Mystery
Definition
Mystery is a genre of literature that revolves around solving puzzles or uncovering secrets. It typically involves suspenseful elements such as crime, detective work, and hidden motives.
Related terms
Detective Fiction: Detective fiction refers specifically to stories that focus on crime-solving protagonists who use their deductive skills to solve mysteries.
Whodunit: Whodunit is another term for mystery stories where the main question revolves around identifying the culprit responsible for the crime.
Suspense: Suspense refers to the feeling of anticipation or tension created by uncertain outcomes in mystery literature.
"Mystery" appears in:
Study guides (2)
AP English Literature - 1.3 Understanding how a story’s structure affects interpretations
AP English Literature - 4.5 Narrative distance, tone, and perspective
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Cram Mode
AP Score Calculators
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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.