After reading both “The Affair of the Twisted Scarf” and “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd” I found several similarities and several differences between the two mysteries. One similarity is that both stories open with a female character really connecting with the detectives to share their concern about a murder that has happened. Both females are reluctant to come right out and tell their stories but utilize an angle to lure in the detective to come and listen to them. In “The Affair of the Twisted Scarf” Archie Goodwin is sought out by one of the main characters Cynthia Brown who tells her troubles thru Goodwin who she hopes will translate her story to Nero Wolfe. Basically Nero Wolfe passively sits back and allows Goodwin to gather all of
The two short stories had many differences like time period, but had a huge common similarity, murder. The murder in the “Full Circle” was done out of jealousy and “The Most Dangerous Game” was done for sport. Some of the most
Albert DeSalvo was a criminal who lived in Boston, Massachusetts. He is most remembered as the Boston Strangler who was responsible for murdering thirteen women around the Boston area. Although he was not sentenced for the murders, it is imperative to note that he was sentenced for being a serial rapist. His confessions as the Boston Murderer have been subject to debate and disputes since it cannot be ascertained the actual crimes that DeSalvo committed. A psychologist who was involved in the trial of DeSalvo stated that he was suffering from the mental illness known as paranoid schizophrenia. This psychological problem was responsible for making him to loose touch with reality and it has major repercussion on the psychological wellbeing of
Alexandra Smith a 25 year-old, killed John Wilkes Booth on the 14th of April at approximately 10:25 p.m., saving the president, Abraham Linkin. Smith was playing a performer on the stage of the theatre that Linkin and his wife were attending. With them was 28 year-old Major Henry R. Rathbone and his fiancée, Clara Harris. When Smith saw the assassin was about to shoot Linkin, she reportedly flung three daggers from the stage at Booth. One knocking his gun out of his hand and the other two sinking into his chest.
For my Murder Mystery Coursework I am going to be comparing two Murder Mystery stories, "The Speckled Band," and "Lamb to the Slaughter"
The Crucible and The Scarlet Letter are both stories that take place in early Massachusetts. The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, and The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, have many similarities among them including setting, theme, and the conflicts within them. Though there are many similarities, these literary works are certainly different. Both convey a common theme, but develop it into a totally different story than the other. The themes of sin and guilt are what give these stories some of their similarities. The time period in which The Crucible and The Scarlet Letter were written, also contribute to the themes as well as their storylines. Both Hester Prynne and John Proctor acted immorally and committed adultery. Though
The plot is entertaining and suspenseful which allows it to hold up to the standards of the list. Foreshadowing maintains interest, and is a prominent part of the suspenseful nature of the plot. After the first murder of Mrs. Ascher, Hastings believed that the crime is a singular event, but Poirot stated, “This is only the beginning” (Christie 22). The author uses a delightful example of foreshadowing to hint to the later murders. This keeps the plot suspenseful which makes one want to continue reading. After discussing possible coincidences on the day of the murder with the victims’ friends and families, Poirot realized, “I tell you my friends, it cannot be a coincidence. Three crimes---and every time a man selling stockings and spying out the land” (Christie 211). The finding of clues allows the plot to continue, thus maintaining the reader’s interest and preventing the story from becoming too tedious to enjoy. While Monsieur Poirot finished pronouncing the name of the murderer, the narration stated, “Two detectives...
...ruster into the realm of social scandals. In sum, social scandals are important to the mystery genre because for a detective to be called into a private setting, that setting must be threatened or disrupted in a way and social scandals function as the disruption. Though the private life operates predominantly in regards to men and specifically white males, we can also analyze how they function in categories or themes such as race, class, and gender. This ultimately allows the mystery genre to challenge misconceptions by writing under the theme of the social scandal.
