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GCSE: Arthur Conan Doyle

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  1. How typical a villain is Irene Adler in the Sherlock Holmes story: A Scandal in Bohemia?

    In other Sherlock Holmes stories, the villains tend to follow a particular pattern. In the stories 'The Speckled Band' and 'The Red Headed League', the villains are both intelligent, male and are eventually caught by Holmes as the crime is gradually solved. In both cases, Doyle makes us dislike these characters by portraying them as arrogant and aggressive. For instance, in 'The Red Headed League', John Clay rates his class very highly as he states that he has "royal blood" in his veins and insists that he is addressed as "sir".

    • Word count: 1107

  2. Consider some of the Ways in which Sherlock Holmes Typifies the Tradition of Detective Fiction

    Then, all Holmes does is, using his encyclopaedia; find out who the people responsible are. This case is even more daunting for both John and Sherlock Holmes as it appears to be a legacy passed down from uncle-to-brother-to-son. Therefore, it is not a usual Holmes' case of visiting the scene of the crime and working out what has happened by questioning the victim. The orange pips 'curse' appears to have roots in America, (as that is where Elias spent the majority of his life and in Pondicherry, Dundee and East London (the locations of the postmarks).

    • Word count: 2030

  3. Holmes is made possible by Watson

    I quote Holmes: "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson. It makes you quite invaluable as my companion. Pon my word, it is a great thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are not ever pleasant." Holmes values Watson's companionship and this is a rare example of Holmes stating it. Another quote would be: "May I of assistance Holmes?" Watson asks, Holmes replies "Your presence may be invaluable." Watson then says "Then I shall certainly come!". Watson enjoys working with Holmes. I quote Watson: "For I myself was regular in my habits".

    • Word count: 1175

  4. Discuss how Conan Doyle presents the character of Dr Roylott in The Speckled Band

    Helen also informs Holmes that Roylott's family was once one of the richest in England this again puts forward the idea of Roylott's guilt as a possible motive is provided as the reader already knows of the financial circumstances of Roylott and the sisters. The fact that the character of Roylott is not directly introduced to the reader at first allows a sense of infamy regarding his character to build up as the reader has not directly met the character however he is still being described as villainous and unkind.

    • Word count: 976

  5. Write a diary entry or entries as if you are Helen Stoner. Review the cases and recount how Holmes solved it. Focus on an appropriate style. Diary entry for Helen Stoner

    However, it just proved to me how observant Sherlock is, which made me feel safe in leaving the mystery of my sister's fate in his hands. I had to relive that tragic night, (two years ago from now) of my dear sister's fate and the events before and after that had occurred, in order to give as much detail as possible to Mr Holmes. I was absolutely thrilled when Sherlock Holmes assured me he would do all he could to solve the mystery of beloved Julia's death.

    • Word count: 855

  6. Pre-1914 Literature Arthur Conan Doyle

    On the other hand women were seen as not intelligent and over emotional. Mrs St. Clair, a character form 'The Man with the Twisted Lip', has just seen her husband at a window: "Mrs St. Clair had fainted at the sight of blood upon the window". The fact that she had "fainted" indicates the Victorian manner and stereotype that all women are over emotional and this also indirectly shows that men are able to handle such situations and women are too weak to do so. Another piece of evidence which verifies the Victorian mentality of over emotional women is a quote from 'The Speckled Band': "I have been waiting doe eagerly for you...

    • Word count: 3742

  7. Why do the Sherlock Holmes stories written by Arthur Conan Doyle continue to appeal to readers, even in the 21st century?

    An infamous example was Jack the Ripper renowned for mercilessly murdering prostitutes throughout London. To taunt the authorities, anonymous packages were sent containing mutilated body parts of his victims. The Victorian setting is portrayed in the story 'The Cooper Beeches' as letters, telegrams and notes are used to develop the plot. Sherlock Holmes provided solace to the public as he captured the hearts with his talent of solving what were deemed to be the most unsolvable of cases. Sherlock Holmes not only became a hugely popular character in his stories, but he became an inspiration to many Victorians who were forever fearful for their lives.

