In chapter Four, Sir Charles receives a warning note back at his hotel, “as you value your life...keep away from the moor” I think this adds to the fear as it makes you think sir Henry is at risk or in danger. The fact that he receives the letter re-enforces Holmes thoughts in the previous chapter. This is because a real person must have written the note, nothing of a supernatural nature could have.
At the beginning of Chapter Six Holmes and Watson are reviewing and discussing their “theories or Suspicions about the case. This is when the atmosphere of fear starts to grow as they review their list of suspects; I think this is because they are unaware of who or what to be afraid of. The fear is raised yet further as Holmes advises Watson on his safety “keep your revolver near you” and “never relax your precautions” I think this yet further reinforces the fact there is something to be feared and there lives may be at risk. Holmes express’s his fear further when he says to sir Henry “I beg you Sir Henry that you will not go about , some great misfortune will befall you if you do”
The author cleverly re-introduces the fear as he describes the dark and dismal moor surrounding the Hall “grey melancholy hill” with “gnarled… Carnes and torrs with a cold wind sweeping across the desolate plain”, he does this using a technique called Pathetic Fallacy. All these quotations add to the sinister and stark atmosphere of the moor, drawing the reader’s attention to the dreary atmosphere.
Having lead the reader into a SENSE OF SECURTITY AS Watson goes to sleep, the author then heightens the fear once again by taking a new tack, the introduction of a women sobbing in the dead of the night.
It is in chapter Seven when Stapleton is first introduced into the novel. He is described as being a “Small, Slim, Clean Shaven” man “Between thirty and Forty years of age”. Mystery and suspicion surrounding Mr Stapleton as the chapter progress’s his desire to explore and overcome the challenged of the surrounding terrain become even more evident.
Suspicion is heightened when Stapleton reveals his knowledge of Sir Charles’s weak heart and great fear of the Legend in particular the Hound, “The appearance of any dog might have had a fatal effect on his diseased heart”
Watson’s fear of his surroundings grow as Stapleton describes the Grimpen Mire, fear is later heightened by the vivid description of the death of the Mooreland pony, as it is sucked to his death into the Fatal Bog!
As the chapter continues we as the reader are brought into a false climax as Watson and Mortimer hear the “long low moan” of something on the moor. The fear is intensified “as it swelled into a deep roar”. I think this section adds to the fear as it makes us think the hound could appear at any moment. However as we later discover the hound and the noise remain a mystery.
As we near the end of the chapter Stapleton’s sister lurches onto the scene taking Watson by surprise mistaking him for Sir Henry. She then begs and pleads that he should leave the moor “go back to London…Get away from this place at once”. However, she was constantly on the lookout for her brother in fear that he might overhear what she was saying, “hush my brother is coming, not a word o what I have said” This strengthens the suspicions against Stapleton and raises the fear once again.
The ninth chapter like chapter eight is written in the form of a report, from Doctor Watson to Sherlock Holmes.
Half way through the chapter the suspense of the mystery’s increases as Watson and Sir Henry investigate who is regularly wandering around the hall at night only to discover that it is Barrymore, Signalling to someone on the moor using a candle. After some interrogation Barrymore’s wife Eliza appears at the door to reveal the truth, “my unhappy brother is starving on the moor”. She then advises he is no other that “Seldon the criminal”. This section adds to the fear as it reminds us this criminal is at large and how dangerous he could be to the inhabitants of the moor.
As both Watson and Sir Henry step out onto the moor to capture the escaped convict, the author refers back to the second chapter when Sir Henry states How about that hour of darkness when the power of evil is exalted?” At this part of the chapter the fear reaches its peak as the “rising Howl” breaks the silence of the night.
This continuous groan has several physical effects on the pair, in particular Sir Henry “his face glimmered white through the darkness” also “a break in his voice which told of the sudden horror that had seized him”. This heightens the fear as it shows the legend appears to be coming true, much to Sir Henry’s horror.
The discovery of the existence of the hound is augmented by the discovery of Seldon, a sheer evil man who is described with animal like characteristics, “a terrible animal face” also “small canning eyes”. Even his escape from prison depicted animal like tendencies “running at great speed…Springing over stones with the activity of a mountain goat”. I think these statements together intensify the fear as Seldon's animal like features relate him to the hound.
A dramatic change of emotions is driven through when the disappointment of Seldon escaping from their chase is impacted by the discovery of yet another threat, “outlined as an ebony statue on that shining background…a figure upon the tor”. This mystery man yet again heightens the fear as it leaves the chapter on a cliff-hanger.
As we emerge into chapter ten we see Watson recollecting the sinister events that have happened in the form of a diary.
