How does Doyle use setting to help create mystery in The Hound of the
Baskervilles?
Arthur Conan Doyle was born in Edinburgh on 22 May 1859. He died in
1893. His first book he published was when he was still a student. In
1885 he married Louise Hawkins. Sherlock Holmes made his first
appearance in a short novel called "A Study in Scarlet" which was
printed in 1887. He continues to write thrilling stories until he
realised he wanted to be known not just for Sherlock Holmes but wanted
to get involved in other projects. Readers were astonished when Doyle
finally killed off the famous detective when he was shoved off a cliff
in 1893 by his arch-nemis Professor Moriaty. Thousands of readers made
complaints and the once well known cult figure had been feared to be
gone forever! For a couple of years Conan Doyle avoided the reader's
complaints but Doyle eventually buckled under stress and wrote a book
called "The Hound of the Baskervilles". A story set before the tragic
ending of Sherlock Holmes.
This is a detective story with elements of a gothic story. The two
main characters are Sherlock Holmes and James Watson. In this story
Sherlock is in some ways the main character but most of the attention
is given to Watson as he tells the story.
The story starts in the pleasant setting of Holmes' Baker Street flat
were it is safe and cosy. The other setting in London is the
Northumberland Hotel. This is where Sir Henry and Doctor Mortimer are
staying. The first mystery is introduced here when one of Sir Henry's
boot goes missing.
"I put then both outside my door last night, and there was only one
this morning"
Conan Doyle creates a mysterious atmosphere here. London is a perfect
place because it is a heavil...
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... convict brings suspicion as he fell on his neck.
Watson and Holmes mistake this man to be Sir Charles. As they look
closer they see that it is the convict in his clothes. Mystery is
introduced when Stapleton appears at the crime scene. This adds a
sense of mystery.
This novel in scene in some ways can be described as a Gothic Novel
because it has characteristics of one. For example it has a gloomy
setting, strange events, violence, mystery, super-natural and horror.
The gloomy setting is Baskerville Hall and the Moor. A strange event
would be the missing boot. This is also a detective story. For example
interesting setting, a crime to be solved. The interesting setting is
Baskerville Hall and the crime is the death of Sir Charles.
I conclude that Doyle creates mystery by using setting. He does this
by using methods like weather and descriptive words.
How does Conan Doyle present the character of Watson in the Sherlock Holmes stories? Conan Doyle was born on May 22, 1859, in Edinburgh and was educated at Stony Hurst College and the University of Edinburgh. From 1882 to 1890 he practiced medicine in Southsea, England. His first novel, A Study in Scarlet, the first of 60 stories featuring Sherlock Holmes, appeared in 1887. this helped boost the start of the crime genre.
Mystery is used to give the story a scary and unusual setting. First, the story about Ship Trap Island is used to arouse superstitions. These superstitions bring you into the story to make the reader desire more about the mystery. Second, mystery is used whenever Rainsford hears the shots, the screams, and later sees the bloody brush. This makes you want to know what was hunted down and killed there. Lastly, mystery engross General Zaroff’s huge chateau. Connell’s description of a home on the edge of a cliff with tall towers, iron gates, and a gargoyle knocker makes for a good mystery. This home makes the reader think, why is this here.
Written in 1818, the latter stages of the Gothic literature movement, at face value this novel embodies all the key characteristics of the Gothic genre. It features the supernatural, ghosts and an atmosphere of horror and mystery. However a closer reading of the novel presents a multifaceted tale that explores
To set the tone in the story the author had to describe the surroundings of the characters. For example the author states, "with the first glimpse of the building, a sense of insufferable gloom pervaded my spirit." when giving a detailed response of how he feels about the house. This helps show that the author himself feels depressed when in sight of the building and gives the reader a thought of how the house looks. Other textual evidence in the passage also shows a feeling of suspense like the quote, "There was an iciness, a sinking, a sickening of the heart - an unredeemed dreariness of thought which no goading of the imagination could torture into aught of the sublime. " which is how the author feels when he thinks about the house. The author cannot bear to imagine the house because he has a dark and negative imagination with different fears he thinks can come to life because of how unsettling the house makes him feel. While suspense is a direct indication of a depressed and dark tone, some other Gothic elements can be used indirectly to describe negative values in the story.