    • Word count: 2336

  8. Prose Coursework

    Soot rained over the city as the industrial revolution was at its peak, which was the cause of the covering of layers of black pollution creating a dark, dreary place. Public executions were frequency and Victorian people lived from day to day fearing crime, as renowned murderers walking the streets of London caused widespread fear across London, for example the likes of Jack the Ripper, infamous for ruthless murders of prostitutes and taunts he sent to the irresponsible police force, evidently many officers were publicly exposed as corrupt.

    • Word count: 776

  9. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

    is the inspiration behind 'Sherlock Holmes', Dupin as also been referred to in the very first Sherlock Holmes story 'A Study In Scarlet', In the story Holmes criticized Dupin's detective skills by quoting 'No doubt you think that you are complimenting me in comparing me to Dupin, He had some analytical genius, no doubt, but he was by no means such a phenomenon as Edgar Allen Poe appeared to Imagine'. This Quote by Sherlock Holmes about Edgar Allen Poe and his character Dupin proved that Edgar Allen Poe clearly had a lot of influence on Arthur Conan Doyle's Holmes.

    • Word count: 2701

  10. Hound Of The Baskervilles

    Another way Conan Doyle creates tension is at the end of Chapter Five with Holmes saying "about sending you. It's an ugly business, watson, an ugly dangerous business, and the more I see of it the less I like it" which is used to create a thought of danger ahead, and it is a cliff-hanger at the end of one instalment so the reader would go out and buy the next one. The dialogue of Watson and Holmes at the beginning of Chapter Six shows tension first by Holmes disagreeing to eliminate the Barrymore couple from enquiries and suspicion and a lot later on as well when Holmes says "you have arms, I suppose?"

    • Word count: 1243

  11. Sherlock Holmes stories. How has Conan Doyle made the stories engaging for the reader?

    This showed that Watson morally disapproves of these drugs. The fact that they smoked in the east is that they don't want to smoke I an respectable area so the have opium's 'farthest part of the east of the city.' Colonialism was portrayed in 'The Speckled Band' as Dr Roylott set up a medical practice in India. Another thing about Victorian times was the difference in authority and rights, and how the white upper class could easily get away with murder.

    • Word count: 2194

  12. Examine The Setting Created By Conan Doyle For His Story "The Man With The Twisted Lip"

    Yet again Holmes solved the mystery whereas the hapless police had blindly stumbled to the wrong conclusion. The setting Conan Doyle chose fits in well with the plot to make an altogether eerie and sinister story. The story is obviously Victorian; set between the years of 1837 and 1901 which were the Queen's reign. These 64 years were a time of invention and progress and many aspects of life were different at the dawn of the 20th century compared to when Victoria came to the throne.

    • Word count: 1841

  13. How Is Tension Created In The Speckled Band?

    Watson; they became the perfect duo, and became extremely favoured. There was even public outcry when Sir Arthur successfully 'Killed Off' Mr. Holmes in a tragic sequence of events, which led to his re-introduction and continuing of the original series. But the key part of an exciting Novel; that made the Speckled Band so particularly popular is the build up of tension, and the pace and development of the storyline, with the subtle regular additions of mystery, this 'plan' is used commonly in most of the books in the Sherlock Holmes Sequence.

    • Word count: 3247

  14. How does Conan Doyle create suspense and tension in the Sherlock Holmes stories?

    I will be explaining how Doyle uses tension and suspense in the Sherlock Holmes stories and how this makes the audience continue reading. In addition, I will also be describing the methods that Doyle uses. Furthermore, I will be comparing and contrasting the following stories: 'Silver Blaze', 'The Red-Headed League' and 'A Scandal in Bohemia'. The introductions of all three stories differ, yet they all pull the reader into the story and make them continue reading. The beginning of 'Silver Blaze' is speech; 'I am afraid, Watson that I shall have to go,' this raises many questions in the reader's head such as, why is he going?

