Mystery

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Mystery is an element in horror that captures the readers curiosity as to what happened to cause an event. All good horror novels have an element of mystery, this could be; a murder mystery, a crime, or just a strange event that leads characters to investigate.

Types of Mystery

1.Crime - A crime is committed and the mystery is based on solving the details of the crime.

2.Suspense - Is an aspect of mystery where the writer leaves out details or drags on something to keep the reader anticipating what will happen next.

3.Whodunit - A complex, plot-driven variety of a detective story in which the audience is given the opportunity to engage in the same process of deduction as the protagonist throughout the investigation of a crime.

4.Thriller - These are known to promote intense excitement, suspense, a high level of anticipation, ultra-heightened expectation, uncertainty, anxiety, and nerve-wracking tension.

5.True Crime - Nonfictional accounts of actual crimes, usually murders.

6.Cozies - Are light, sometimes humorous, slow paced (as compared to the other categories), the murder (usually quite civilized) and sex happen off scene, and the solving of the crime is a battle of wits beteween the reluctant amateur sleuth and the villain.

Wives Tale

In the short story "Wives Tale" the element of mystery can be found in the middle of the story when the wife is curious as to why her husband leaves during the middle of the night and comes back with a strange odor that she cannot stand. During the story the wife's husbands behavior began to change, this frightened her and her children so they began wondering what was going on...it was a mystery.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Chapter one of the book begins with Mr. Utterson and Richard Enfield having a conversation and apparently, Mr. Utters has an odd story to tell. This odd story brings in the element of mystery and suspense. What is so odd about his story? Does this story have significance later on? These questions draw out the mystery involved in the book.

In chapter two of the book the author talks about a ghost like figure that has no recognizable face and that follows the lawyer. He is not safe from this figure, whether it be outside or even in his dreams. This has an element of mystery because he docent know why the figure follows him or who it is suppose to represent. The will that was left to the lawyer if confusing to him and its a mystery as to why it was written this way. He gets a chance to talk to the figure and asks for it to reveal its face.

In chapter three Dr. Jekyll and the Doctor are talking, but when Dr. Jekyll brings up Mr. Uttersons will the Doctor is not wanting to talk about the subject. Could this be a clue to the mystery of the book?

In Chapter four the writer begins by recalling a murder of a gentlemen from London by Mr. Hyde, this description of the prior crime in the story is similar to crime mystery because a crime was committed and we as the reader do not know why it happened. The witness to the crime was a maid, during a foggy October night she saw Mr. Hyde meet with a white haired man and before they departed Mr. Hyde beat the man to death. There is no indication as to why Mr. Hyde murdered the man from London (who is actually a well respected gentleman named Sir Danvers), giving this chapter an element of mystery and question. This murder was so vicious and violent that the maid fainted while viewing from the window. when police arrive on the scene they find no identification and are puzzled why the gentleman was murdered but his gold watch and wallet were not stolen. After searching the body police recover a letter that is meant for Mr. Utterson, whom they call immediately to ask questions about the murder. Mr. Utters is able to identify the victim and the murder weapon that was found at the scene of the crime. The weapon Mr. Hyde used to commit his vicious act was a walking cane that Mr. Utters had given to him years before the murder. When police and Mr. Utterson go to Mr. Hydes home to arrest him the quickly find out that he is not home, it is also evident that he left in a hurry because he has clothes thrown all over the place with various things left out including the other piece to the cane(the murder weapon). Along with disappearing, while investigating the police also discovered that Mr. Hyde withdrew two thousands pounds from his bank account while fleeing. This event in chapter four makes you wonder why Mr. Hyde murdered Sir Danvers and why he had a letter to Mr. Utterson which creates an element of mystery inside this horror novel.

