Anybody who knows me knows that im a huge fan of sir arthur conan doyles character, sherlock holmes. The character of sherlock holmes in this essay i will explain why the victorians found arthur conan doyles sherlock holmes character quite so compelling and why the stories are still so popular today. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one. Holmes is an expert at identifying tobaccoash residues, having penned a monograph on the subject. Sherlock holmes is a fictional private detective created by british author sir arthur conan doyle. The prototype for the modern mastermind detective, holmes first appeared in conan doyles a study in scarlet, published in beetons christmas annual of 1887.
Holmess popularity and fame are such that many have believed him to be not a fictional character but a real individual. Arthur doyle was seventeen years old when he first met dr. Sir arthur conan doyles famous character sherlock holmes continues to reappear in novels right up to our own day. A devoted pupil of crime studies, he is a zealous believer in. Analysis of the nineteenth century city in arthur conan doyles series. Words you need to know to understand sherlock holmes. How many stories and novels did the writer pen with sherlock holmes as the main character. The personality and the characteristics of sherlock holmes.
It is remarkable that a fictional character has had such lasting influence on the world. Sherlock holmes canon watson was originally created for the sherlock holmes series of stories. Unraveling a tangled character in his first appearance, in beetons christmas annual of 1887 in sir arthur conan doyles novella a study in scarlet, sherlock holmes described his task as a. He simply got tired of writing about holmes, and he wanted to focus on his other writing. In how many languages have the sherlock holmes stories been written or translated. The main character in the novel is the private detective, sherlock holmes. Hudson, the landlady of sherlock holmes, was a longsuffering woman.
Doyle based holmess character on his medical school professor, joseph bell, whom he studied under at the university of edinburgh. John watson, an army doctor injured in afghanistan, meets sherlock holmes, who is looking for a flatmate to share a flat at 221b baker street, owned by landlady mrs. He is astute, although he fails to match his friends. Well, according to some, conan doyle got the name holmes from oliver wendell holmes and the name sherlock from a famous violinist. The adventures of sherlock holmes questions and answers. The character of sherlock holmes essay example 1534.
Most are narrated by the character of holmess friend and biographer dr. Interest in the character has had a resurgence in recent years, and seems to be peaking now with the popularity of the eponymous show on. There are few things that are almost sake for sherlock. Sherlock holmes is a fictional character created by arthur conan doyle in 1887. Sherlock holmes is a fictional detective created by scottish author and physician sir arthur conan doyle. Sherlock holmes is the everobservant, worldrenowned detective of 221b baker street. For other versions of the character see versions of sherlock holmes. It is commonly agreed that the character traits of sherlock holmes were inspired by dr. Watson is sherlock holmes friend, assistant and sometime flatmate, and the first person narrator of all but four of these stories. He appears in 58 of the 60 stories in the canon, and is first person narrator of all stories less four. Auguste dupin, was the precursor to sherlock holmes as conan doyles character dr. Time and again, holmes expresses his distaste for emotionally driven actions.
Sherlock holmes the arthur conan doyle encyclopedia. Watson, is a fictional character in the sherlock holmes stories by sir arthur conan doyle. In a scandal in bohemia, watson describes holmes through the metaphor grit in a sensitive instrument. The adventure of the speckled band character analysis. Watson describes holmes as bohemian in habits and lifestyle. Not only was her firstfloor flat invaded at all hours by throngs of singular and often undesirable characters but her remarkable lodger showed an eccentricity and irregularity in his life which must have sorely tried her patience. Other than watson, there is never much mention that he has other friends. Irene adler character analysis in a scandal in bohemia. Sherlock holmes is a private investigator who works from his home on baker street in central london. Sherlock describes his brother as the more intelligent of the two, but notes that mycroft lacks any interest in.
Sherlock holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take almost any disguise, and his forensic science skills to solve difficult cases. Watson, a friend and biographer of holmes who is often instrumental in helping solve the crimes. Watson strongly disapproves of his friends cocaine habit, describing it as the detectives only vice and expressing concern over its possible effect on holmess mental health and superior intellect. What are some words to describe sherlock holmes answers.
At the start of the novel, holmes is injecting cocaine, which he argues he needs to numb his. Over all, sherlock holmes was featured in 4 novels and 56 short stories. In the character of sherlock holmes, doyle attempted to create someone guided by pure reason and deduction. Sherlock holmes is far from your typical private investigator. Some of these authors in the course of their stories also try to explain holmess eccentric psychology at the same time. Others concentrate on introducing those modern social sensibilities felt to be lacking in some of the original stories. What are some personality aspects of the fictional character sherlock holmes from the books by sir arthur conan doyle. Victorians will have found show more content nearly all. Watson is a former army doctor who has been sent home from the angloafghan war after being. Nearly every sherlock holmes story is narrated by dr john h. The a scandal in bohemia quotes below are all either spoken by irene adler or refer to irene adler. Holmes is the famed 221b baker street detective with a keen eye, hawked nose, and the trademark hat and pipe. Describe holmess character in a scandal in bohemia. Poe is considered to be the father of the modern detective story.