The type of mystery and extent of the story may differ depending on the age of the audience. A younger audience would most likely have a milder problem to solve like some sort of theft and involve little to no violence along with an easier to grasp puzzle to solve. Usually older or more mature audiences will have more violence, death, and a bigger puzzle or mystery to solve and uncover. To be a reader of the mystery genre, readers must be patient and try to figure out the puzzle, along with possibly some problem-solving skills may be helpful. They need to be aware of foreshadowing along with red herrings that may occur. People want to figure out will happen next, they usually like the challenge of being able to figure out who did it or solve the mystery before it’s revealed. Reading a mystery novel is not best suited for someone who does not have the time to really sit down and think. Mysteries are best suited for someone who had time to get invested into the story to the point of not being able to put the book
Murder is the most sinister of any crime you can commit as you are taking life away from someone who isn't ready to go. It is especially irrational when murder is carried out with no motive. This could only be the work of a madman. With crime people seek justice and will make their best efforts to achieve it. In the ABC Murders by Agatha Christie we explore the mystery of not one, but four murders carried out meticulously and with proper planning. In this novel we get to see the solving process of an interesting murder case through two private detectives who have gotten back together after some time apart in retirement. We get to see how they are able to think like a murder and determine the motives and planning behind the crimes.
An example of a crime fiction story that utilizes a character arc to create a sense of suspense and mystery amongst the audience is Patricia Highsmith’s, Strangers On A Train. In this story, Highsmith, takes us into the life of Guy Daniel Haines,
Christie, Agatha. "The Witness for the Prosecution." MASTERPIECES OF MURDER. New Work: Kodd, Mead and Co. 1977.
The roots of the blossoming tree of crime fiction can be traced back to the ancient soil of The Bible, and beyond, in literature which contains mysteries to be solved, and figures who act as detectives. Mystery was present in Classical Greek tragedy. In Oedipus Rex (c. 429 bc) the identity of Oedipus is a mystery, the unravelling of which influences the movement of the plot. In fact the very term 'anagnorisis' indicates a discovery - a revealing of a mystery.
To most the detective fiction genre is considered to be “new.” Marking its inception with Edgar Allan Poe’s short story The Murders in the Rue Morgue in 1841, classifying Poe as the “undisputed father” of crime fiction (Butler). However, Poe is not the creator of the detective fiction genre, and in fact this type of literature can be seen centuries before in Old Testament writings. These writings include “Susanna and the Elders” and “Bel and the Priests,” as well as Greek writings like “Hercules and Cacus” and “King Rhampsinitus and The Thief”(Scaggs 19). Together, these literary pieces have had an ever-lasting influence on crime fiction, and substantiate the fact that Poe was in no way the originator of this genre.
Tragedy, many people have defined it so many different ways. So, what is a tragedy? Arthur Miller has defined a tragedy by specifying certain characteristics that must be included in the story; there must be living and breathing characters, it must bring knowledge or enlightenment, there must be an internal conflict, and there must be a struggle for happiness. This definition does a really good job of defining what a tragedy is, but I think that there is more to it. I believe for a story to become a tragedy it does not have to have the above aspects, but every reader has to decide whether it is a tragedy to them. Take The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne for example.
The Murders in the Rue Morgue begins with “propositions” (Poe 2) to help the reader follow the reading through the use of critical thinking like that of a chess or card player. The chess player must wait and contemplate each move of another player, while the card player is more prone to memory perception. Poe then introduces his acquaintance Dupin and expounds on his abilities. Then “Extraordinary Murders” (5) begins the sequence of the detective like story. The murders were written about in the local paper and giving no clue, leaving the mystery unanswered. The next day many testimonial references were given in the paper and their account of the murders exposed, still without any evidential clues. The evening paper reveal the police have no way of solving the crime, but arrest Le Bon simply because he was the last individual to see the murdered alive. Dupin’s “peculiar analytical ability” (3) begins to kick in and he begins to belittle the ability of the investigators and plans an “examination” (9). After receiving permission, Dupin and Poe (or the narrator as such) went to the Rue Morgue. They carefully scoured the neighborhood and the outdoor area before entering the house and room where the murders took place. Dupin was very intense and refrained from speaking for several hours contemplating on all he had seen. Then Dupin spoke and completely expounded his analysis of the murders, the means of entrance and exit, and the ability that it would take to complete what had been done. When he centered in on the agility, strength, ferocity and lack of motive (14), Dupin revealed the hair he found revealing the intruder and murderer. To draw the orangutan’s owner to him, Dupin posted an announcement in the news paper. ...