RebeccaW

Response Essay 3 Classic vs. Hard-boiled Detection --- REVISED

Traditional Turns Edgy

“The Adventure of the Speckled Band” by Arthur Conan Doyle, a classic mystery, and __The Maltese Falcon__ by Dashiell Hammett, a hard-boiled mystery, are diverse and charming examples of the two types of detective fiction. Classic detection enforces the idea of tradition and hard-boiled detection promotes the idea of edginess, which both contribute to the strengths and weaknesses of the two genres. Classic detection includes a slow-paced plot, informative language, and one clear problem. Hard-boiled detection includes a fast-paced plot, witty language, and several mysteries in one. These elements cause the stories to have great strengths and minor weaknesses.

The paces of “The Adventure of the Speckled Band” and __The Maltese Falcon__ differ. “The Adventure of the Speckled Band” has a slow pace, taking the time to focus solely on one or two scenes. The main scene in the story is at the house of Dr. Roylott. __The Maltese Falcon__ contains a very fast pace, providing detail, but soaring through scenes. The story’s scenes switch quickly through Samuel Spade’s office, to his house, to the scene of Miles Archer’s murder, to the hotel room of the perpetrators, and to several other locations. The slower pace of “The Adventure of the Speckled Band” contributes to its short story nature, which gives it strength. Since the story is short, readers are able to focus on one specific place without becoming uninterested. In contrast, the fast pace of __The Maltese Falcon__ is perplexing. Although it keeps readers interest, which adds strength to the story, it is also harder for readers to understand, which can be viewed as a weakness. In regards to the pace of the stories, classic detection stays true to its name, steady and to the point. Hard-boiled detection provides a twist with its fast, active pace.

There are different types of language used in “The Adventure of the Speckled Band” and __The Maltese Falcon__. “The Adventure of the Speckled Band” focuses more on informative language, whereas __The Maltese Falcon__ uses witty language. For example, in “The Adventure of the Speckled Band,” Sherlock Holmes says to Watson, “’Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your pistol ready in the case we should need it. I will sit on the side of the bed, and you in that chair’” (56). Similar to this statement, there are many other phrases in the story that provide information on what is occurring. In contrast, __The Maltese Falcon__ includes several witty lines that amuse readers. For example, Samuel Spade says lines such as, “You’re a good man, sister [to Effie]” and “I won’t play the sap [to O’Shaughnessy].” These lines add strength to the novel by helping readers better understand the personality of Samuel Spade, especially since the novel is written in the third person. On the other hand, the straight forward and informative language in “The Adventure of the Speckled Band” helps readers enhance their visual perspective of scenes in the story, but seems to fall short of being able to amuse readers with Sherlock Holmes’ personality, in comparison to Samuel Spade. Although classic detection contains memorable lines, such as in “The Adventure of the Speckled Band,” hard-boiled detection uses a much grittier lingo.

The plot of “The Adventure of the Speckled Band” involves one clear dilemma, whereas the plot of __The Maltese Falcon__ involves several predicaments throughout the mystery. The sole mystery of “The Adventure of the Speckled Band” is to find the killer of Helen Stoner’s sister, Julia, and the cause of her death. The story contains a slight twist involving a swamp adder’s bite, as the cause of death of Julia, which is one dilemma that is appropriate for the length of the story. In __The Maltese Falcon__, there are several mysteries to follow. The story begins with a missing person, continues as a murder mystery and a “where is it,” in regards to the falcon, and reverts to a murder mystery again at the end. All of these mysteries contribute to the action and suspense of the story, which truly give the novel a great deal of strength. Classic detection links itself to one particular problem, whereas hard-boiled detection uses many different plotlines, in order to keep readers on their toes about what the real mystery is and how to solve it.

In conclusion, there are many differences between classic detective fiction and hard-boiled detective fiction. Classic detection remains loyal to its name by involving tradition and standards. It has a slower pace, whereas hard-boiled detection is faster paced. Classic detection uses language that informs the reader, whereas hard-boiled detection prefers using catchy language that grabs readers’ attention. Finally, classic detection has one clear cut point, whereas hard-boiled detection includes many mysteries. As a result, the genres have strengths and weaknesses, but both types of detection are extremely interesting and suspenseful.

