Basic Plot Structure And Literary Conventions Of Detective Fiction 3t713n
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BASIC PLOT STRUCTURES Literary Conventions of the Detective Story
domingo 8 de abril de 12
ROMANTIC COMEDY Boy gets girl back Boy falls in love Boy meets girl
Variations on this theme - girl meets boy - girl meets girl
Boy loses girl
domingo 8 de abril de 12
TRAGEDY Hero with a tragic flaw
Faces internal/ external conflict Ultimately defeated, but wiser. domingo 8 de abril de 12
JOURNEY (TRADITIONAL ROAD MOVIE) Journey from point A to point B - usually with a companion - protagonist learns
A
domingo 8 de abril de 12
B
JOURNEY Returns home victorious/ changed Home Protagonist must go on a quest
domingo 8 de abril de 12
Series of adventures /tests
Ordinary life of a seemingly conventional character or group of characters
domingo 8 de abril de 12
Na rra tiv e
SLICE OF LIFE Usually shows that there is no such thing as an ordinary/ conventional person. Everyone is unique (and potentially interesting).
COMING OF AGE Overcomes adversity to emerge into adulthood
Young/Immature Protagonist Major life crisis (tests of character)
domingo 8 de abril de 12
MYSTERY Reader finds out how Mystery solved Series of clues/ red herrings Crime/mystery to be solved domingo 8 de abril de 12
Problem
Solution
Conflict
Peace
Danger
Safety
Confusion
Order
Dilemma
Decision
Question
Answer
Ignorance Mystery domingo 8 de abril de 12
Knowledge Solution
Mystery can fit into any of these basic structures/patterns
CONVENTIONS OF THE DETECTIVE STORY
The mystery is presented (almost) at the beginning of the narrative. If someone dies, it has to be at the beginning (so that the reader hasn’t had time to form an emotional attachment to the victim). The mystery must unfold gradually.
The narrative shouldn’t be presented from the perspective of the perpetrator of the crime (or there would be no mystery). Narrative is often told by another character (Watson being the most famous example) who serves as a sidekick to the main investigator (and a stand-in for the reader). The scene is extremely important.
domingo 8 de abril de 12
SCENE Where the clues are Often there is an/ several incongruent clue(s) The number of characters who conceivably could have been in the space limits the number of possible suspects. domingo 8 de abril de 12
Locked Room Mystery Space in which the crime took place makes the crime seemingly impossible. The text becomes a puzzle that the reader, along with the detective, tries to put together.
CONVENTIONS OF THE DETECTIVE STORY
The mystery must be intriguing enough that the reader will not be easily able to resolve it.
Some clues are intended to point the detective/reader in the wrong direction. [Red Herrings]
The reader is given only enough information to keep him/her interested in trying to solve it.
The “detective” is always a unique individual (eccentric, unusual, unique, off-putting, etc.).
There has to be more than one person who conceivably could have committed the crime. There should be some clues pointing to all the possible suspects.
domingo 8 de abril de 12
Even when s/he is a cop, the “detective” somehow stands apart from the rest (not trusted, unconventional, or simply not in a profession where s/he would be expected to be a good investigator).
ADRIAN MONK Former (disgraced) Former (disgraced) cop cop Extreme case of Extreme case of obsessive-compulsive obsessive-compulsive disorder
disorder
Smarter/More astute Smarter/More astute than all the other cops than all the other put together.
