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Mykal Tolliver
Ms. Clifford
British/Composition
19 April 2016

Sherlock Holmes
Although Conan Doyle is often regarded as just an author, he was much more. The
Victorian times and the people he met originated Doyles stories and his literary influence is still
relevant today. Conan Doyle was born in Edinburg, Scotland on May 22, 1859 to Charles and
Mary Doyle. Conan was one of ten children of Charles and Mary Doyle. Conan was never close
to his father due to his fathers alcoholism and mental instability. However, Conan and his
mother were very close and she shared her gift of storytelling and passion for books with Conan.
In my early childhood, as far as I can remember anything at all, the vivid stories she
would tell me stand out so clearly that they obscure the real facts of my life.
(http://www.sherlockholmesonline.org/biography/index.htm)
Sherlock Holmes stories were written in the Victorian times and were based on some
events in his life. Sherlock Holmes was based around a friend, Dr. Joseph Bell, who would
assume injuries just by looking at them. People enjoy crime fiction because in detective stories,
you have to figure out the clues to the problem. Also, it makes the reader feel they are working
alongside the detective.
The stories build up stress and suspense to make people feel on the edge of their seats.
Doyle uses many different techniques to write his stories. For example, he uses roles, to

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describe settings, imaginative characters, etc. Doyle makes his characters resemble animals, so
the reader can immediately identify the hero, villain and victim.
One of the factors that facilitate readers to appreciate Sherlock Holmes stories is the
character Dr. Watson. His role as narrator is important because he asks the questions that the
reader wants to know. For example, in The Red-Headed League, Watson asks, But how could
you guess what the motive was? This shows us that even Watson cant get to the answer, like
the reader, but somehow Holmes can. He asks what the reader is thinking, giving Holmes the
chance to show off his smarts when he explains how he knew what had happened and what was
going to happen.
Holmes admires Watson. This gentleman (Watson) has been my partner and helper in
many of my most successful cases. This shows Holmes respects Watson and thinks of Watson
as a massive help to him in all his cases, and needs Watson to help in solving the
mystery. This is proved when Holmes says some of my most successful cases.
The make-up of Doyles stories also adds tension, suspense and excitement. All stories
follow an outline. They have a situation, a problem, a climax and a ending. The situation in The
Red-Headed League is Jabez Wilson going to Sherlock Holmes. The problem is, what is the redheaded league, and why has it dissolved? The climax is the robbery and how to stop it. And the
result is Sherlock Holmes saying how he solved the mystery.
Doyles stories draw you in by having red herrings and narrative hooks. These are to
throw the reader, and the detective, off the scent. For example, in The Speckled Band, the
gypsies and animals were there to throw the reader off the main suspect, Dr. Roylett. An example
of a narrative hook is that Holmes finds the case very interesting; the peculiar nature of

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the story makes me anxious to have every possible detail from your lips. This hooks the reader
in because Holmes has said it is peculiar. This suggests that it may be hard to figure out, and if it
is hard for him to figure out then the reader will have to pay really close attention to it. Holmes
wants to know everything that is said because every little detail could be a clue to help solve the
mystery.
Also, there are clues hidden in the text as you read through, but the reader misses them
because of how they are set up. Little newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City of
Suburban bank, the vegetarian restaurant In this, Doyle tells the reader where the crime is
going to take place, City of Suburban bank, but because it set out in list form the reader doesnt
pick up on the clue.
Knoxs theory was that all good detective writers must use 10 techniques to make a good
story. Doyle use 9 of these in The Speckled Band and 10 in The Red-Headed League. This
makes his stories exciting for people to read.
Setting is another feature used by Conan Doyle to interest and entice the reader. Within
The Speckled Band, Doyle describe Stoke Moran as a crab, to make the reader recognize that it is
not a good place. The Red-Headed League is set on London streets; it is a hobby of mine to
have an exact knowledge of London. This tells us that it is set in London and that Holmes has
good knowledge of the area, and would know how to get to a certain place from sewers or from
street level. London in those times was full of crime and pollution, which left a heavy fog over
the city, so it was a very dark and gloomy place to be, and therefore it is a good setting
for readers.
The Speckled Band is set in Stoke Moran. The building was grey lichen blotched stone,

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with a high central poration, and two curving wings like the claws of a crab. The effect of using
a simile to describe the setting of Stoke Moran as a crab tells the reader immediately that all is
not right there. Also, it paints a picture in the readers head of the building, giving it a dark and
eerie feeling when it is said to be grey and spooky. The Speckled Band is a gothic story because
it has dark settings, hidden doors, weird events, violence, mystery, suffering, unpredictable
characters and a natural explanation at the end.
In the two stories, the appearance of the victims is very different. In The Red-Headed
League, the victim is a man named Jabez Wilson, who is simple and stupid, whereas in The
Speckled Band, it is a female called Helen Stoner who appears afraid and shaken. Both have
gone to Sherlock Holmes with a problem. This shows that Holmes is well known for what he
does.
Jabez Wilson is described with pig like features, for example, when Watson describes him
as a very stout, florid faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair, he is described as a pig and
a bit of an idiot, so the reader may feel sorry for him but still laugh at him. However, Helen
Stoner is a lot more innocent and very scared, so the audience just feels sorry for her and wants
the villain to be caught so that she can be happy.
The villains are also presented with animal features. The villain in The Red-Headed
League is John Clay/Vincent Spaulding and in The Speckled Band, it is Dr. Roylott. Sherlock
Holmes catches both villains just before or during the crime they were committing, proving
that Holmes is very smart. The villains in both books are after money and greed is present.
Vincent Spaulding/John Clay is described with hawk features and ugly scars, very
commonly used to represent a villain. He is also very clever and respects Holmes a little bit for

