Mystery Genre Vocabulary

Front

dramatic irony

Back

when the audience knows more than the characters involved.

Front

foreshadowing

Back

Hints or clues the author plants to let the reader know what will happen.

Front

mood

Back

how the reader or audience feels.

Front

tone

Back

the author's specific word choice.

Front

red-herring

Back

A deliberate piece of misleading information in a story; used to keep the reader (and characters) guessing.

Front

suspense

Back

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

Front

cliffhanger

Back

A dramatic and exciting ending to a chapter or story that leaves the reader wanting more.

Front

theme

Back

The central idea or message in a story.

Front

characterization

Back

The process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character.

Front

plot twist

Back

An unexpected development in a story that surprises the reader.