Response Essay 3 Classic vs. Hard-boiled Detection

Traditional Turns Edgy

“The Adventure of the Speckled Band” by Arthur Conan Doyle, a classic mystery, and “The Maltese Falcon” by Dashiell Hammett, a hard-boiled mystery, are two diverse and charming examples of the two types of detective fiction. Classic detection enforces the idea of tradition and hard-boiled detection promotes the idea of edginess, which both contribute to the strengths and weaknesses of the two genres. Classic detection includes a slow paced plot, informative language, and one clear problem. Hard-boiled detection includes a fast paced plot, witty language, and several mysteries in one. All of these elements cause the stories to have great strengths and minor weaknesses.

The paces of “The Adventure of the Speckled Band” and “The Maltese Falcon” differ. “The Adventure of the Speckled Band” has a slow pace, including more detail to various scenes in the story. For example, upon entering the house of Dr. Roylott, the narrator states, “The building was of gray, lichen-blotched stone, with a high central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of the crab, thrown out on each side (50).” Since the story is short, the narrator has the opportunity to spend more time describing details on one place. “The Maltese Falcon” contains a very fast pace, which includes details, while soaring through scenes. The story’s scenes switch quickly throughout Samuel Spade’s office, his house, the crime scene of Miles Archer, the house of the perpetrators, and several other parts of the story. The slower pace of “The Adventure of the Speckled Band” contributes to its short story nature, which gives it strength. Since the story is short, readers are able to become informed on specific details without becoming uninterested. In contrast, the fast pace of “The Maltese Falcon” is perplexing. Although it enables readers to keep their interest, which adds strength to the story, it is also harder for readers to understand, which can be viewed as a weakness. In regards to the pace of the stories, classic detection stays true to its name, steady and to the point. Hard-boiled detection provides a twist with its fast, active pace.

There are different types of language used in “The Adventure of the Speckled Band” and “The Maltese Falcon.” “The Adventure of the Speckled Band” focuses more on informative language, whereas “The Maltese Falcon” uses witty language. For example, in “The Adventure of the Speckled Band,” the narrator states, “’Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your pistol ready in the case we should need it. I will sit on the side of the bed, and you in that chair (56).’” Similar to this statement, there are many other phrases in the story that provide information on what is occurring. In contrast, “The Maltese Falcon” includes several witty lines that engage readers in laughter. For example, Samuel Spade says lines such as, “You’re a good man, sister [to Effie]” and “I won’t play the sap [to O’Shaughnessy].” These lines add strength to the novel by helping readers better understand the personality of Samuel Spade, especially since the novel is written in the third person. On the other hand, the straight forward and informative language in “The Adventure of the Speckled Band” helps readers view the story through a visual perspective, but seems to fall short of being able to truly connect to Sherlock Holmes, when compared to Samuel Spade. Although classic detection is still interesting, it does not contain many of the catchy phrases mentioned in hard-boiled detection.

The plot of “The Adventure of the Speckled Band” involves one clear dilemma, whereas the plot of “The Maltese Falcon” involves several predicaments throughout the mystery. The sole mystery of “The Adventure of the Speckled Band” is to find the killer of Helen Stoner’s sister, Julia, and the cause of her death. The story contains a slight twist involving a swamp adder’s bite, as the cause of death of Julia, which is one dilemma that is appropriate for the length of the story. In “The Maltese Falcon,” there are several mysteries to follow. The story begins with a missing person, continues as a murder mystery, and ends as a “where is it,” in regards to the falcon. All of these dilemmas contribute to the action and suspense of the story, which truly give the novel a great deal of strength. Classic detection confines to the standard of one particular problem, whereas hard-boiled detection motions itself around many different problems, in order to keep readers on their toes about what the real mystery is and how to solve it.

