Mount Wachusett Community College
Gardner, MA 01440-1000
ENG 224 Mystery Fiction in Literature
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SYLLABUS
Course Description
A study of the history and nature of the mystery story from the works of Poe to such present
day masters as Agatha Christie and Tony Hillerman. Students will examine both the relationship
of mystery fiction to the culture of its time and also the changing role of the detective hero.
Students will also study the techniques of the mystery writer and the relationship between
mystery fiction and ‘serious’ literature. Includes works by such authors as Poe, Arthur Conan
Doyle, Hammett, Chandler, Christie, Hillerman. Prerequisite: ENG101. Three credits.
Course Objectives
 To become familiar with the history and evolution of the mystery genre
 To become familiar with the characteristics of the sub-genres within mystery fiction,
including the classic detective story, psychological mystery, hard-boiled detective story,
and contemporary mystery
 To acquire the vocabulary necessary to discuss and analyze the assigned stories and
novels
 To demonstrate critical thinking through the use of assigned readings, written
assignments, and essay exams
 To successfully select and use library and computer-assisted research
 To successfully use MLA documentation
Book List per Syllabus
 Death by Pen: The Longman Anthology of Detective Fiction
 Frankenstein, Mary Shelley
 The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Agatha Christie
 The Maltese Falcon, Dashiell Hammett
 An Unsuitable Job for a Woman, P.D. James
Course Requirements
Students must complete all assigned readings in a timely manner in order to participate in class
discussions and to answer discussion board questions.
The requirements of the course include three (3) papers, a midterm, and a final exam. Written
papers are to be 3-5 pages in length. The use of any critical materials should be documented
following the MLA format.
Office Hours
Room 323: Hours to be announced.
Attendance
Classroom attendance will be taken daily and is considered an indication of student motivation.
Students are expected to exercise maturity and responsibility and not to exceed four (4)
unexcused absences. Excessive absences may result in expulsion from the course.
Grading
Grades for the course will be determined by the following items:
Three papers
15% each / total 45%
Classroom participation, attendance,
15%
discussion board questions
First exam
20%
Final exam
20%
An “I” grade will be given upon a prolonged unexcused absence from the course, upon onethird or more uncompleted course work or upon conference with the instructor. The
conferring of an “I” grade means that the student has four (4) weeks from the date of the final
exam to satisfy all course requirements. If she/he fails to do so, the “I” grade automatically
becomes an “F”. When a student receives an “I” grade, it is his/her responsibility to see the
instructor. The instructor is then obligated to give the student an opportunity, within the four
(4) week period, to repair the deficiency.
See supplementary handout for grading of papers.
Withdrawal Policy
Students may withdraw from the course without penalty up to and including the Friday of the
eighth week of classes. Students who withdraw from courses after the eighth week will receive
a “WF” or “W” depending upon their status at the time of withdrawal. Unofficial withdrawals
will be recorded as “WF”.
After the eighth week of classes, the instructor has the prerogative to withdraw a student from
the course if the student is not meeting the requirements of the course.
Academic Honesty/Plagiarism Policy
If it is found at any time during the semester that a student has not submitted his/her own
work on any assignment, whether a current submission or previous submissions graded and
returned, the instructor reserves the right to fail the student not only for that assignment, but
possibly for the course, and notify appropriate officials.
Examples of academic dishonesty include:
 Taking sentences or passages or ideas from sources: books, magazines, web pages,
email, message boards, encyclopedias, etc. without documentation;
 Changing a few words in a passage, documenting and submitting work as ‘paraphrased’.
 Submitting the same paper in two or more classes without instructor permission;
 Submitting a previously written paper;
 Submitting a paper downloaded from the web/internet;
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Submitting a paper cut and pasted from various sites on the web/internet;
Buying a paper off internet cheat sites (famous or otherwise);
Submitting someone else’s paper as one’s own;
Having someone (i.e., mother, brother, cousin, aunt, uncle, you get the idea) write a
paper for you
If at any time a student has a question about proper research, documentation, or plagiarism,
the student should discuss this with the instructor before submission of any assignment.
Course Outline
Week 1
Introduction to the course; review elements of fiction; discuss Edgar Allan Poe
and his contribution to mystery (detective) fiction
Assignment: “The Amateur Detective” pg 25; “The Murders in the Rue Morgue”,
pg 54
Week 2
Discussion of paper requirements; Introduction to Arthur Conan Doyle
Assignment: “Silver Blaze”, pg 81; begin Frankenstein
Week 3
Continue with Frankenstein
Week 4
Introduction to the Golden Age of Mysteries.
Assignment: “From the Puzzle Game”, pg 29; “The Haunted Policeman”, pg 118
Week 5
Assignment: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Week 6
First paper due; continue with The Murder of Roger Ackroyd;
review for mid term
Week 7
Mid-term exam; Introduction to the hard-boiled detective; second paper
assigned
Assignment: “The Simple Art of Murder”, pg 208;
“Trouble is My Business”, pg 253
Week 8
Assignment: The Maltese Falcon
Week 9
Assignment: “Skin Deep”, pg 308
Week 10
Second paper due
Assignment: “An Unsuitable Job for a Woman”
Week 11
Third paper assigned; continue with “An Unsuitable Job for a Woman”
Week 12
Introduction to the police detective
Assignment: “Chee’s Witch”, pg 411
Week 13
Continue with “Chee’s Witch”
Week 14
Third paper due; Review for final