Chapter five Mr. Utterson arrives at Mr. Jeyklls residence and is let in the the help and when he finds Dr. Jykll, he looks "deathly sick" sitting slumped over by the fireplace. Mr. Utterson gets to the point by asking if Mr. Jeykll had heard about the death of Sir Danvers. Mr Jeykll had heard the new from local paperboys yelling about the incident, this moves Mr. Utterson to ask if he knew where Hyde was or if he was hiding him somewhere, Mr. Jykll does is assure him that he will never lay eyes on Mr. Hyde again but tells Mr. Utterson that Mr. Hyde if safe and has means of escape. To ease Mr. Utterson mind Mr. Jykll pulls out a mysterious note left for Mr. Jykll written by Mr. Hyde. The note explains how he should not worry about his safety because he is safe and will escape. Mr. Utterson then leaves to return home because he hasn't gained anymore key clues to the mystery of Hydes escape. While at home Mr. Utterson asks Guest to read the letter he got from Jykll and comment on it. Guest reads it and takes back his earlier comment that Hyde was a mad man, for this letter was not written by a mad man in his opinion. The writing on he letter indicates that an older person wrote it so Mr. Utterson decides to compare the handwriting to the one on and invitation to dinner written by Mr. Jykll. What Mr. Utterson and Guest discover is that the handwriting is similar. This moment brings unease to Mr. Utterson because he is now sure that his dear friend Mr. Jykll forged a note to coverup the murderer Mr. Hyde, and because of this the mystery continues.

Chapter six begins with unsettling news that the Scotland Yard has offered thousands of pounds for information about the murderer but nobody has turning in any information. Story about Mr. Hyde and his vent and cruel past have been emerging among the town which only adds the the mystery of where he is, for some citizens this is unnerving. Besides the unsettling mystery surrounding Mr. Hyde, Mr. Jykll has come out of his self seclusion and begun hosting dinner partys and is seen by the public more. This new Mr. Jykll only lasted a few weeks however, Mr. Utterson soon tries to visit with him and is turned away at the door which causes an uneasy feeling for Mr. Utterson. He is worried about the health of Mr. Jykll and soon discovers that he has an illness that threatens his body and soul. What could possibly have happened to Mr. Jykll after he was just so happy and healthy? Concerned for the health f his dear friend Mr. Utterson rushes to see Dr. Lanyon for some sort of solution to the problem. Mr. Utterson is stunned to find Dr. Lanyon that he "had his death-warrant written legibly upon his face.". But upon closer look he had a sense that the doctor was the victim of a "deep-seated terror". Dr. Lanyon however, does not wish to see Mr. Jykll every again as he considers him already dead. After his statement about Jykll, the doctor tells Mr. Utterson that if he only wishes to discuss Jykll he wants him to leave him alone. Mr. Utterson needs an explanation why Jykll and Lanyon are not talking to one another so he writes a letter to Jykll asking him to explain, but Jyklls response does not provide the answer. Instead, Jyklls letter to Mr. Utterson explains that he wishes to be left alone to bear the cure by which he has brought upon himself, ""I have to go my own dark way," Jekyll says, and it is a way that Utterson must not try and follow. He says further that he has brought a terrible punishment and a danger on himself; he never imagined that he could, or would, become "the chief of sinners," or that the earth contained such "sufferings and terrors"; he begs Utterson to respect his fervent wish for absolute privacy and solitude.".Upon further suspicions, Utterson has come to the belief that Jykll is not victim to madness, there has to be something else going on. Weeks later, Dr. Lanyon is dead. After attending his friends funeral Mr. Utterson returns to his business office and finds an envelope to a letter with a message on the front that reads; "PRIVATE: for the hands of G. J. Utterson Alone, and in case of his predecease to be destroyed unread.". He opens the envelope to find another sealed envelope with another message on it; "not to be opened till the death or disappearance of Dr. Henry Jekyll.". Mr. Utterson decides to obey the message and hides the envelope away in his safe he then goes to visit Jykll. Jykll is not doing any better, he is in fact doing worse and refuses to leave his room of solitude. Because of this behavior Mr. Utterson visits him less and less. This chapter adds more mystery to the storys already adding up total; where has Hyde gone?, whats wrong with Jykll?, what has terrorized/killed Dr. Lanyon?, what is written inside the envelope?

Chapter Seven begins with Mr. Utterson and Mr. Enfield strolling through the courtyard by Jyklls house. They decide to walk by and look at the windows hoping they might see something or at least help Jykll feel better. Their attention is drawn to a particular window that is partially open and upon further examination, they see Mr. Jykll sitting by the window. They call out to their old friend and offer him to join them on their stroll but Jykll kindly rejects the offer because he is still very ill. The two offer to simply talk to Jykll and at this he smiles, but only for a moment because after he smiles his face changes to "abject terror and despair" and the window closes. This incident causes Mr. Utterson and Mr. Enfield to leave the courtyard in silence, neither one of them knows exactly what just happened.