    • Word count: 2234

  15. How does Conan Doyle convey aspects of Victorian society in

    At the time of the publication of Sherlock Holmes the publication of Darwin's On the Origin of Species was shaking Victorian religious beliefs, as natural history at the time was dominated by creationism and the influence of the church. The church who saw their science as God revealing his plan and the reaction that was that without Creation showing love, humanity would suffer and be damaged. The whole theory of 'Men from Monkeys' gave rise to fantasies and an increase in crime that had a ripple effect all over Victorian England.

    • Word count: 1071

  16. Hound of the baskervilles

    Conan Doyle got much of the inspiration for the book from real-life people and places. When in Cromer on a golfing holiday with Fletcher Robinson he first heard the legend of the 'Black Shuck', a ghostly hound which allegedly roamed the Norfolk coast. This fired his imagination so much that the two men spent time exploring Dartmoor the following month. It is thought that 'Hound Tor' also acted as inspiration to the novel. Conan Doyle soon realised the need for Sherlock Holmes in this story and therefore brought him back.

    • Word count: 1444

  17. Examine the settings which the writers have chosen for their stories in the Signalman and The Man with the Twisted Lip. Consider the effects that each writer has created and how they contribute to the atmosphere.

    Holmes was so popular that when Doyle killed him off, the public demanded he be brought back. Doyle used real settings for his stories, mostly in London, including Baker Street, where Holmes lived. For readers of the time, it provided a feeling that exciting things were happening in the streets they walked in; today it grants us an insight into historical London. Dickens also created many memorable descriptions of London and its people, using characters from all sections of society.

    • Word count: 2405

  18. Diary of Helen Stoner

    It is still a mystery to us all and she is greatly missed. Those words will forever haunt me recurring eternally in my head: "Oh, my God! Helen! It was the band! The speckled band!" I clarified that dreadful night and where we were and what time it was, precise to detail as he specifically asked. He was intrigued and confused about the things I mentioned. Just to name a few: the whistling, the ventilator, the bell pull and the 'speckled band?'

    • Word count: 1741

  19. Was Sherlock Holmes an Archetypal Victorian Gentleman?

    Crime was far more prevalent in Victorian London and was considered a way of life and a form of income; the misty, dense smog, paired with the eerie flicker of the gas lamps providing the perfect cover for criminals. Police levels on the streets were minimal and the Police force was shadowed by corruption across the force. It was far from the wide paved streets of today, with narrow cobbled streets and dark and poorly lit alleyways. Sherlock Holmes was a man of prosperity and wealth.

    • Word count: 1580

  20. Comment on the way Conan Doyle uses the character Watson

    Watson always followed Holmes' instructions. He found it "difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes's requests for they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with such a quiet air of mastery". We see that Watson is a practising Doctor in 'The Adventures of Sherlock Homes'. A patient called to see Watson in "The Man With A Twisted Lip" and "it was not the first time that she had spoken of her husband's trouble, to me as a doctor...".

    • Word count: 1721

  21. Sherlock Holmes - Explain what is revealed about life and beliefs in Victorian Britain in at least two stories by Arthur Conan Doyle.

    The Victorians held the class system in very high regard and had a fairly precise ideal for what a gentleman of the time should be like. A Victorian gentleman would have been polite and honest as well as being brave and reliable. They needed to appear respectable wearing the fashionable clothes of the time e.g. a waistcoat; as this was a sign of how wealthy you were because a reasonably high income was an important part of being a gentlemen of the time, as was being quite intelligent, because they gave the impression of having a good background.

    • Word count: 3648

  22. hwo does conan doyle keep the readers intrest throughout the three stories

    This contrast makes Holmes and Watson an interesting duo to read about. Watson is used for occasional humour during the story. It is very apparent that Watson admires Holmes: "I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his professional investigations and admiring his rapid deductions". Finally, Conan-Doyle uses Watson to put forward questions and opinions, which the reader may be thinking of. Holmes never openly rejects these opinions, but nor does he accept them or answer Watson's questions clearly. This creates red herrings, which ensure that the outcome of the story remains a mystery to the reader.