cops put together
domingo 8 abril de abril de 12 martes 3 de de 12
BRENDA BRENDA LEE LEE JOHNSON (THE CLOSER) CLOSER) Head of of the the Major Major Head Crimes Division Division Crimes Only woman on the team Only woman on the team Southerner in L.A. Others find her abrasive/ Others find her abrasive/ offensive offensive Addicted to sweets Addicted to sweets More More intelligent intelligent and and insightful insightful than than everyone everyone else else put put together. together
domingo de abril de 12 martes 3 de8 abril de 12
SHAUN SHAUNSPENCER SPENCER(PSYCHE) (PSYCH) Freelance consultant to Freelance consultant to the police policewho whopretends pretends the to be be aa psychic psychic to He’s annoying/ He’s annoying to others obnoxious to others because he’s always because he’s always joking and refuses to joking and refuses to take anything seriously take anything seriously Exceptional powers of Exceptional powers of perception perception
domingo de abril de 12 martes 3 de8 abril de 12
COLUMBO Member of the police force, but works alone and is Member of the police extremely force, butunconventional works alone Appears sloppy, absentand is extremely minded, clumsy unconventional
He’s really very astute and Appears sloppy, absentknowledgeable
minded, clumsy On the show, the mystery is
usually not who committed He’s really veryalready astute the crime (viewer and knowledgeable knows), but how Columbo is going to catch the person
domingo de abril de 12 martes 3 de8 abril de 12
MISS MARPLE Sweet old old lady lady Sweet Nobody expects expects her her to Nobody to be be able able to solve crimes to solve crimes Always solves the crime before Always solves the police do the crime before the police do Has to inform the police about Has to informthey’re the police about the mistakes making in the mistakes they’re making in their investigation their investigation Her distinguishing characteristic as a distinguishing detective is her keen Her knowledge of as human psychology characteristic a detective is her keenforknowledge of human Model Jessica Fletcher psychology (Murder She Wrote)
domingo de abril de 12 martes 3 de8 abril de 12
CONVENTIONS OF THE DETECTIVE STORY
The characters reveal themselves through dialogue, mannerisms, behavior (things that can be observed by the detective). Something always occurs during the course of the investigation that makes it more difficult for the detective to solve the mystery. There may be numerous subplots, and these may somehow in the end tie into the central mystery. The characters who at first seemed unlikely suspects are often in the end the actual culprits.
domingo 8 de abril de 12
The detective always solves the mystery before the reader. There is a suspenseful pause between solving the mystery and the revelation to the reader of how it was solved. Resolution takes the reader through the entire deductive process. The mystery must have a rational explanation. (Paranormal or supernatural explanations are not allowed.)
TERROR/ HORROR/ GHOST STORY Has a supernatural explanation for the mystery
domingo 8 de abril de 12
SUSPENSE The bad guy/gal is already known.The question is whether or not s/he will catch the good guy/gal.
domingo 8 de abril de 12
domingo 8 de abril de 12
ROMANTIC COMEDY Boy gets girl back Boy falls in love Boy meets girl
Variations on this theme - girl meets boy - girl meets girl
Boy loses girl
domingo 8 de abril de 12
TRAGEDY Hero with a tragic flaw
Faces internal/ external conflict Ultimately defeated, but wiser. domingo 8 de abril de 12
JOURNEY (TRADITIONAL ROAD MOVIE) Journey from point A to point B - usually with a companion - protagonist learns
A
domingo 8 de abril de 12
B
JOURNEY Returns home victorious/ changed Home Protagonist must go on a quest
domingo 8 de abril de 12
Series of adventures /tests
Ordinary life of a seemingly conventional character or group of characters
domingo 8 de abril de 12
Na rra tiv e
SLICE OF LIFE Usually shows that there is no such thing as an ordinary/ conventional person. Everyone is unique (and potentially interesting).
COMING OF AGE Overcomes adversity to emerge into adulthood
Young/Immature Protagonist Major life crisis (tests of character)
domingo 8 de abril de 12
MYSTERY Reader finds out how Mystery solved Series of clues/ red herrings Crime/mystery to be solved domingo 8 de abril de 12
Problem
Solution
Conflict
Peace
Danger
Safety
Confusion
Order
Dilemma
Decision
Question
Answer
Ignorance Mystery domingo 8 de abril de 12
Knowledge Solution
Mystery can fit into any of these basic structures/patterns
CONVENTIONS OF THE DETECTIVE STORY
The mystery is presented (almost) at the beginning of the narrative. If someone dies, it has to be at the beginning (so that the reader hasn’t had time to form an emotional attachment to the victim). The mystery must unfold gradually.