In conclusion, there are many differences between classic detective fiction and hard-boiled detective fiction. Classic detection remains loyal to its name by involving tradition and standards. Hard-boiled detection puts a new twist on the classic name. Classic detection has a slower pace, whereas hard-boiled detection is faster paced. Classic detection also uses language that informs the reader on many details occurring, whereas hard-boiled detection prefers using catchy language that grabs readers’ attention. Finally, classic detection has one clear cut point, whereas hard-boiled detection includes one main problem with many mysteries surrounding it. Each element of both types of detection causes the genres to have both strengths and weaknesses, but there are many authors who have made both types of detection extremely interesting and suspenseful for readers.

 Male vs. Female Detectives Response 2 ** REVISED **

 In the genre of detective fiction, there are male detectives, as well as female sleuths. The men and women writers who create these male and female detectives endow the characters with different qualities that enable them to solve mysteries in unique ways. First, male detectives use logic to resolve problems, whereas female sleuths use intuition. Secondly, the characters of male detectives are difficult for male and female readers to relate to, whereas the characters of female sleuths are easier for female readers to relate to on a personal level. Finally, male detectives use “doubling” techniques to reenact crimes in order to understand and solve them, whereas female sleuths put themselves in the actual condition of the person in order to understand their feelings, which allow them to better understand certain motives. All of these differences are a result of the men and women writers who are reflecting on their own qualities as men and women. There is much evidence of these qualities in the short stories “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” and “The Purloined Letter” by Edgar Allan Poe and “A Jury of Her Peers” by Susan Glaspell.
 * Logic vs. Intuition**

In “The Murders in the Rue Morgue,” the male detective, Monsieur C. Auguste Dupin, uses his sense of logic to solve the mystery he encounters. Dupin is able to determine that the “murderer” of two women is actually an Ourang-Outang. He comes to this conclusion by searching for evidence in the locked-room. Dupin shows his use of logic when he states, “Each finger has retained—possibly until the death of the victim—the fearful grasp by which it originally imbedded itself. Attempt, now to place all your fingers, at the same time, in the respective impressions as you see them” (23). During this time, he is concluding the fact that the marks on the women do not resemble ones made by a human hand. By trying to match his own hand with the marks on the women, his logic makes it clear that it would be impossible to commit this murder as a human being. In “A Jury of Her Peers” by Susan Glaspell, the un-official “detectives,” Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters, are able to determine the reasons for Mrs. Wright’s (Minnie Foster’s) actions in murdering her husband by using their intuition. They notice several important indications of Mrs. Wright’s unhappiness, which their husbands merely regard as “trifles.” The women use their own perception to understand the empty bird cage, the strangled canary, the messy kitchen, and the unattractive clothes. Dupin, on the one hand, and Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters, on the other hand, use different forms of thinking to solve the murders.

The character of Monsieur C. Auguste Dupin is extremely difficult for readers to relate to. Dupin is exceptionally brilliant, but pompous. He speaks using a very complex vocabulary, which is hard for readers to understand. Readers cannot put themselves in the shoes of Dupin because his lifestyle and ways of thinking are uncommon to most. Dupin seems to be looked at as an aristocratic, which in a sense is “better” than the average person. In contrast, the characters of Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters are easier to relate to, especially for women readers. They discuss every day events in the story, while engaging in an easy-to-read conversation. Their language is common to most and most importantly, they show empathy towards Mrs. Wright. If readers view a character in a story understanding the life of another person, they will more likely be able to show empathy for the character themselves. These aspects of male detectives and female sleuths relate to the different characteristics of men and women, in particularly the men and women authors who create them.

