Revised 05/2008

ENG 230 - Mystery in Literature and Film (3 CR.)

Course Description

Studies mystery as a genre, including history, types and cultural aspects of stories, novels, and film adaptations. Involves critical reading, viewing, and writing. Lecture 3 hours per week.

General Course Purpose

Acquaints the student with the basic history, formulas, and significance of the mystery as a genre in literature and film. 

Course Prerequisites/Corequisites

Course Prerequisites/Co-requisites Students must have successfully completed ENG 112 or ENG 125 or equivalent or division approval.

Course Objectives

GOAL ONE: LEARNING HISTORY OF THE MYSTERY GENRE IN LITERATURE AND FILM

Students will be taught the main chronological developments in mystery narratives and formulas. By the end of the course, students will be able to:

  • identify main stages in the development of mystery in literature; and
  • identify main stages in the development of mystery in film.

GOAL TWO: RECOGNIZING FORMULAS OF MYSTERY IN LITERATURE AND FILM

Students will be taught the characteristic story-telling methods and themes for a variety of mystery formulas in literature and film. By the end of the course, students will be able to:

  • identify the characteristics of mystery formulas in literature, such as classical, Golden Age, or hard-boiled; and
  • identify the characteristics of mystery formulas in film, such as film noir, Hitchcockian, or spy thriller.

GOAL THREE: EXAMINING ISSUES IN ADAPTATION OF A LITERARY MYSTERY INTO FILM

Students will be introduced to the elements that affect adapting a literary story into film. By the end of the course, students will have:

  • engaged in classroom exercises that analyze the differences between the narratives techniques of fiction and film
  • recognized the relationship between narrative technique and meaning

GOAL FOUR: EXAMINING CULTURAL CONTEXTS OF MYSTERY IN LITERATURE AND FILM

Students will be introduced to some of the cultural contexts for literary and film mystery narratives. By the end of the course, students will have:

  • engaged in classroom exercises to explore the cultural context of at least one mystery in literature and in film; and
  • recognized the relationship between the cultural context of a mystery and the work itself

Major Topics to Be Included

  • History of the mystery as a literary and film genre
  • Mystery formulas in literature and film
  • Issues of adaptation of literary mysteries in film
  • Cultural contexts for works of mystery in literature and film