Dramatic Arc
Mystery Characters
Elements in a Mystery
Plot/character: Blue Cross
Plot/Character: Sussex Vampire
100

Resolution

 the end of the story when the “problem” is solved

100

Detective 


often the main character in a mystery; investigates and tries to solve a crime, often with the help of an assistant

100

Clue

a piece of potential evidence of a crime

100

Who is the antagonist? 

Flambeau

100

Who is Mr. Furgeson and why does he write Sherlock?

Mrs. Ferguson's husband, dad to baby and Jack

He thinks his wife is a vampire 

200

Falling Action

events that occur after the climax, but before the resolution

200

Suspect 


a person who may have committed a crime

200

Motive

the reason a person might have committed a crime

200

Who is the protagonist?

Valentin 

200

What is the crime? Who is the perpetrator? 

Poisoning the baby

Jack 

300

Climax

the high point of action, usually a conflict between characters

300

Witness

a person who saw a crime take place

300

Deduction

the process of using reasoning to arrive at a conclusion

300

What is Chesterton's theory about detective stories?

battle of chaos and order 

when a criminal does a crime, chaos is reintroduced in the world; law keeps order in a fallen world 

300

Who is the witness?

Mrs. Mason, the nurse 

400

Rising Action

the conflict/ “problem” is introduced

400

Victim 

a person who was negatively affected by a crime

400

Alibi

a reason why a suspect could not have committed a crime

400

List 4 examples of clues Fr. Brown left behind 

sugar/salt swap

soup on the wall

broken window

fruit stand 

400

What clues lead Sherlock to the truth? (3)

South American weapons

dog's limp

Jack's gaze/ countenance 

500

Define Exposition

the information needed to enter into the story, includes setting and introduction of characters

500

Perpetrator

a person who did commit a crime

500

Red herring

a piece of potential evidence that suggests an incorrect solution to the crime, a “false clue”

500

Why does Chesterton say detective stories have value? (3 things)

-express modern life

-use imagination

-appreciate civilization/law 

500

What is the red herring in the story, why is it a red herring?

Vampirism

it is a false clue or trail for Sherlock to follow