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catching him, as he had thought no one could.
In The Speckled Band, Dr. Roylott is a huge man who uses his strength to scare people.
He also has bird of prey like features. He is introduced as a rude, stern character as he
approaches Holmes in a direct, intruding manner, when he goes to Holmes office and bends
a poking fork.
Another technique that is used is the use of narrative hooks to draw the reader into the
story, which keeps the reader guessing on what has happened. Holmes thinks that Wilsons
assistant is very suspicious. You seam most fortunate in having an employee who comes under
the full market price. This tells the reader that the assistant is not a very honest character,
because Holmes doesnt trust him. It is very strange that a very good assistant would work for
less and yet still be happy, unless he wanted to get something out of it.
Holmes is baffled by the case, shown when he remarks, the peculiar nature of the story
makes me anxious to have every possible detail from your lips. This hooks the reader in
because Holmes has said it is peculiar. This suggests that it may be hard to solve, and if it is hard
for Holmes to figure out, then the reader will have to pay really close attention to it if they want
to solve it with him. Holmes wants to hear everything said because every little detail could be a
clue to help solve the mystery and catch the villain.
In The Speckled Band, Holmes again finds the story interesting. From what you have told
me, I think that it is possible that graver issues hang from it than might first appear. Holmes
knows straight away that something bigger is going on, but the reader doesnt know what that is,
and wants to find out. This is how he draws you in as a reader. He tells you that something bad
is going to happen soon, and Holmes needs to figure out the problem quickly.

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When both stories reach there climax, Doyle creates nerviness and suspense. He does
this by using shorter sentences and quicker rhythm to the section. Both climaxes are set in the
dark to create extra nerviness and excitement.
Watson is always told by Holmes to take his revolver in case it is needed. Watson is quite
scared, my nerves pitched up to a pitch of expectancy. Watson is scared and knows that
something big is going to happen, and that he may even have to shoot the villain. The sentences
are quite short and emotion is built up when John Clay walks in.
It is very quick and exciting near the end of the climax. From my position looking over
the case, in the direction of the floor, suddenly my eyes caught a glance of light. This builds up
the suspense, using small sentences, and showing Watsons feelings that he is scared of what is
about to happen. Everything is silent, I could not hear a sound, not even the drawing of breath.
Everything is quiet as the tension builds up. It is quiet so that Holmes can hear everything that is
going on, because it is very dangerous. Holmes fears for Watson; Do not go to sleep, your very
life may depend on it. This is another narrative hook where the reader wants to know why
Watson is in danger and what may kill him. You also feel for Watson because he may die and you
dont want that to happen. Holmes is also scared but puts on a brave face because he knows what
is going to happen and how dangerous it will be.
Sherlock Holmes has to be respected, because if he wasnt, then no one would read the
books. The reader is made to respect Holmes through his methods and deductions. For example,
when he deduces what Jabez Wilson and Helen Stoner has done before they visit him. He also
doesnt take payments for his cases, only for equipment that is needed. He also treats
Helen Stoner very gently and kindly as she is obviously afraid of something.

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I think that Holmes is an ideal detective because he is smart, strong, brave, and figures
out some of the harder things. Here a few suggestions to make him appeal more to a modern
reader. For example, he is somewhat old for today. Modern readers prefer younger, flasher
heroes. He is sometimes to smart, but he needs to be to solve the cases. He needs to
do whatever possible to catch the villain. However, he does treat Watson with respect and thinks
very highly of him. He always involves him in his cases, should it prove an interesting case,
you would, I am sure, wish to follow it.
People believed Sherlock Holmes stories when they were written because they were
exciting. Also, it was in the times of Jack the ripper and the public needed someone who they
could count on, as they didnt trust the police force, and they didnt believe they tried everything
to try and stop crime. Sherlock Holmes is still read today because the books are exciting and
enjoyable, and they are easy to follow. Sherlock Holmes is the archetypal fictional detective
who is right there with Hamlet, Heathcliff and Oliver Twist as one of the best-known characters
in all of English Literature (Routledge). Even though you dont figure out the mystery the first
time, if you look back though the book, the clues are all there. I enjoyed the stories because
they gave me something to think about when reading a book, it involves the reader, and you
want to try and figure out what has happened before Sherlock Holmes figures it out. However,
it may make it more enjoyable by making Holmes more modern with the readers.

References

Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir. A Study in Scarlet. San Diego: Baker & Taylor Publishing Group,
2011. Print.
Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir. The Speckled Band. San Diego: Baker & Taylor Publishing Group,
2011.
Doyle, Arthur Conan. The Best of Sherlock Holmes: The Red-Headed League and Six Others.
Clayton, DE: Prestwick House, 2010 Print.
Routledge, Christopher. "A Study in Scarlet." chrisroutledge.co.uk. April 2008. Web. 7 February
2014.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Biography
http://www.sherlockholmesonline.org/Biography/index.htm