This can also be seen in ‘The Adventures of the Speckled Band’ but this time the innocence of the helpless females is emphasized. “It is fear Mr Holmes; it is terror...” she is later described to have “restless frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal.” The killer is obvious from the start of the story as a sinister character emerges, “he beat his native butler to death.” This is very different to most modern crime mysteries, this is because it is how the crime was committed and how it was solved is what keeps you reading as apposed to the more modern approach of who did it.
Elements of this can also be seen in ‘The Sea Raiders’, H G Wells makes no secret that these creatures are evil as in the first encounter he uses many adjectives to give this impression. “Ghastly, unpleasant, grotesque and evil” Just a few of the words that let us know that the creatures are sinister.
In ‘The Goblins Who Stole a Sexton’ Dickens later puts a large amount of sentimental text into the story. The vision of the perfect family affected by the death of a small baby. This is simply to move the reader and turn them against Gabriel Grub. “The children gathered round her, and clapped their hands for joy, as their farther entered...... the fairest and youngest child lay dying…and sleeping in rest and peace as the beautiful child seemed to be, they saw that he was dead.” The Victorians loved sentimental scenes and Dickens delivers what they want with that touching passage.
The five sections which Doyle separates ‘The Adventures of the Speckled Band’ is the platform for many other Sherlock Holmes stories. The sections are in this story are; The introduction to Helen Stoner’s arrival, Helen visits and the problem is outlined, Dr Roylot’s visits and threatens Holmes, preliminary investigation at the scene and finally the dramatic climax and Holmes explained how he knew. This is typical because many of nineteenth century literature was written in a formulaic way, such as this.
The language that H G Wells uses throughout the story is typical of early science fiction. At first the text seems somewhat factual and scientific and is written in a detached manor. “Found early in 1896 by Mr Jennings, near Land’s End.” However it later loses the scientific detachment and becomes more emotive. “..... To rescue the desecrated body from the clutches of these abominable creatures.”
In ‘The Goblins Who Stole a Sexton’ there are many words and phrases that are not commonly used in modern English but were used in the nineteenth century. Here are some examples: “Surly”, “gall and wormwood”, “whence” and “trifling emolument.” The way that the story is written could be seen as a generally older style of writing as throughout the story the text is broken up by the use of many comers. “A little before twilight, one Christmas eve, Gabriel shouldered his spade, lighted his lantern, and betook himself towards the old church yard; for he had got a grave to finish by the next morning, and, feeling very low, he thought he might raise his spirits, perhaps, if …”
In ‘The Adventures of the Speckled Band’ there are references to items and events that would be typical in the nineteenth century but seem very old fashioned. “..and yet you had a good drive in a dog cart.”
Throughout ‘The Sea-Raiders’ there are small passages which show the age of the text. Such as references to whaling “… Killed off Terceira by some sperm whalers.” This is inevitable for a story of this age.
The way in which ‘The Goblins Who Stole a Sexton’ is so moralistic is typical of the nineteenth century. Many stories of the time were moralistic and Dickens ends this one with a clear message, and that is to be careful with alcohol.
“ this story has at least one moral… if a man turn sulky and drink at Christmas time, he may make up his mind to be not a bit the better for it; let the spirits be never so good, or let them be even as many degrees beyond proof, as those which Gabriel Grub saw in the goblin’s cavern.”
These three stories are great examples of classic nineteenth century literature and are typical of that period.