The narrative shouldn’t be presented from the perspective of the perpetrator of the crime (or there would be no mystery). Narrative is often told by another character (Watson being the most famous example) who serves as a sidekick to the main investigator (and a stand-in for the reader). The scene is extremely important.
domingo 8 de abril de 12
SCENE Where the clues are Often there is an/ several incongruent clue(s) The number of characters who conceivably could have been in the space limits the number of possible suspects. domingo 8 de abril de 12
Locked Room Mystery Space in which the crime took place makes the crime seemingly impossible. The text becomes a puzzle that the reader, along with the detective, tries to put together.
CONVENTIONS OF THE DETECTIVE STORY
The mystery must be intriguing enough that the reader will not be easily able to resolve it.
Some clues are intended to point the detective/reader in the wrong direction. [Red Herrings]
The reader is given only enough information to keep him/her interested in trying to solve it.
The “detective” is always a unique individual (eccentric, unusual, unique, off-putting, etc.).
There has to be more than one person who conceivably could have committed the crime. There should be some clues pointing to all the possible suspects.
domingo 8 de abril de 12
Even when s/he is a cop, the “detective” somehow stands apart from the rest (not trusted, unconventional, or simply not in a profession where s/he would be expected to be a good investigator).
ADRIAN MONK Former (disgraced) Former (disgraced) cop cop Extreme case of Extreme case of obsessive-compulsive obsessive-compulsive disorder
disorder
Smarter/More astute Smarter/More astute than all the other cops than all the other put together.
cops put together
domingo 8 abril de abril de 12 martes 3 de de 12
BRENDA BRENDA LEE LEE JOHNSON (THE CLOSER) CLOSER) Head of of the the Major Major Head Crimes Division Division Crimes Only woman on the team Only woman on the team Southerner in L.A. Others find her abrasive/ Others find her abrasive/ offensive offensive Addicted to sweets Addicted to sweets More More intelligent intelligent and and insightful insightful than than everyone everyone else else put put together. together
domingo de abril de 12 martes 3 de8 abril de 12
SHAUN SHAUNSPENCER SPENCER(PSYCHE) (PSYCH) Freelance consultant to Freelance consultant to the police policewho whopretends pretends the to be be aa psychic psychic to He’s annoying/ He’s annoying to others obnoxious to others because he’s always because he’s always joking and refuses to joking and refuses to take anything seriously take anything seriously Exceptional powers of Exceptional powers of perception perception
domingo de abril de 12 martes 3 de8 abril de 12
COLUMBO Member of the police force, but works alone and is Member of the police extremely force, butunconventional works alone Appears sloppy, absentand is extremely minded, clumsy unconventional
He’s really very astute and Appears sloppy, absentknowledgeable
minded, clumsy On the show, the mystery is
usually not who committed He’s really veryalready astute the crime (viewer and knowledgeable knows), but how Columbo is going to catch the person
domingo de abril de 12 martes 3 de8 abril de 12
MISS MARPLE Sweet old old lady lady Sweet Nobody expects expects her her to Nobody to be be able able to solve crimes to solve crimes Always solves the crime before Always solves the police do the crime before the police do Has to inform the police about Has to informthey’re the police about the mistakes making in the mistakes they’re making in their investigation their investigation Her distinguishing characteristic as a distinguishing detective is her keen Her knowledge of as human psychology characteristic a detective is her keenforknowledge of human Model Jessica Fletcher psychology (Murder She Wrote)
domingo de abril de 12 martes 3 de8 abril de 12
CONVENTIONS OF THE DETECTIVE STORY
The characters reveal themselves through dialogue, mannerisms, behavior (things that can be observed by the detective). Something always occurs during the course of the investigation that makes it more difficult for the detective to solve the mystery. There may be numerous subplots, and these may somehow in the end tie into the central mystery. The characters who at first seemed unlikely suspects are often in the end the actual culprits.
domingo 8 de abril de 12
The detective always solves the mystery before the reader. There is a suspenseful pause between solving the mystery and the revelation to the reader of how it was solved. Resolution takes the reader through the entire deductive process. The mystery must have a rational explanation. (Paranormal or supernatural explanations are not allowed.)
TERROR/ HORROR/ GHOST STORY Has a supernatural explanation for the mystery
domingo 8 de abril de 12
SUSPENSE The bad guy/gal is already known.The question is whether or not s/he will catch the good guy/gal.
domingo 8 de abril de 12
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