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GCSE: Arthur Conan Doyle

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  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. Hound of the Baskerville

    Baskerville Hall is a big mansion located in an isolated area surrounded with land and individual passages. This helps to create suspense because the characters as well as the audience are taken into a dark, mysterious and unknown place. The story of the novel is that there is a convict on the loose, who is controlling a vicious hound. Sir Charles Baskerville is the first victim of the hound. He dies a suspicion death. So Doctor Barrymoore calls Sherlock Holmes, a police detective, who uses only logic to explain things.

    • Word count: 800

  6. How are Heroes and Villains Presented in 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

    He was clever and watched everything and was always aware. 'While his deep set, bile shot eyes and a fleshless nose, gave him a resemblance to a hawk.' He is very aware and knows what he is doing. However Sherlock Holmes recognises this fact and he says 'When a Doctor goes wrong he is the worst type of criminal, he has nerve and he has knowledge.' Sherlock Holmes is clever and recognises his enemy's weakness, his temper. 'He stepped swiftly forwards and seized the poker and bent it into a curve with his huge brown hands.'

    • Word count: 983

  7. The hound of the Baskervilles

    The moor is a desolate place with no colour and the weather adds tension by being dark and misty with fog shown around at the top of the hills to make it suspicious and tense. Arthur Conan Doyle uses language to create tension and suspense by getting most of the characters to lie about important stuff that could lead to accusations or arrests. The first person to lie is Dr Mortimer lying about how much money he'll get in the will which could give him a motive to kill Sir Charles.

    • Word count: 624

  8. The Hound of the Baskervilles Horror or whodunnit?

    "A step yonder means death to man or beast". The moors described as being, "So vast, and so barren, and so mysterious". Merripit house was to be known as the, "Bleak moor land house". And Baskerville hall was repeatedly described as "Dim and sombre". The Script that Doyle used almost certainly depicts settings of mystery. "The coming of the hound". Was believed to have plagued the Baskerville family for years and needed to be investigated. Doyle wanted his book to appeal to his readers and now with the possibility of a supernatural phenomenon he had a theory to solve.

    • Word count: 912

  9. "How does Conan Doyle create suspense in the hound of the baskervilles"

    Watson tells the story in the first person we know this because the story is told by him and his diary also this has already happened making this in the past tense, the events happen in chronological order. Watson describes everything very slowly and in detail up until they chase after the hound, then everything happens very quickly after this. Conan Doyle uses clever wording in his sentences for example: "a key turned in the lock and as he passed in there was a curious scuffling from within" this creates tension because it makes you fearful of what is in the shadows of the room.

    • Word count: 651

  10. English essay part two,

    Roylott and Holmes. Helen Stoner tells the reader about the mysterious events that happened to her sister, this story within a story adds much tension to the start of "The Adventure of the Speckled Band." Helen Stoner's recounts of her sisters death adds tension to the story because it is scary can see this when it says "the wind was howling," and "There burst forth a wild scream of a terrifies woman." this shows us that it was a very windy and stormy night and Julia was very scared and was panicking when she died.

    • Word count: 793

  11. What are the features which make a good detective story?

    The main detective always is a step ahead of everyone else, this is to show that they are clever and read into the clues better than anyone else, this makes the reader respect the detective and enjoy reading the story. Cliffhanger endings are a good way of making the reader keep reading; if chapters close with a cliffhanger ending then it adds more mystery to the novel. Popular detective stories get the reader feeling like they are actually part of the investigation.

    • Word count: 865

  12. English essay part one,

    Victorians resented the police in London because they did not appear to be protecting the public. In 1887 Arthur Conan Doyle created, Sherlock Holmes, Victorians immediately fell for the fictional character. They liked him because he cracked every case and always got the bad guy. He was seen as the perfect detective. When Doyle tried to kill off his famous character, in 1893, he received death threats warning him to keep Holmes alive! Even know over 100 years on from Holmes birth in 1887 he is still popular. The story is called "The Adventure of the Speckled Band."

    • Word count: 552

  13. why is sherlock holmes still popular today?

    Another reason that the books have remained so popular is the humour that the writer uses in the stories to lighten the mood and relieve the tension. An example of this is in the story of "The Speckled Band" when we are told that Holmes is crawling around on the floor with his magnifying glass. This projects a funny image to the reader and serves to break up the tension, which at the time is very high. Another example of this is "Is to copy out the Encyclopaedia Britannica".

    • Word count: 919

  14. Study Of the Speckled Band Compared To The Red Room

    There are also a cheetah and a baboon roaming the grounds. Doctor Watson is the narrator of the story although he isn't the protagonist. we follow Watson he is our eyes and ears, we learn what he learns and go where he goes. Doctor Watson is much in awe of Sherlock Holmes as he says "my friend and companion" referring to Sherlock Holmes, Watson would like to be more like Sherlock Holmes but he isn't as fast as working things out.

    • Word count: 762

  15. Examine how Arthur Conan Doyle reveals Holmes character and his relationship with the police.

    On the other hand, Holmes, who is an excellent detective, is well known for his use of logic and observational understanding to unravel complicated cases. He described himself as a 'consulting detective' an expert who is brought in to cases that have proven too difficult for other investigators; we are told that he is often able to solve a problem without leaving his home. This is prodigious as Holmes was actually an amateur detective, not a member of the London police force.