In “The Purloined Letter” by Edgar Allan Poe, Dupin uses a “doubling” technique in order to solve the mystery. The missing item in the story is a letter and Dupin goes on a search to find it. During the process of retrieving the letter, he reenacts the crime by stealing the letter back from the Minister D and replacing it with one written by himself. This technique is also used in “The Adventure of the Speckled Band” by Arthur Conan Doyle. Once Sherlock Holmes determines that it was a swamp adder, the deadliest snake in India, that has been sent to kill a woman named Julia by her stepfather, he sends the snake to kill her stepfather before he succeeds in killing his other stepdaughter. Unlike this technique, female sleuths put themselves in the actual state of mind of one or more persons connected to the mystery. They use their knowledge of women and their past experiences to enable them to find the truth. For example, in “A Jury of Her Peers,” Mrs. Peters states, “My kitten—there was a boy took a hatchet, and before my eyes—before I could get there—If they hadn’t held me back I would have” (172). Mrs. Peters is relating an experience she had as a child to the experience that led Mrs. Wright to kill her husband. Also, Mrs. Hale states, “I wonder how it would seem never to have had any children around?” (172). Mrs. Hale is wondering about how it might feel to be in the same situation as Mrs. Wright. The male detectives and the female sleuths both use different techniques to help them solve problems in the best way possible.

In conclusion, male detectives and female sleuths have very different characteristics, which seem to be a result of the authors of the stories. Male detectives are logical thinkers, difficult to relate to, and tend to use the criminals’ own methods against them. Female sleuths are intuitive, easy to relate to, and empathetic towards others. Both male and female detectives demonstrate different aspects of detection, but are both very intelligent. They use different means of thinking and show their emotions on different levels, but their individual distinctiveness contributes to the various types of detection stories.


 * Male vs. Female Detectives Response 2**

**Logic vs. Intuition **  Throughout the genre of detective fiction, there have been several male detectives, as well as female sleuths. The men and women writers, who create these individual male and female detectives, allow the characters to possess many different qualities that enable them to solve mysteries in unique ways. First, male detectives use logic to resolve problems, where as female sleuths use intuition. Secondly, the characters of male detectives are difficult for readers to relate to; where as the characters of female sleuths are easier for readers to relate to on a personal level. Finally, male detectives use “doubling” techniques in order to solve problems, where as female sleuths put themselves in the actual condition of the person at the current time. All of these differences are a result of the men and women writers who are reflecting on their own qualities as men and women. There is much evidence of these qualities in the short stories of “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” and “The Purloined Letter” by Edgar Allan Poe, and “A Jury of Her Peers” by Susan Glaspell.

In “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” by Edgar Allan Poe, the male detective, Monsieur C. Auguste Dupin, uses his sense of logic to solve the mystery he encounters. Dupin is able to determine that the “murderer” of two women is actually an Ourang-Outang. He comes to this conclusion by searching for evidence in the locked-room. Dupin shows his use of logic when he states, “Each finger has retained—possibly until the death of the victim—the fearful grasp by which it originally imbedded itself. Attempt, now to place all your fingers, at the same time, in the respective impressions as you see them (23).” During this time, he is concluding the fact that the marks on the women do not resemble ones made by a human hand. In “A Jury of Her Peers” by Susan Glaspell, the un-official “detectives”, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters, are able to determine the reasons for Mrs. Wright’s (Minnie Foster’s) actions in murdering her husband by using their intuition. They notice several important indications of Mrs. Wright’s unhappiness, which their husbands merely regard as “trifles.” The women use their own perception to understand the empty bird cage, the strangled canary, the messy kitchen, and the unattractive clothes. Dupin, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters use different forms of thinking to solve the murders.

The character of Monsieur C. Auguste Dupin is extremely difficult for readers to relate to. Dupin is sought out to be exceptionally brilliant and pompous. He speaks using a very complex vocabulary, which is hard for readers to understand. Readers cannot put themselves in the shoes of Dupin because his lifestyle and ways of thinking are uncommon to most. Dupin seems to be looked at as a higher figure, which in a sense is “better” than the average person. However, the characters of Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters are easier to relate to, especially women. They discuss every day events in the story, while engaging in an easy-to-read conversation. Their language is common to most and most importantly, they show empathy towards Mrs. Wright. If readers view a character in a story understanding the life of another person, they will more likely be able to show empathy for the character themselves. Both of these aspects of male detectives and female sleuths relate to the different characteristics of men and women, in particularly the men and women authors.

