Mystery Genre Terminology

Genre: Mystery

Learning to speak the language of mysteries

A few quick
mystery
terms...

Multiple Choice

What do you already know?

Which of these terms is NOT a synonym for Detective?

• Inspector

• Sleuth

• Suspect

• Private Eye

Multiple Choice

What do you already know?

Which of these could be a synonym for clue?

• Evidence

• Suspect

• Victim

• Crime

Deduction

A type of logic where you draw a
conclusion or making a judgment
about something based on the
information you have.

Breakthrough
A discovery that helps solve the
crime.

​The moment when multiple clues come together to reveal an idea critical to solving the mystery.

Hunch

A guess or feeling that is not based
on facts

… these are DANGEROUS.

Open Ended

How would you describe
the difference between a
deduction, a breakthrough, and a hunch?

Alibi

An explanation an accused person
uses to show that he or she was not
at the scene of the crime.

Poll

Opinion Poll: If a character has an alibi, how much do you trust them?

• An alibi proves they did not do the crime.

• I would still be cautious but I would suspect someone with an alibi less than I suspect those without one.

• Trust no one. Even with an alibi.

Motive

A reason that a person does
something. For example: jealousy,
greed, revenge, to protect someone, etc.

Red Herring

​A false clue to distract the investigator or lead them to an inaccurate conclusion.

Multiple Choice

1. What is an alibi in a mystery story?

• The detective's sidekick

• A false lead meant to mislead the investigation

• Evidence that proves a suspect was somewhere else at the time of the crime

• The main suspect in the case

Multiple Choice

1. In a mystery story, what is a motive?

• The detective's reasoning for solving the case

• The suspect's opportunity to commit the crime

• The reason why a character may have committed the crime

• The setting of the story

Multiple Choice

1. What is a red herring in a mystery story?

• A type of fish used as a clue in the investigation

• A type of fish used as a clue in the investigation

• A piece of information meant to distract from the real solution

• The final twist in the plot

Multiple Choice

Which of the following might be a motive held by a bank robber?

• They have a large debt they need to pay off.

• They could not have robbed the bank because they were visiting their family at the time of the crime.

• They wore a face mask to avoid being seen.

• They left false clues to distract the detective.

Literary Devices that are commonly found in Mysteries

Flashback










Foreshadow

​A flashback is when the story goes back in time to show events that happened before the current moment.




Foreshadowing is a literary device where the author gives hints or clues about what will happen later in the story.

Irony

• Definition: Irony is when there is a contrast between what is expected and what actually happens. It can be used to create humor, drama, or surprise in a story.

• Example: In a mystery novel, a detective confidently accuses the wrong suspect, only to later discover the true culprit, creating an ironic twist in the plot.

• Three Types: Verbal, Dramatic, Situational

Verbal Irony








Dramatic Irony








Situational Irony

Definition: Verbal irony occurs when a character says one thing but means the opposite, often for humor or sarcasm.

Example in a Mystery Novel: A detective sarcastically comments, "Oh, great job finding the missing key, Sherlock," when the key was actually found by someone else.

Definition: Dramatic irony happens when the audience knows something that the characters in the story do not.

Example in a Mystery Novel: The readers know that the main suspect is innocent, but the detective is convinced of their guilt, creating suspense.

Definition: Situation irony occurs when the outcome of a situation is the opposite of what was expected, often resulting in unexpected twists.

Example in a Mystery Novel: A detective confidently follows a set of clues, only to discover that they have been misled by false evidence, leading to a surprising turn of events.

Multiple Choice

Which literary device provides hints about future events in a story?

• Foreshadow

• Irony

• Flashback

• Cliffhanger

Multiple Choice

1. In which scenario does the story go back in time to show events that happened before the current moment?

• Flashback

• Irony

• Foreshadowing

• Conclusion

Multiple Choice

1. Which of the following is an example of foreshadowing in a story?

• The resolution of a major conflict

• A sudden shift to a past event in the narrative

• A mysterious figure appearing in a dream sequence

• A character recalling a happy childhood memory

Multiple Choice

Sarcasm is often a form of ...

• Verbal Irony

• Situational Irony

• Foreshadowing

• Dramatic Irony

Multiple Choice

1. What type of irony occurs when the audience knows something that the characters do not?

• Verbal Irony

• Dramatic Irony

• Situational Irony

• Sarcasm

Multiple Choice

1. Which type of irony involves a contrast between what is expected and what actually happens?

• Verbal Irony

• Coincidences

• Situational Irony

• Dramatic Irony

Poll

Great job! We will end on one final mystery-themed poll:

Do you believe that there can be things that are just a coincidence in a mystery novel?

• Yes, there can be things that are just a coincidence in a mystery.

• No, in a mystery novel, I think everything must mean something - even if it is a red herring

• Not sure