STRANGE AND
MYSTERIOUS
STORY ELEMENTS
The most beautiful thing we can experience is the
mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.
-Albert Einstein
TALES OF THE STRANGE
AND MYSTERIOUS
Strange:
TALES OF THE STRANGE
AND MYSTERIOUS
Strange: something that is unfamiliar or
out of the ordinary.
Mysterious:
TALES OF THE STRANGE
AND MYSTERIOUS
Strange: something that is unfamiliar or
out of the ordinary.
Mysterious: something that is difficult
or impossible to explain.
TALES OF THE STRANGE
AND MYSTERIOUS
“The Raven”
“The Tell-Tale Heart”
“Annabel Lee”
“The Fall of the House
of Usher”
STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS
STORY ELEMENTS
SUSPENSE: The uncertainty or
anxiety that a reader feels about
what will happen next in a story,
novel or drama
STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS
STORY ELEMENTS
4 Elements of SUSPENSE:
1. Foreshadowing:
STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS
STORY ELEMENTS
4 Elements of SUSPENSE:
1. Foreshadowing: The use of clues
or hints to suggest events that will
occur later in the plot.
STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS
STORY ELEMENTS
4 Elements of SUSPENSE:
2. Mystery: something that is difficult
or impossible to explain.
STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS
STORY ELEMENTS
4 Elements of SUSPENSE:
3. Dilemma: a difficult or puzzling
situation where the character must
choose a dangerous course of action.
STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS
STORY ELEMENTS
4 Elements of SUSPENSE:
4. Reversal: a sudden change in a
character’s situation from good to
bad, or vice versa.
STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS
STORY ELEMENTS
Identify:
1. Foreshadowing:
2. Mystery:
3. Dilemma:
4. Reversal:
Watch "The Tell-Tale Heart" on YouTube
STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS
STORY ELEMENTS
MOOD
 the feeling a reader gets from
the story.
STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS
STORY ELEMENTS
Creating a mysterious MOOD:
 Expressing character’s fears
through thoughts & feelings.
STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS
STORY ELEMENTS
Creating a mysterious MOOD:
 Producing vivid descriptions
of sights and sounds.
STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS
STORY ELEMENTS
Creating a mysterious MOOD:
 Repeating words, phrases or
actions.
STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS
VOCABULARY
alibi – n. a person used as another’s
excuse.
deduction – n. process of drawing a
conclusion based on evidence/clues
façade – n. a false front or appearance
STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS
VOCABULARY
hunch – n. a suspicion or guess
intercept – v. to take or cut off from
the intended destination
investigation – n. a search or
examination for facts or clues.
STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS
VOCABULARY
motive – n. something that causes a
person to act a certain way or do a
certain thing.
oppressive – adj. unjustly harsh
rapacious – adj. extremely greedy
STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS
VOCABULARY
red herring – n. a distraction from
the real problem
sinister – adj. evil; wicked, dishonest
sleuth – n. a detective or private eye
STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS
VOCABULARY
tantalizing – adj. teasing by
withholding something; tempting
victim – n. a person who suffers from a
disaster or injury
witness – n. one who sees or watches
STRANGE & MYSTERIOUS
STORY ELEMENTS
Creating Suspense & Mystery:
 Use of irony: A contrast
between expectation and
reality.