Chapter eight begins with an uneasy meeting between Mr. Utterson and Mr. Poole where the topic of discussion is Jyklls worsening condition. Poole and Utterson rush to Jklls home and find that all of his servants are "huddled together like a flock of sheep" in a corner and none of them are able to speak due to their state of terror. This drives the two men to find Jykll but before they begin Poole issues Utterson a warning, "by any chance" Jekyll asks him into his private room, don't go". This warning gives Mr. Utterson a felling of uneasiness. They go to Jyklls Laboratory door and call for him without opening the door and the response they get dose not sound like Jykll at all, causing even more confusion between the two men. Mr. Utterson and Mr. Poole are wondering if Jykll was murdered, but why would the murderer stay in the room? This puzzles the two which leads them to start putting together clues. Mr. Poole tells Utterson that "whoever" is in there has been asking for medicine all week, but whenever he brings something back it's "not the right stuff" or "not pure". Mr. Poole also explains that he had an encounter with what may be Jykll, he tells Mr. Utterson that he was in a room moving things around when he was startled by a rat-like creature that was startled by his presence and ran upstairs in a hurry. Mr. Utterson has begun to figure out whats going on and comments that Jykll may be "seized with one of those maladies that both torture and deform the sufferer". They decide that they are going to break down the door to Jyklls private room, they believe that Hyde is inside. Before breaking down the door Mr. Utterson yells "Jekyll, I demand to see you", the response they get back is "For God's sake, have mercy!". Mr. Utterson realizes that the voice sounds exactly like Hyde and tells Poole to swing his axe and break down the door. After the door is broken they enter the room and find a dwarf like figure in too big of clothes twitching face down on the floor, they quickly realize that Hyde committed suicide by drinking whatever mixture was inside a broken vial laying beside his body. The next thing for Poole and Utterson to do is find Jeyklls body, but upon searching they discover nothing. While examining the room for clues Mr. Utterson finds an envelope on the desk with his name on it, after opening it he reads to find out that it's a new will Written by Jeykll in which he, Mr. Utterson, is the new beneficiary. Why did Jeykll make Utterson his new beneficiary?

Chapter nine On the night of January 9th Lanyon receives a registered letter from Jykll with specific instructions instructions;" Take a cab to my house, Poole will let you in, and then go to my room. If the door is locked, force it open. Open the drawer marked "E" (force the lock if necessary), and take out all its contents — some powders, a vial, and a paper book. Take everything home with you. Then, at midnight, a man will arrive at your house, ordered to do so by me. Give him the drawer you took from my room. That is all. If you do this, you will have earned my complete gratitude. I know that what I am asking borders on the fantastic, but if you fail to carry it out, either my death or my madness will be on your conscience. I tremble at the thought that you might fail me. If you do this, however, my troubles will be over." This is odd behavior for Jeykll because he and Lanyon had not been in contact since school and even though his request was odd he still felt obligated to do this favor for his old school friend. He does everything the letter asked of him and later in the night a strange looking man came to his doorstep, he let him in. The little man kept asking for "it" and Dr. Lanyon pointed to the table where he had left strong wine and a white powder. The creature mixed the two ingredients and began to reshape into the form of Mr. Jeykll, but it was not Jeykll, it was Edward Hyde!

Chapter ten is a narrative about Jeyklls life and how he was a good man, but he had a secret dark side that he kept secret. He planned to split the body and release his bad side (Hyde) to do all of the things he coolant do as Jekyll because of his conscience. He experimented and came up with a potion that allowed him to be his bad self by which he could do things with no remorse or regret. He enjoyed this so much that he kept doing it until eventually he noticed that Hyde was beginning to take control of him and he began waking up as Hyde and not Jeykll. His condition worsened and he began getting desperate to figure out how to control Hyde but Hyde wanted to be released and one day he was at Regents Park enjoying the sun as Jekyll, he turned into Hyde randomly. Not knowing what to do about this he comes to this conclusion, "I no longer have the power to control or foresee either my own destiny or Hyde's. This is truly my hour of death!" The mystery behind the strange events throughout the book are explained in this chapter and all of the mysterys have answers. I thought it was a very interesting book...

The Raven

In the beginning of The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe there is a mysterious tapping that captures the characters attention, his first assumption is that there is someone tapping at his chamber door to speak to him. He then goes to his chamber door and opens it, only to find himself looking into darkness. There isn't anyone there, this creates a sense of mystery as to what the tapping at his door was. After returning to the fireplace where he was he hears something at his window, "`Surely,' said I, `surely that is something at my window lattice". When he gets to his window and opens it however..."'Tis the wind and nothing more!'". While his window was open a Raven stepped inside his chamber and simply sat, doing nothing more. The Raven startled the man by croaking "Nevermore", this word startled and confused the man as he began the wonder why the Raven says this. To him it is a message from the heavens torment him of Lenore as he yells this to the Raven, who replies...nevermore. The Raven has begun to drive him crazy and he yells and curses the Raven whom only replies with, nevermore.