    • Word count: 703

  16. How does Arthur Conan Doyle Manipulate the Generic Conventionsof the Genre and Audiences Expectations Deliver the Moral Messages That Victorian Society Would Have Expected?

    The generic expectations of a murder mystery are crime which is usually a committed murder, suicide or a suspicious death. A villain who is usually a male, strong, aggressive type, with a motive to kill someone and will gain something from the death of the victim, maybe revenge or financial gain; Doctor Roylott, wanting to kill her step daughter because she stood to inherit money off her wealthy mother. A typical victim is a weak, vulnerable woman who is easily tricked.

    • Word count: 761

  17. How does Arthur Conen Doyle manipulate the conventions of the genre and an audiences expectations and deliver the moral messages that Victorian society would have expected?

    The villain is also expected to be male and clever. The victim is usually a female and is typical of the generic expectations of a murder mystery. She would be vulnerable and an hairness who had money. The detective would not be part of the law and would conduct his investigation in an appropriate manner. The crime is usually atypical and would usually be a weapon and well planned and executed and crime solved by Holmes, and justice is always done, and the person who commits the crime is always punished.

    • Word count: 921

  18. The three stories I have looked at are "The Speckled Band", "The Engineers Thumb" and "The Man with the Twisted Lip". My main focus is on the character Dr Watson and how Doyle illustrates him

    He makes her feel comfortable when advising her we know this because it says in the text "have some wine or water, and sit here comfortably and tell us about it". Therefore it shows us that it is in his nature to deal with people that are upset, and he is very good at doing it. Again in the "The Man with the Twisted Lip" when Kate comes to him late at night, because she is upset and needs advice, in the text it quotes "I want the Doctors advice and help" this immediately tells me and the audience that people seek Watson for help.

    • Word count: 763

  19. How Does Conan Doyle Create Suspense And Tension In The Sherlock Holmes Stories

    All through the story of the Red-Headed League Watson cannot grasp the concept of what Holmes is thinking. This creates suspense, as because it's narrated by Watson and Watson doesn't know all the solutions to the problem, you are left wandering the same thing. At the begging of the Red-Headed League Watson tries to use a trick he has acquired from Holmes. The art that Holmes regularly uses of reading indications presented by someone's dress or appearance. 'I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor bore every mark of being an average commonplace British tradesman...The expression of extreme chagrin and discontent upon his features.'

    • Word count: 756

  20. Why are the Sherlock Holmes stories still popular today?

    While their family were shifting about from house to house, his mum would read him stories about medieval honour, romance and knights in shining armour. His writing shows and displays that his imagination was fed by short stories and enthusiasm to write about crime, science fiction and fantasy. In his school days he was under strict rules in a Jesuit school with a hard and strict reputation. From school he studied medicine at Edinburgh University in 1877. At University he met a man who he based the stories of Sherlock homes on and used him as a model for his character.

    • Word count: 659

  21. Silver Blaze

    For a detective story, the writer needs to include a crime, a criminal, witnesses, a scene of crime, detectives, alibis, and usually red herrings to make the story line more interesting. These occur in Silver Blaze by the crime being the murder of John Straker and the disappearance of the horse, the criminal being the horse and Straker, as he tried to lame the horse on purpose and the horse murdered him. The witnesses are all the people questioned such as the stable boys and Fitzroy Simpson, the suspected murderer.

    • Word count: 871

  22. What makes the story of 'The Speckled Band' by 'Sir Arthur Conan Doyle' a good detective story?

    "The left arm of your jacket is splattered with mud...the marks are perfectly fresh...There is no vehicle save a dog-cart which throws up mud in that way...". He is the perfect gentlemen and in my imagination is immaculately dressed in only the finest of clothes. However, I have seen illustrations of him that may have influenced this image. He doesn't seem to fear anything; he handles the most dangerous situations with the calmest of attitudes. An example of his fearless attitude is when Dr Roylott confronted him and aggressively bent a poker out of shape.

    • Word count: 711

  23. How do chapters one and two set in motion the rest of the novel Hound of the Baskervilles

    I think Holmes is saying to Watson he is intelligent but nothing compared to Holmes. He always thinks that Watson should look up to him and admire his intelligence as Sherlock Holmes can draw up a lot of information from small clues. Their relationship seems to be that Holmes should get all the praise and being in the limelight whilst Watson is his sidekick giving him the praise although he still relies on Watson for support. Even though he will lean on Watson for support Holmes will show and tell Watson he faults when they are discussing the murder case.

    • Word count: 876

  24. Sherlock Holmes Essay

    The crime is a murder; set it the mansion belonging Dr. Grimesby Roylott in Stoke Moran. Dr. Roylott was in great debt and rented out most of his property to gypsies. He was a very lonely, bitter, miserable man. The murder is described by the victims sister, Helen Stoner, she saw her sister just before she died and experienced some of the strange things that happened to her sister on the night of her death, afraid and worried she turned to Holmes for his help.

    • Word count: 816

  25. Why does Doyle choose to use Watson to narrate The Hound of the Baskervilles instead of having Holmes do it himself?

    There are many reasons why he chooses to do this. Holmes was an extremely popular character when he was first published. Many people liked the idea of a hero who was able to solve every case that he encountered. As far as Holmes' intelligence and deduction goes, he is almost superhuman. Both the reader and Watson's character knows that they will never be able to understand Holmes's personality. Holmes is very much a loner and an extremely eccentric character. We know from other novels that he is a drug addict, and he is a very private individual.

    • Word count: 965
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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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