Themes in Literature: Detective Fiction: Murder and the Modern Mystery

Have you ever wondered why we cannot resist a good mystery? In this course, we will explore the art of suspense and detective storytelling from early Gothic thrillers like Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” and Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde to contemporary favorites like Gone Girl and We Were Liars. Along the way, we will meet notable detectives such as Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot as they investigate hidden clues and other clever ways that authors use to keep us guessing–and loving every minute of it! We will interrogate these texts and their themes through class discussions, response journals, and three short analytical essays to develop skills in critical thinking, communication, cultural analysis, and evidence-based reasoning.