Character analysis in the adventure of the speckled band. Sherlock holmes, fictional character created by the scottish writer arthur. Describe how the public reacted to the death of holmes. The presentday profiler richard walter is often called the living sherlock holmes. In fact, by the end of 1891 he had written to his mother,one of sherlocks greatest admirers. Characters in the world of sherlock holmes conan doyle info. In this novel, he also reveals his ability to match his brooding, thoughtful nature with immediate action. For example the first thing is that he just adores smoking his. The protagonist in a scandal in bohemia as well as in the rest of doyles stories is a legendary detective known as sherlock holmes, who. Sherlock holmes was a fictional character created by sir arthur conan doyle. Im going to quote from a book called the best of sherlock holmes, by wordsworth classics however, even before the ink was dry on the manuscript of the copper beeches its author had wearied of sherlock holmes.
I love it all because i find the character of sherlock holmes fascinating. The sherlock holmes canon is filled with language worth exploring, either because of the rarity of the words or because of their unique context. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on litcharts. He lives for his cases, and when he is working he will sometimes go for days without rest or. The play drew material from the sherlock holmes stories a scandal in bohemia, the final problem, and a study in scarlet, and told a story. Sherlock holmes in the sign of the four characters gcse.
As the worlds first and only consulting detective, he pursued criminals throughout victorian and edwardian london, the south of england. In the five orange pips, he and watson are sitting by the. Holmes as a character has appeared in four novels and 56 short stories and now, innumerable film and tv adaptations. A fictional character created by sir arthur conan doyle 985 words 4 pages. He is cunning, intelligent, and also somewhat brash.
Holmes is observation and intuition personified, and though he takes a bit of a back seat to watson in this story, we always feel his presence. The language in sherlock holmes is as intriguing as the stories. Character of sherlock holmes the adventures of sherlock holmes is one of a several detective collection written by arthur conan doyle which became well known among numerous people in the world. Watson, fictional english physician who is sherlock holmess devoted friend and associate in a series of detective stories and novels by sir arthur conan doyle watson, born in 1852, has served as an army surgeon in india, where he was wounded during the second afghan war, and has returned to england in impaired health. The personality of sherlock holmes essay 754 words. The five orange pips, the blue carbuncle, and the adventures of the speckled band.
Joseph bell, one of the teachers at the medical school of edinburgh university. Sherlock holmes is the ultimate detective and is a unique and extremely popular character in media. The adventures of sherlock holmes characters gradesaver. From other stories, readers would have known that holmes is methodical, intelligent, analytical, observant, and reserved. Victorians will have found sherlock holmes very interesting because he was an upper class educate4d gentleman and this was the sort of person. The hound of the baskervilles character list gradesaver.
Sherlock holmes in the sign of the four bbc bitesize. Watson describes him as a sharp and highly intelligent individual. The police, led by detective inspector lestrade, have been baffled by series of deaths, described as serial suicides. What are some of sherlock holmes personality traits. What are the major character traits of sherlock holmes. Back in 1899, sir conan doyle, the author of the sherlock holmes stories, teamed up with the actor william gillette to create a fouract play putting the famous detective on stage for the first time.
Instant downloads of all 1297 litchart pdfs including the adventure of the speckled band. He is presented through the viewpoint of his friend, dr john watson, the narrator of the story. Sherlock holmes illustration by sidney paget, august 1893. The question and answer section for the adventures of sherlock holmes is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. He could be particularly bright and joyous, with that somewhat sinister cheerfulness which was characteristic of his lighter moments thor, 15 and with the. Teach your students to analyze literature like litcharts does. The most significant character in the sherlock holmes stories is his friend and colleague, dr. Sherlock holmes, the adventure of the empty house the scarlet thread. Sherlock holmes is the hero of this tale, and its most popular character. Brilliant, aloof and almost entirely lacking in social graces. Describe sherlocks character in 3 adjectives using specific. For all his assumed genius and intuition he is virtually omniscient in these stories, and holmes becomes more accessible in the context of his constant posturing and pretension. Describe sherlocks character in 3 adjectives using specific examples from the following three stories. Holmes lets down his guard and admits of a fragile ego.