Caper story

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The caper story is a subgenre of crime fiction. The typical caper story involves one or more crimes (especially thefts, swindles, or occasionally kidnappings) perpetrated by the main characters in full view of the reader. The actions of police or detectives attempting to prevent or solve the crimes may also be chronicled, but are not the main focus of the story.

The caper story is distinguished from the straight crime story by elements of humor, adventure, or unusual cleverness or audacity. The main characters often have comical idiosyncrasies and the law enforcement individuals are characterized by ineptitude or inadequacies. The criminals comically plan a crime with details unnecessary for the nature of the crime and humour is created when their personalities clash and their quirks are exposed.

burglar
Rhodenbarr's criminal talents to solve murders.

A caper may appear as a subplot in a larger work. For example,

Huckleberry Finn
is a classic caper.

Etymology

The verb to caper means to leap in a frolicsome way,[2] and probably derives from capriole,[3] which derives from the Latin for goat (Capra). The noun caper[4] means a frolicsome leap, a capricious escapade or an illegal or questionable act.

Examples

Literature

Film

Television

See also

References

  1. ^ Moore, Author Sharon Arthur (2014-11-18). "The Mystery of Mysteries: 10 Elements of the Caper Mystery". WriteOnSisters.com. Retrieved 2021-01-25. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  2. Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
  3. ^ Capriole from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
  4. ^ Caper; definition 3 from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary