THE ORIGIN OF THE DETECTIVE GENRE IN ENGLISH LITERATURE
Keywords:
Key words: detective genre, English literature, genre development, literary stages, crime fiction, narrative structure, detective character, literary history.Abstract
Abstract. The detective genre in English literature has developed through several clear stages over time. This study gives a brief overview of how detective fiction began and how it has changed from its early forms to modern examples. The early stage is shown through stories that focus on logical thinking, clear clues, and a single detective who solves the crime using reason. Later stages introduce more complex plots, stronger emotional elements, and social problems that influence crime and investigation. In modern detective fiction, attention is often given to the inner world of characters, moral uncertainty, and psychological conflict rather than only to solving a mystery. The genre is shown to move from simple puzzle-based narratives to more realistic and human-centered stories. The study concludes that the detective genre in English literature continues to develop by responding to changes in society, culture, and readers’ expectations.
