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Essay on characterisation of sherlock holmes
Essay on characterisation of sherlock holmes
Descriptive essay about Sherlock Holmes and the hound of the Baskerville
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“The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes,” states Sherlock Holmes (Doyle, The Hound of the Baskervilles loc 1238). According to TV Tropes, mystery is a genre of fiction where the plot revolves a mysterious happening that acts as the driving question. With any given problem there is a solution; however, and the question is “how does one come about to that solution”? Extremely high intelligence level, keen observation, creative imagination and sensitivity to details are just some of the qualities that Holmes possesses. In the process of solving mysteries, there is always a borderline between mere guessing, a coincidence, and a scientific approach that Holmes calls deductive reasoning. In Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 1902 novel, The Hound of the Baskervilles, Dr. Mortimer seeks advice from Holmes as he explains the curse that has been plaguing the Baskerville family. With the power of deduction, Holmes realizes that Mr. Stapleton is actually a Baskerville descendant and has been planning to get rid of the other members of the family to claim the family fortune. Conan Doyle tells the reader what their mind is capable of doing by incorporating Holmes through his novels as he uses observation, deduction and knowledge in solving his cases. One important key that makes him different from most people is that he sees everything that people often neglect to pay attention to. A remarkable proof which shows that Holmes holds an extraordinary analytical mind and is uniquely capable of solving a mystery through his great sensitivity to minute details and the ability to draw connections from it was shown as he observes and deduces information from the letter received by Sir Henry Baskerville the moment he arrived...
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...erlock Holmes. “It’s not an easy task, that constant cognitive vigilance, the eternal awareness of our own limitations and the resulting strategic allocation of attention” (Konnikova, "Do You See like Dr. Watson or Observe like Sherlock Holmes"). It is not easy for some people to think just like him but it is something that can be acquired by constant practice and dedication. Holmes teaches us how to be mindful to our surroundings and apply it in our lives. He also shows us how to make great connections about the things that we see and the things that we know already and from there deduce the possible cause. The use of deductive reasoning as a convention is crucial because not all readers possesses extraordinary intellect like Holmes but as we, the readers go through the novel, learn to expand these abilities ourselves and learn to apply them in our everyday lives.
In both The Great Mouse Detective and Sherlock Holmes, the main detectives, Mr. Holmes and Sir Basil, make key observations that help find their scoundrel, Mr. Ratigan and Blackwood. Sir Basil and Sherlock Holmes both detect important observations through the process of deductive reasoning, which is how they come to their conclusions without doing much physical work. In Sherlock Holmes, when off a case, Mr. Holmes would write books, about tobacco to keep his wit sharp, while in The Great Mouse Detective Sir Basil would play the violin to keep his mind active and concentrated. Sir Basil and Sherlock Holmes both solve their cases with the help of an associate.
Holmes’s incredible deductions make him a unique and heroic detective. He is able to profile people by simply looking at an unapparent object such as a watch. One instance where his incredible deductive abilities are put to test is in “The Dancing Men”. Upon looking at a watch, Holmes deduces: “He was a man of untidy habits- very untidy and careless. He was left with good prospects, but he threw away his chances, lived for some time in poverty… then finally, taking to drink, he died. That’s all I can gather” (Conan Doyle 28). This quote proves his deductive abilities because Holmes gives a thorough summary of Watson’s brother’s life by simply examining his watch. Another powerful deductive ability possessed by Holmes is code deciphering. He is able to comprehend complex and seemingly impossible codes and diagrams that the average person cannot. The code with the dancing men in “The Case of the Dancing Men” is perhaps his most memorable instance of code cracking. In this instance, Holmes has finally deciphered the mysterious code, he explains how he his de...
Sherlock Holmes used deduction to solve mysteries. Firstly, Sherlock Holmes used deduction in “The Red Headed League”. For example, Sir Arthor Conan Doyle, author, shares that Sherlock deduced that since Vincent Spalding, or John Clay, spent so much time in the basement, he must have been digging a tunnel to the bank (Doyle). Thus, Sherlock Holmes used deduction to solve the mystery. Secondly, Sherlock Holmes, used deduction in “The Speckled Band”. For instance, Sir Arthor Conan Doyle reports that Holmes deduced that Dr. Roylott is violent, because Helen had bruises on her arm. Therefore, Sherlock Holmes deduced Dr. Roylotts violent behavior. Thirdly, Sherlock Holmes used deduction in “The Copper Beeches”. To illustrate, Sir Arthor Conan Doyle
Now, before we will be exploring the personage John Watson and his function as a character, narrator and in relationship to Sherlock Holmes, there are a few things that need to be established. For the remainder of this essay I will refer to the li...
Comment on the way Conan Doyle uses the character of Watson in The Hound of the Baskervilles.