In “The Purloined Letter” by Edgar Allan Poe, Dupin uses a “doubling” technique in order to solve the mystery. The missing item in the story is a letter and Dupin goes on a search to find it. During the process of retrieving the letter, he reenacts the same crime by stealing the letter back from the Minister D and replacing it with one written by himself. This technique is also used in “The Adventure of the Speckled Band” by Arthur Conan Doyle. Once Sherlock Holmes determines that it was a swamp adder, the deadliest snake in India, who was sent to kill a woman named Julia by her stepfather, he sends the snake to kill her stepfather before he succeeds in killing his other stepdaughter. Unlike this technique, female sleuths put themselves in the actual state of mind of different people. They use their knowledge of women and their past experiences to help enable them to relate to new ones. For example, in “A Jury of Her Peers,” Mrs. Peters states, “My kitten—there was a boy took a hatchet, and before my eyes—before I could get there—If they hadn’t held me back I would have (172).” Mrs. Peters is relating an experience she had as a child to an experience Mrs. Wright is currently having. Also, Mrs. Hale states, “I wonder how it would seem never to have had any children around (172)?” Mrs. Hale is wondering about how it might feel to be in the same situation as Mrs. Wright. The male detectives and the female sleuths both use different elements to help them solve problems in the best way possible.

In conclusion, male detectives and female sleuths have very different characteristics, which seem to be a result of the authors of the stories. Male detectives are logical thinkers, difficult to relate to, and tend to reenact crimes. Female sleuths are intuitive, easy to relate to, and empathetic towards others. Both male and female detectives demonstrate different aspects of detection, but are both very intelligent. They use different means of thinking and show their emotions on different levels, but their individual distinctiveness contributes to the various types of detection stories.

“The Murders in the Rue Morgue” Response 1 **REVISED**

__Poe Provides a Foundation for Modern Detective Fiction __  Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” sets the stage for all detective fiction stories that followed thereafter. There are some aspects of the story that do not resemble typical mystery stories, such as the discourse on analysis, the introduction to Monsieur C. Auguste Dupin, and the mind reading episode; however, excluding the fact that they are overly lengthy, they are necessary to prepare the reader for Poe’s other detective stories involving Dupin. I agree with most critics who claim that “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” is the first modern detective story. It initiates important elements of detection, as well as adding crucial information that creates an introduction to the observational, logical, and imaginative mind of the detective character. “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” is a brilliant prologue to detective stories and contains a twisted conclusion.

According to an article from the Encyclopedia Britannica on detective stories, there are five traditional elements of a detective story. The Encyclopedia Britannica states these elements as follows: “the seemingly perfect crime; the wrongly accused suspect at whom circumstantial evidence points; the bungling of dim-witted police; the greater powers of observation and superior mind of the detective; and the startling and unexpected denouement, in which the detective reveals how the identity of the culprit was ascertained.” Poe uses all of these elements in his story, which clearly show that it is a detective story. In “The Murders in the Rue Morgue,” the death of two women, in a locked-room, is the seemingly perfect crime. A man named Adolphe LeBon, a wrongly accused suspect, is arrested and incarcerated at the beginning of the story by the police. Dupin has no belief that LeBon committed these crimes, especially when discovering the information about the undecipherable sounds uttered by a person that seem to be a part of no known language. The incompetent police in “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” are unable to notice the broken nail in the window, as well as the non-human hair found in the woman’s hand. Dupin is able to discover that the marks on the women are ones that can only be produced by a large animal and therefore he is able to conclude that the “murderer” is in fact an Ourang-Outang, which turns the story into a “whatwuzit” mystery. Poe enables the readers to attempt to solve the mystery before Dupin does. All of these elements are completely equivalent with detection stories, especially the unexpected ending.

