War I because Richmond was his wifes lover. Once the first murders take place, MacArthur, already guilt-ridden about his crime, becomes resigned to his death and sits by the sea, waiting for it to come to him. Mr. Tony Marston A rich, athletic handsome youth. Tony Marston likes to drive recklessly and seems to lack a conscience. He killed two small children in a car accident caused by his speeding, but shows no remorse. Mr. Isaac Morris A shady, criminal character hired by the murderer to make the arrangements for the island. Harris allegedly peddled drugs to a young woman and drove her to suicide. Mr. Narracott Boat driver. Mrs. Ethel Rogers Rogers wife. Ethel is a frail woman, and the death of Tony Marston makes her faint. Wargrave believes her husband dominates her and that the masterminded their crime. Mr. Thomas Rogers The dignified butler Rogers continues to be a proper servant even after his wife is found dead and the bodies begin piling up. The recording accuses Rogers and his wife of letting their former employer die because they stood to inherit. Justice Lawrence Wargrave A recently retired judge. Wargrave is a highly intelligent old man with a commanding personality. As the characters begin to realize that a murderer is hunting them, Wargraves experience and air of authority make him a natural leader for the group. He lays out evidence, organizes searches, and ensures that weapons are locked away safely.