The Hanging Stranger

The Hanging Stranger by Philip K. Dick is about Ed Loyce, a TV sales store owner. While looking for a parking spot to checkup on the store he sees a dark swaying figure hanging from a lamp post. This catches his attention as he wonders what it could be until he makes a U-turn and upon further examination realizes that it is a human body. Ed got the attention of one of his store owner friends Don Fergusson and pointed it out to him but Don was thinking that maybe it was there for a reason since nobody had taken it down yet but to Ed this was an outrageous idea. He gets the attention of another friend named Potter, but even he just assumes that it is there for a reason and begins his commute home. Ed feels like he is going insane because of this with numerous questions going through his head; Why? Who was the man? Why was he hanging there? What did it mean?. Ed begins telling people to look at the body hysterically but nobody looks, they all just ask if he is feeling sick showing concern for him but not for the hanging body. Ed calls the police and explains to the cop that there is a body hanging from a lamp post, the cop dose not seem concerned so Ed asks if the body is supposed to be there and theca tells him yes and that he will be there to talk to him. Ed waits but he knows they aren't coming because being a small business owner he knows every cop in town. Ed begins to come up with a theory that some sort of alien lifeforms has taken over and that there aren't real humans out there, he tells this to his wife. His wife Janet cannot believe what she is hearing and tells Ed he must be going insane or that he is sick and needs help. Suddenly, he is faced with a fly-like alien creature, Ed grabs a butcher knife and begins to stab violently at it until he is convinced that the creature is dead. Ed later meets the Commissioner and he tells Ed that these creatures have been around for a long time, gradually advancing their grasp over humans all over the world.

I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream

I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream by Harlan Ellison begins with a eeriness, the body of Gorrister is hanging in the computer chamber. The first page alone draws out questions about what is going on in the book; why is Gorrister hanging by the neck? was he murdered? The story continues to move along with a sense of mystery and fear, the characters describe where they are, 'It was our one hundred and ninth year in the computer.". It seems as though these characters are prisoners to a machine called AM. AM gets pleasure by torturing his prisoners but there is no explanation why this is happening. The machine likes to tell his prisoners what the date is, they do not know why he does this but they are sure that he/it has its own demented reason. The characters in the story are all friends and stick together to get through each day, their names are Nimdok, Gorrister, Ellen, and Benny. They are trying to reach ice caverns to escape the heat of the sun but the only problem for them is they have hundreds of miles to walk. They pass through the Valley of Obsolescence which is covered with rusting pieces of Ams own being that he cut off. AM strives for perfection just like whoever created him/it but there is a sense of mystery as to why someone would create AM. The machine allows them to hate on him/it and think badly but the machine will not allow them to escape or commit suicide to end their torture. Their friend Benny is altered by AM to resemble a chimpanzee and he begins to climb and act like on. However, his eyes begin to give off light and a loud noise that pulsates and hurts his friends ears. The sounds he creates make it obvious that he is in pain and afterwards they realize that AM has blinded Benny. This is an element of mystery because there was no indication or reason why the machine did this, it could be just to torture the group but its not certain. The reason why the machine is called AM is because it came up with its own name, "At first it meant Allied Mastercomputer, and then it meant Adaptive Manipulator, and later on it developed sentience and linked itself up and they called it an Aggressive Menace, but by then it was too late, and finally it called itself AM". Still the group has no idea why AM killed billions of people except for them just to torture them...this is mysterious to the group. Of the five people AM has tortured and mentally changed the narrator is the only one that AM has not messed with mentally or too much physically, he does not know why. Because of this he feels like the others hate him because they laugh when he is being tormented. The next day AM enters his mind and explains to him how much he hates humans, this is why he saved the five of them to torture and torment them forever. The narrator decides that since he cannot defeat AM he can at least bring peace if they are all killed, AM has all the power of God but even he cannot bring them back after this. Everyone is dead now except for the narrator, and AM is furious with him for killing the others. AM takes his revenge by ensuring that he cannot kill himself or die by altering him in a way that no longer resembles a human. Now he wants to scream, but he has no mouth.