Misteri Elemen Dalam Karya Novel Agatha Christie "And Then There Were"

Abstract

Background: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie is one of the most renowned mystery novels in literary history. The story follows ten individuals from different backgrounds who are invited to a remote island and mysteriously die one by one, following the pattern of the poem “Ten Little Soldiers.” This novel is compelling to analyze due to its strong and logically structured mystery elements, which align with the principles of classic detective fiction. Objective: This study aims to describe the mystery elements found in the novel And Then There Were None and to explain how the mystery is solved throughout the narrative. Method: The study employs a qualitative descriptive method using Ronald Knox’s "Ten Commandments of Detective Fiction" as the main theoretical framework. Data were collected through close reading and note-taking from the primary source (the novel) and supported by secondary literature. Findings: The research identifies six major mystery elements in the novel that align with Ronald Knox’s theory: fair and honest clues, red herrings, a closed and confined setting, the culprit is not the narrator or detective, no supernatural elements, and a logical resolution to the mystery. Conclusion: The novel effectively applies classic mystery elements according to Ronald Knox’s principles. Agatha Christie not only builds suspense and surprise through her narrative structure but also conveys a moral message about justice and guilt. And Then There Were None stands as a successful example of classic detective fiction that invites readers to think critically and engage in solving the mystery. Keywords: Agatha Christie, And Then There Were None, mystery elements, Ronald Knox, classic detective fiction.