ENGL 235 - Detective Fiction

Number of Credits: 3
Analyze literary detective stories (fiction, drama, and/or film), focusing on classical themes, conventions, and cultural influences of this genre from its beginnings in the 19th century to the present. (Fall term) Three hours lecture. Three credits. Three billable hours.

General education Category: Arts and Humanities

Pre-requisite(s): ENGL 101.
Course Topics:
1. History of the genre

2. Classical characters

3. Societal and cultural context of genre popularity

4. Various detective story formulas
Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Define the attributes of the detective story, from classical to hardboiled narratives (GE1, GE3, PG1, PG2, PG3)
Identify common motifs in detective stories from different eras (GE1, GE3, PG1, PG2, and PG3)
Explain cultural forces that gave rise to the popularity of detective stories (GE1, GE3, PG3, PGE4, PG5)
Define types of human depravity in contrast to conventional morality in different literary and historical periods (GE1, GE3, GE6; PG1, PG3)
Research social history to understand selected works as a societal mirror (GE3, GE4, GE6)
Communicate original observations about detective stories in traditional essay form, presentations, and projects (GE 1, GE3, GE6, PG3, PG4, and PG5)
Adapt a work of fiction into a detective story, allowing for universal design (GE1, GE3, GE4, GE6; PG1, PG3, PG4, PG5)