6 Questions
What characteristics define a detective character in a detective story?
A detective is often an outsider, cold hearted, intelligent, with special reasoning power and observant.
What role does the sidekick/assistant play in a detective story?
A sidekick is usually more social, expert in their field of work, and a companion for the detective, often serving as the narrator of the story.
What is the significance of inference in detective stories?
Inference is an idea or conclusion that's drawn from evidence and reasoning.
Who is considered the lead writer of the Golden Crime Age?
Agatha Christie is considered the lead writer of the Golden Crime Age.
What is the significance of a 'locked room' crime story?
A locked room crime story is when none of the characters can leave a place, increasing the tension and suspense.
What characteristics define an honourable and courageous person?
An honourable person is honest, fair, and worthy of respect, while a courageous person is brave.
Study Notes
Detective Fiction
- Edgar Allen Poe wrote 'Murder in the Rue Morgue', a pioneering detective story.
- The detective in the story is Auguste Dupin, a character who exemplifies conventions of detective characters, such as being an outsider, cold-hearted, intelligent, and possessing special reasoning power and observant skills.
Conventions of Detective Characters
- Often an outsider
- Cold-hearted
- Intelligent
- Special reasoning power
- Observant
Conventions of Sidekick/Assistant Characters
- More social
- Expert in their field of work
- Companion for the detective
- Often the narrator of the story
Detective Fiction Terms
- Inference: an idea or conclusion drawn from evidence and reasoning
Golden Crime Age
- Agatha Christie was the lead writer of the Golden Crime Age.
Agatha Christie's Characters
- Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple are her most famous characters.
Locked Room Crime Story
- A locked room crime story is when none of the characters can leave a place, increasing the tension and suspense.
Dr. Roylott
- Dr. Roylott was Helen Stoner's stepfather.
- He was a very dangerous man who murdered his servant and sent a snake to kill Julia and Helen Stoner.
- He kept a cheetah and a baboon on the estate (Stoke Moran).
Vocabulary
- Honourable: honest and fair, and worthy of respect
- Courageous: to be brave
Test your knowledge of Edgar Allan Poe's 'Murder in the Rue Morgue', a pioneering work of detective fiction. Explore the characteristics of detective and sidekick characters.
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