    • Word count: 2033

  23. hound of the baskervilles

    The Alex Cross series by James Patterson contain the main detective, Alex Cross, and his foil Sampson. In the hound of the Baskervilles there is Holmes and his foil, Watson. There is always a seemingly perfect crime. In the hound of the Baskervilles there is the murder of Sir Charles Baskerville which is seemingly perfect. In the Alex Cross book, along came a spider, the kidnap of 2 celebrity kids is the seemingly perfect crime. However justice almost always prevails, meaning that the culprit/s in both books are caught, but in along came a spider only one child survives the ordeal, meaning justice didn't prevail entirely.

    • Word count: 1584

  24. How does conan doyle use setting in the hound of the baskervilles?

    It gets described also as a 'fine apartment' showing that it is scary because of what it is thought to represent (the curse of the Baskervilles) but it is actually a lovely house. The thing that really makes the mansion scary is the fact that the author does not describe it as a big run down haunted mansion, it is actually a very nice house but with a dark and eerie atmosphere because of the past and the authors subtle comments make it seem scarier such as 'a dull light shone through heavy mullioned windows' because there is nothing specifically

    • Word count: 1232

  25. Hounds of the Baskervilles

    The first method are his characters, especially his 2 main characters- Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson. Holmes is famous for his intellectual prowess, and is renowned for his skillful use of "deductive reasoning", observation to solve difficult cases and in some way his arrogance for example on the bottom of page 6 and top of page 7"Recognizing, as I do , that you are the second highest expert in Europe" " Indeed ,sir ! May I inquire who has the honors to be the first?" asked Holmes, with some asperity." . But Dr Watson isn't as clever but more down to earth, less unpredictable, sympathetic and buffoon like.

    • Word count: 852
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Conclusion analysis

Good conclusions usually refer back to the question or title and address it directly - for example by using key words from the title.
How well do you think these conclusions address the title or question? Answering these questions should help you find out.

  1. Do they use key words from the title or question?
  2. Do they answer the question directly?
  3. Can you work out the question or title just by reading the conclusion?

  • Discuss the way in which the following passage presents Paddy Clarke's response to the world in which he is growing up. How characterists of the whole novel are the techniques that Roddy Doyle employs in the passage?

    "In conclusion I believe that this passage presents the way in which Paddy Clarke is growing up rather well. I feel this way because Doyle manages to get across the confusion of what the young boy is going through in several techniques. You can identify that paddy maybe behaving a little differently because of things that are happening around him, his parents divorce and the troubles taking place in Northern Ireland. I believe that Roddy Doyle is very effective in employing the main characteristics of the novel in just this short passage through Paddy emotions."

  • With reference to the speckled band and the final problem and one other short story discuss the relationship between Holmes and Watson

    "'Speckled band', we clearly see just from picturing the seen how close they are. In the 'speckled band' Holmes is standing next to Watson's bed apologising from waking him. In the 'silver blaze', they are sitting down together having breakfast with each other. These scenes show that they have a very deep relationship. Watson's marriage also affects their relationship because it means that they no longer live with each other and therefore may have grown apart. The conclusion of my studies shows that Holmes and Watson are more than simply associate. They have an intimate and deep friendship, which is strengthened through their adventures together. Holmes and Watson work best during the investigations together, combining their different qualities and strengths to help them solve the case. Holmes in the relationship is the more dominant figure, intellectually smarter than Holmes and mainly contributing to the case itself using his powerful powers of observation and imagination. Watson however, is more down to Earth and his role is to assist Holmes by protection (carrying the gun, accompanying Holmes) and being the link between Holmes and us. He is also there perhaps to keep Holmes and check, for when he worries about Holmes smoking."

  • Analyse the stories of Sherlock Holmes in terms of their narrative structure and the way they follow a set pattern.

    "In conclusion, I will say that using all these devices, Doyle successfully categorises the events using little but heavy description, he is able to build up a powerful image that will keep the reader in suspense. The stories follow a similar pattern, which carry the reader through a roller coaster of emotions this pattern also helps the reader understand all of the events as and when they happen."

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