The fear is first introduced when Barrymore agrees to divulge in secrets about Sir Charles’s death. He informs Watson of a letter that had arrived on the morning of Sir Charles’s death. He goes on to tell us that he burnt that letter later that day on request of Sir Charles. Finally shows Watson a corner of the letter that was ingrate signed by LL.
The air of gloom and mystery returns again at the end of the chapter as Watson looks out of the “black Windows” at the “driving clouds…tossing outline of the windswept trees” I think this use of Pathetic Fallacy adds to the fear and also makes the reader want to continue reading the novel.
The chapter immediately draws you into the novel again with Watson’s statement “the incidents of the last few days are indelibly grave upon my recollection”. This does not raise the fear as such but reminds you of fearful moments in past chapters.
As the chapter unfolds Conan Doyle introduces a new type of fear with interrogation of Mrs Lyons by Watson. It is progressed to the reader that she has an inner secret which she is scared of being exposed. The crescendo of the interview is where Watson, forces her to admit that she did write to sir Charles on the day of his death, requesting him to meet with her at 10pm, the hour of his death! This heightens the fear as we now think Mrs L. Lyons could have killed Sir Charles as she is the most likely suspect. Throughout the interview she has tried to deny her communication with Sir Charles. Until Watson reveals “Surely your memory deceives you…I could even quote a passage of your letter “Please, please, as you are a gentlemen burn this letter, and be at the gate by 10 O’clock”. I think this yet further strengthens the argument that Mrs Lyons killed Sir Charles bringing the reader to yet another false climax. Despite this she denies meeting him, an air of deep intrigue is developed in the novel yet again heightening he fear.
Later in the chapter the author again captures his reader’s interest by developing another atmosphere of dreadful unknown following the discovery of “the ragged uncouth figure” walking stealthily across the moor. Watson sets out discover the whereabouts of the second stranger loose on the moor. The story slowly builds the readers fear of the unknown as Watson discovers the ramshackle hut on the hill, with evidence that it had been recently inhabited. The sinister aura thickens as Watson considers the stranger “might be lurking there”. As Watson searches around the hut the discovery of a canvas package, seen previously being carried by the “ragged uncouth figure”, and a note beneath advising “Doctor Watson” has gone to Combe Tracey”, makes a good twist to the story. It now appears that it is Doctor Watson not Sir Henry who is being “Dogged by the secret man”. The fact that Watson could be in danger yet again heightens the fear. At the end of the chapter the fear is once again dampened as it appears that the mystery stranger may be Sherlock Holmes!
Chapter twelve starts by revealing with certainty that Sherlock Holmes is the unknown stranger on the moors. Any fear developed in handfuls in chapter eleven is quickly dispelled as Holmes unravels several mysteries that until now have been uncertain.
However, as night falls and Holmes suggests to Watson that he should return to Sir Henry at Baskerville hall as the tension peaks again as “a terrible scream- a prolonged yell of horror and anguish burst out of the silence of the moor”. Watson fears were being realised as he States “that’s frightful cry turned the blood to ice in my veins”. The descriptives here used by the author, immediately brings the reader to attention, with fear of a potential murder, again aroused.
Watson and Homes try to identify the direction of the screams both showing evidence of a high level of fear, maybe fear for their own lives too.
Conan Doyle provides streams of descriptives developing a greater certainty of the eerie atmosphere and sounds upon the moor- “a deep, muttered mumble, musical and yet mincing, rising and falling like the low, constant murmur of the sea”. This heightens the reader’s imagination heightening the fear further
The drama increases in pace as Watson & Holmes start searching for the source of the screaming, the task made more difficult and dangerous as it is now night, and they are stranded on the moor. They hear a thud, and think the worst – is it Sir Henry now murdered? The discovery of a body spread-eagled face down on the edge of the cliff provides the ultimate climax of fear. The discovery of Sir Henry – dead with a crushed skull, turns the fear to heavy sadness. However, when they return to retrieve the body later, relief is felt as they discover that the body is in fact that of Seldon, the convict, dressed in Sir Henry’s cast off clothes.
Any eerie alertness again returns as someone approaches Watson & Holmes, only to discover it is Stapleton. This only adds to Watson’s suspicions that Stapleton is plotting to kill Sir Henry, as Stapleton tries to hide his delight then disappointment, at what was believed to be Sir Henry’s demise, only to find the dead convict dressed in his clothes. Concern hangs around the scene at the safety of the two detectives in his company. He further incriminates himself by revealing his invitation to Sir Henry to call on him that night. Finally he questions if they had heard the legendary hound howling. Watson & Holmes do not reveal that they had heard such a noise.
When they all disperse in the night to return home, Sherlock & Watson walk together to Baskerville Hall. Interestingly it is still night, with a recent “murder” yet they seem completely at ease walking across the moor. It seems strange that the level of fear of the unknown “murderer” is not maintained to the end of the chapter – an air of calmness is portrayed.
