The development of crime fiction

Term Paper , 2009 , 15 Pages , Grade: 2,3

English Language and Literature Studies - Literature

1. Introduction
Crime fiction belongs to the top selling literature long ago. But not at all times the same type of crime fiction has been favored. Already the bible contains narrations about crime, like the story of Cain and Abel, the most famous fratricide all over the world. The motive of crime draws through literature continuing and develops in various directions. Focusing on the main genres which emerged: detective fiction, Golden Age crime fiction, American hard-boiled crime fiction, the police procedural, and the thriller; this paper will concentrate on the development of crime fiction from the early beginnings up to now. Origins and characteristics will be analyzed and differences as well as similarities between the different genres will be represented.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Mystery and detective fiction
  • The origins of detective fiction
  • The appearance of the detective
  • Characteristics of the detective novel
  • Classic detective fiction – Sherlock Holmes
• The Golden Age of detective fiction
  • The Queen of Crime'
  • Characteristics of Golden Age fiction
  • Rules in Golden Age fiction - Fair Play
• American hard-boiled crime fiction
  • Hammett and Chandler
  • Characteristics of hard-boiled crime fiction
• The Police Procedural
  • Origins of the Police Procedural
  • Characteristics of the Police Procedural
• The Thriller
  • Origins of the Thriller
  • Characteristics of the Thriller
• Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper aims to explore the development of crime fiction from its early beginnings to the present day, focusing on the main genres that emerged: detective fiction, Golden Age crime fiction, American hard-boiled crime fiction, the police procedural, and the thriller. It analyzes the origins and characteristics of each genre, highlighting similarities and differences.

• The evolution of crime fiction genres.
• The development of the detective figure.
• Key characteristics and defining features of different crime fiction genres.
• The influence of social and cultural contexts on the development of crime fiction.
• The role of crime and punishment in literary narratives.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

Introduction

This chapter introduces the theme of crime fiction, highlighting its enduring popularity and its diverse evolution across time. It sets the context for the paper by introducing the key genres of detective fiction, Golden Age crime fiction, hard-boiled crime fiction, the police procedural, and the thriller.

Mystery and Detective Fiction

The Origins of Detective Fiction

This section traces the early roots of detective fiction to the 18th and 19th centuries, exploring the influence of the Newgate Calendar and its focus on crime stories without a detective figure. It discusses the shift from moral warnings and punishment-focused narratives to more investigative approaches.

The Appearance of the Detective

This section examines the emergence of the detective figure in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, influenced by societal changes like urbanization and the establishment of police forces. It explores early examples like William Godwin's Caleb Williams and the role of the Gothic novel in shaping perceptions of crime and criminals. The section also highlights the importance of Eugene-Francois Vidocq's Memoires, which introduced a new focus on the detective and their investigative techniques.

Characteristics of the Detective Novel

This section discusses the characteristics of the detective novel, emphasizing the role of the detective as a central figure, the use of logic and deduction in solving crimes, and the focus on themes of justice and order.

Classic Detective Fiction – Sherlock Holmes

This section focuses on the iconic detective Sherlock Holmes, analyzing his characteristics and contributions to the development of detective fiction.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The keywords of this paper focus on the various genres of crime fiction, the evolution of the detective figure, and the key thematic elements of the genre. This includes: detective fiction, Golden Age crime fiction, hard-boiled crime fiction, police procedural, thriller, origins, characteristics, detective, crime, punishment, justice, order, social context, cultural context, literary narratives.

• College: University of Bayreuth
• Grade: 2,3
• Author: Cindy Härcher (Author)
• Publication Year: 2009
• Pages: 15
• Catalog Number: V167614
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640842353
• ISBN (Book): 9783640842162
• Language: English
• Tags: crime fiction, detective stories, whodunnit