The hermeneutic code – the parts of a story that are not fully explained. They exist as enigmas or questions that the audience wishes to be resolved. A detective story, for example, is a narrative that operates mainly by the hermeneutic code. A criminal act is shown and the remainder of the narrative is devoted to answering questions raised by the initial event.
In order to maintain interest, the final truth is not revealed typically until the end of the story and some devices are used to conceal it:
The snare – a deliberate avoidance of the truth – a tease or an implication that sends the audience down a wrong path.
Partial answers – revealing some of the final truth(s) – this is used to actually increase suspense.
Equivocation – a mixture of truth and snare – usually further muddying the water!
Jamming – Suggesting that the problem may be unsolvable.
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