The birth of classic detective fiction was originated just in the mid nineteenth century, and was producing its own genre. Classical detective fiction follows a set of rules called the ‘Ten commandments of detective fiction’. The genre is so popular it can bee seen by the number of sales in any good book stores. Many of these books have been created a long time ago and there is still a demand for these types of books. The popularity is still ongoing because it provides constant entertainment, and also the reader can also have a role of detective trying to solve the crime/case committed. Classical detective fiction has a formula, the detective story starts with a seemingly irresolvable mystery, typically a murder, features the astute, often unconventional detective, a wrongly accused suspect to whom the circumstantial evidence points, and concludes with a startling or unexpected solution to the mystery, during which the detective explains how he or she solved the mystery. Formula that includes certain elements such as, a closed location to keep the number of suspects down, red hearings spread around the stories to keep the reader entertained yet interacted.
They finally go off to enjoy some of the high culture that urban life provides. Upon returning at night, however, Watson describes the exact same location as “an endless labyrinth of gas-lit streets”. This suggests that the dark and mysterious characteristics of the area have come to the
The setting is London in 1854, which is very different to anything we know today. Johnson’s description of this time and place makes it seem like a whole other world from the here and now....
The short story of “A Scandal in Bohemia” by Conan Doyle relates to the BBC crime drama series Sherlock episode “A Scandal in Belgravia”. BBC crime drama was filmed based on the short story that Conan Doyle wrote. The film and the text is based on a similar concept, but contains different details of information. There are three comparisons that is easily identified such as theme, characters and setting. These differences make the text and the film different.
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.
How Does Arthur Conan Doyle Create Tension And Suspense In The Speckled Band The Speckled Band is just one of the murder mystery stories featuring the famous detective, Sherlock Holmes. Holmes was not any ordinary detective, he was a detective who was famous for solving murders. In this case Holmes is trying to solve the mystery of the 'Speckled Band'. Some examples of tension building techniques are dramatic events and in some instances the inclusion of red herrings. Bad weather and night time are also used as a means of building up atmosphere and tension.
Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan. The Hound of the Baskervilles. Great Britain, Penguin Groups, 2004. New York, Berkley Publishing Group,1993.
The setting for this novel was a constantly shifting one. Taking place during what seems to be the Late Industrial Revolution and the high of the British Empire, the era is portrayed amongst influential Englishmen, the value of the pound, the presence of steamers, railroads, ferries, and a European globe.
In the novel, The Hound of the Baskervilles, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick, Dr. Watson, is confronted with an eerie mystery situated around the fabled Hound of the Baskervilles. They are challenged with many risks and in the end must unearth the mystery before it is too late. Throughout the enigma, Sir Arthur explores the theme of what can happen when one does or does not let themselves be ruled and dominated by fear.
The Hound of the Baskervilles is one of Arthur Conan Doyle 's most famous works. The novel is the prime example of a Gothic Detective Story. Written during the first year of the 20th Century, the novel is a reflection of the concerns and issues that were prevalent at the time. The novel incorporates beliefs that were widely popular, including atavism and criminality. Although the novel is viewed as just another addition to the Sherlock Holmes canon, there are deeper philosophical conflicts that reflect the time period in which the novel was written.
One of the most popular literary forms is the detective genre. The most remarkable detective author of all time is the late nineteenth century writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. His most prominent works are the famous Sherlock Holmes stories. These novels and short stories set the standard for the genre. Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories can be considered a model for detective fiction because each is centered on a mystery, Sherlock is a brilliant detective, and clues are a prerequisite for success.