The original stories about Sherlock Holmes were written by Arthur Conan Doyle in late 19th and early 20th century London, the same setting he used in the stories (Magher). These stories recount the cases, and corresponding adventures, that Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson partake in (Doyle, Sherlock Holmes: The Major Stories). The character of Sherlock Holmes is seen by many as a paragon of logic and justice in the midst of a constantly advancing Victorian society—one that is progressive for the time period, yet still deeply flawed (“Arthur Conan Doyle”). Although Sherlock Holmes portrays himself as a rational man with an unbiased perspective on both the situations he analyzes and the people he meets, he often fails to show this through
An examination of Sherlock Holmes' abilities and techniques. allied to his personal characteristics, enable him to solve crimes. There are many reasons to explain why Sherlock Holmes is one of the world's most famous fictional detectives. However, the main reason for This is that not only are the stories complex, but the actual character of Sherlock Holmes has extreme depth, with some subtle. elements of his character only becoming apparent when he is in certain situations.
For example, the way he tells the story is through John Watson’s memories/point of view, which very clearly shows the reader that kind of person Watson is, and gives us his back story in detail. However, it also keeps Holmes’ character in secret, and slowly reveals parts of his personality/backstory throughout the series. The novel also demonstrates Doyle’s intelligence through Holmes’ keen sense of deduction, as it uses Holmes’ ability to figure out a person’s backstory simply by looking at them to tell the reader Watson’s past. He also uses his background of scientific education to add a sense of realism and help better convey Holmes’ methods/intelligence. It also shows his creativity in the way the murder mystery in the book unfolds, with all of these different leads to who the killer may be changing with each murder that occurs. The ending where he finally reveals the killer is unexpected, and also shows how smart the killer himself is, giving Holmes a worthy adversary and ending in a one-on-one-battle of wits and logic. This novel easily exhibits Doyle’s intelligence and his ability to write an engaging
Sherlock Holmes has been featured in several stories by his creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Traditionally, he has been highly regarded for his intellect. Nonetheless, a multifold of readers question if Holmes has emotions. Holmes' thoughts are a mystery. Readers only know the thoughts of his friend Dr. John Watson, who narrates the stories Holmes is in. I have reason to believe that Holmes has displayed through his actions, including through what he says, that he indeed has emotions. At the same time, Holmes does not allow his emotions to hinder or get in the way of his work.
Sherlock Holmes has a peculiar and eccentric way of solving the mysteries that are brought to his attention by the somewhat incompetent Scotland Yard. Unlike the Yard, Holmes does not take the crime scene at face value. Rather, Sherlock Holmes uses his outstanding observational skills and immense background knowledge of sciences that he rigorously studies in his alone time.
This paper will explore the relationship between Sherlock Holmes and his companion and friend Dr. John Watson. What is the relationship between Holmes and Watson? Are they compatible or are their differences to great for them to overcome. Looking at how they work together will also be a key factor in how well the relationship works between the two of them. Do their own interests and abilities get in the way? Does the time period in which they live factor into the environment of their communication styles?
Sherlock Holmes What qualities are there in Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories which have sustained their popularity for so many years? Conan Doyle was among the first writers of detective stories and novels in England. The first novel recognised as a detective story was written in 1868, by Wilkie Collins entitled "The Moonstone". Later in 1870, the popular novelist Charles Dickens also tried his hand at writing a detective novel called "The Mystery of Edwin Drood". These early detective stories have not become as famous as Doyle's creation for a number of reasons, one of which is that when Doyle began writing his novels there was a greater demand in general for stories, as more people were becoming educated and were taught how to read.
When writing, one finds it is often easier to write about what one already knows. Some authors may find inspiration in their personal lives, the world around them, or the lives of close friends and family. When a work of art or a book is inspired by one of these factors, the work itself contains connections back to the inspiration and in turn, the life of the author himself. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle finds inspiration for his series of novels about the genius detective Sherlock Holmes and his loyal friend Dr. John Watson in many different places. In his novel, The Hound of the Baskervilles, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle makes connections to his career, his colleague, and the stories of his friend.
James Kissane and John M. Kissane, “Sherlock Holmes and the Ritual of Reason”, in Nineteenth-Century Fiction, Vol.17, NO.4, March 1963, pp.353-62.
The very essence of any detective story is the mystery. Unlike murder mysteries, which have a lot in common with detective stories, Holmes's problems are not invariably as severe as homicide. These mysteries are not usually insignificant though, and "Often they have to do with theft or murder" (Adventures). The first mystery may be an important and confusing conundrum, but there is often a more worthy case that presents itself after the first has commenced. This adds a level of intrigue to the tale because "The first story leads towards dissolution, the second towards restoring order" (Horsley). In each adventure, someone has been or is in danger of being wronged by another person, and comes to Sherlock for help. This creates "A clear and unambiguous triangle of characters - the investigator, the victim, and the transgressor" (Horsley). All of this is incorporated into the author's puzzle.