Mystery Genre Vocabulary

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Inference

Back

Making an educated guess based on details from the text to make a prediction or hypothesis.

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Archetype

Back

A character type that represents a universal pattern in storytelling.

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Dramatic Irony

Back

When the audience knows more than the characters involved.

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Motive

Back

A reason the person committed the crime -- usually something like revenge, hatred, prejudice, etc.

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Pace

Back

The tempo at which the story unfolds, affecting the audience's experience.

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Suspense

Back

A feeling of excitement or anxious uncertainty about what may happen next.

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Motif

Back

A recurring element that has symbolic significance in a story.

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Symbolism

Back

The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.

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Theme

Back

The central idea or message conveyed in a literary work.

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Tone

Back

The author's attitude toward the subject, conveyed through word choice.