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Year 6

Exploring conventions of detective fiction

I can identify character and plot conventions used in the genre of detective fiction.

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New
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Year 6

Exploring conventions of detective fiction

I can identify character and plot conventions used in the genre of detective fiction.

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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Different genres of writing make use of different plot and character conventions.
  2. In detective fiction, common character conventions include 'the brilliant detective' and 'the faithful sidekick'.
  3. In detective fiction, common plot conventions include 'the red herring' and 'the big reveal'.
  4. These conventions are not rules: authors constantly subvert and play with them to entertain the reader.
  5. In detective fiction, the reader is trying to solve the mystery too so the author plans the plot carefully.

Keywords

  • Genre - a literary style with particular characteristics

  • Conventions - features that tell us what genre we are reading

  • Character conventions - types of character that are commonly seen in a particular genre

  • Plot conventions - plot points or narrative features that are commonly seen in a particular genre

Common misconception

Pupils may believe that conventions are 'rules' that writers must stick to.

Draw attention to how, even in this story, some of the conventions are broken - this doesn't mean it's not detective fiction! You may ask pupils to think of their own examples of broken conventions.

Many children's books fall under the category of detective fiction and some examples are given in the slide deck. Abridged and adapted versions of 'Sherlock Holmes' short stories are also available. You may wish to read one of these texts alongside this unit and discuss its use of the conventions.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which word best fills this gap? 'Sherlock Holmes is able to __________ detailed information about a person just by looking at an object that they own.'
guess
think about
Correct answer: deduce
investigate
Q2.
Put these events from 'The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle' in the order they actually happen.
1 - Ryder feeds the gem to a goose
2 - Ryder picks the wrong goose to take home
3 - The goose with the gem inside is sold to Mr Baker
4 - Mr Baker loses the goose in a brawl
Q3.
Put these events from 'The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle' in order.
1 - Peterson finds the goose and hat after the fight
2 - Peterson takes the goose home and takes the hat to Holmes
3 - Holmes and Watson examine the hat
4 - Peterson bursts in to say that he found the gem in the goose
Q4.
What tells us that 'The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle' is written in the first person?
Correct answer: It uses 'I' and 'we'
It is written about Sherlock Holmes' actions
Correct answer: It is written from the perspective of Dr Watson, showing his views
It is written directly to the reader
Q5.
From whose perspective is this account written? 'I knew the game was up as soon as Mr Holmes deduced who I was. I should never have gone to the market to ask about the goose.'
Correct answer: James Ryder
John Horner
Sherlock Holmes
Dr Watson
Q6.
Match the words and phrases to their definitions.
Correct Answer:vendor,seller

seller

Correct Answer:distinctive,unique

unique

Correct Answer:inscrutable,impossible to read

impossible to read

Correct Answer:carbuncle,jewel

jewel

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following are genres of literature?
Correct answer: detective fiction
Correct answer: adventure
books by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Correct answer: horror
Q2.
Match the genres to their conventions.
Correct Answer:science fiction,technology; futuristic ideas; unreal settings

technology; futuristic ideas; unreal settings

Correct Answer:horror,fear and suspense; isolation; darkness

fear and suspense; isolation; darkness

Correct Answer:adventure,a journey; a hero; action and threats

a journey; a hero; action and threats

Q3.
Match each word to its definition.
Correct Answer:detective,the person who investigates who committed a crime

the person who investigates who committed a crime

Correct Answer:perpetrator,the person who committed the crime

the person who committed the crime

Correct Answer:suspect,someone who may have committed the crime

someone who may have committed the crime

Correct Answer:accomplice,someone who helped commit the crime

someone who helped commit the crime

Correct Answer:witness,someone who saw the crime occur

someone who saw the crime occur

Q4.
Match the character conventions of detective fiction to their personality descriptions.
Correct Answer:the brilliant detective,has a unique mind and can see connections others miss

has a unique mind and can see connections others miss

Correct Answer:the faithful sidekick,is loyal to the detective but more down-to-earth

is loyal to the detective but more down-to-earth

Correct Answer:the criminal mastermind,is as intelligent and cunning as the detective

is as intelligent and cunning as the detective

Correct Answer:the bumbling official,is supposed to solve the crime but doesn't

is supposed to solve the crime but doesn't

Q5.
Match the plot conventions of detective fiction to the plot points from 'The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle'.
Correct Answer:the call to action,Peterson arrives with the jewel

Peterson arrives with the jewel

Correct Answer:the red herring,Mr Baker is in possession of the goose that contains the gem

Mr Baker is in possession of the goose that contains the gem

Correct Answer:the 'aha!' moment,Holmes and Watson realise that the man at the market is Ryder

Holmes and Watson realise that the man at the market is Ryder

Correct Answer:the suspects,We learn the story of how Horner was arrested on Ryder's evidence

We learn the story of how Horner was arrested on Ryder's evidence

Q6.
Which of these plot conventions are most likely to occur at the end of the story?
the suspects
the investigation
Correct answer: the 'aha!' moment
Correct answer: the big reveal

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