In regards to the lengthy opening of the story, all of the information is necessary for the reader in order to grasp the true image of Dupin, an extremely brilliant man who pays attention to every single detail and is able to remember things in sequential order. Although it does seem to become rather boring and non-reader friendly due to the complex language, it contributes to the understanding of Dupin, as well as the understanding of how a detective is able to solve mysteries. In “The Murders in the Rue Morgue,” Poe’s narrator states, “The necessary knowledge is that of //what// to observe. Our player confines himself not at all; nor, because the game is the object, does he reject deductions from things external to the game.” While seemingly discussing the players in a game of cards, he is really discussing the mind of a detective and how he uses all information to solve a mystery. This allows the reader to become familiar with the process of detection.

In conclusion, “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” is the first modern detective story. Along with corresponding to the elements of a detection story, it prepares the reader for other detective stories. It is identical to that of a preface or background information given before any other story or series of stories. Edgar Allan Poe’s use of complex language is necessary to create the image of Monsieur C. Auguste Dupin. Although the ending of the story does not fabricate a real “murderer,” a mystery is still solved, which is the main purpose of a detective story. This not only completes the components of a detective story, but it shows Poe’s intelligence in using creativity in his work.

“The Murders in the Rue Morgue” Response 1

Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” sets the stage for all detective fiction stories followed thereafter. There are some aspects of the story that do not resemble typical mystery stories, such as the discourse on analysis, introduction to Monsieur C. Auguste Dupin, and the mind reading episode; however, excluding the fact that they are overly lengthy, they are necessary for the preparation of Poe’s other detective stories. I agree with most critics who claim that “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” is the first modern detective story. It follows through on important elements of detection, as well as adding crucial information that creates an introduction to the observational, logical, and imaginative mind of the detective character. “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” is a brilliant prologue to detective stories and contains a twisted conclusion.

According to an article from the Encyclopedia Britannica on detective stories, there are five traditional elements of a detective story. The Encyclopedia Britannica states these elements as follows; “the seemingly perfect crime; the wrongly accused suspect at whom circumstantial evidence points; the bungling of dim-witted police; the greater powers of observation and superior mind of the detective; and the startling and unexpected denouement, in which the detective reveals how the identity of the culprit was ascertained.” Poe uses all of these elements in his story, which clearly show how it is a detective story.

In “The Murders in the Rue Morgue”, the death of two women, a locked-room mystery, is the seemingly perfect crime. Although there are no wrongly accused suspects to begin the story, there are several sets of evidence that become confusing, such as the undetectable sounds uttered from a person that seem to be a part of no known language. The incompetent police in “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” are unable to notice the broken nail in the window, as well as the non-human hair found in the woman’s hand. Dupin is able to discover that the marks on the women are ones that can only be produced by a large animal and therefore he is able to conclude that the “murderer” is in fact an Ourang-Outang, which turns the story into a “where is it” mystery. Poe enables the readers to attempt to solve the mystery before Dupin does. All of these elements are completely coherent with detection stories, especially the unexpected ending.

In regards to the lengthy opening of the story, all of the information is necessary for the reader in order to depict the true image of Dupin, as an extremely brilliant man who pays attention to every single detail and is able to remember things in sequential order. Although it does seem to become rather boring and non-reader friendly due to the complex language, it all plays a role in understanding the character of Dupin, as well as understanding how a detective is able to solve mysteries. In “The Murders in the Rue morgue”, Poe states, “The necessary knowledge is that of //what// to observe. Our player confines himself not at all; nor, because the game is the object, does he reject deductions from things external to the game.” While seemingly discussing the players in a game of chess, he is really discussing the mind of a detective and how he uses all information to solve a mystery, which again is part of the introduction to detective stories.

In conclusion, “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” is the first modern detective story. Along with corresponding to the elements of a detection story, it prepares the reader for other detective stories. It is identical to that of a preface or background information given before any other story or series of stories. Edgar Allan Poe’s use of complex language is due to the creation of the image of Monsieur C. Auguste Dupin. Although the ending of the story does not conclude a real “murderer”, a mystery is still solved, which is the main point of a detective story. This not only completes the components of a detective story, but yet it shows Poe’s intelligence in using creativity in his work.