Holmes often uses sarcasm in his speaking. He refers to one of his cases as "quite a pretty little problem." This is exactly what Poirot does in 'The Disappearance of Mr Davenheim' where he says his case is "pretty-very pretty-altogether a charming little problem". Alternatively, Morse hears about the details and says "what the bloody hell" showing his blunt nature and that he is easily irritated. Holmes and Poirot look as though they enjoy the cases, whereas Morse always seems to be in a bad mood, telling Lewis to "learn to do as you're told", showing he is agitated.
Holmes is deeply involved in his work. He is always "working as he did for the love of his art than for the requirement of wealth". By this Watson is telling us that Holmes works because he loves his job and doesn't do it for money. Morse likes his job so much he often works in his spare time and devotes all his time to his job.
Holmes is often "alternating from week to week from cocaine to ambition". He thought cocaine helped his thinking. This is similar to Morse who thought that a drink at lunchtime helped his imagination. Unlike Holmes and Morse, Poirot drunk tea. This shows Agatha Christie who wrote the Poirot stories didn't take this characteristic from Sherlock Holmes.
Holmes has a very distinct method and style of detection. In 'A Scandal In Bohemia' Holmes knows that there are seventeen steps leading up from the hall because he has "both seen and observed", whereas, Watson does not know because, as Holmes noticed and said, "you see, but you do not observe"
Holmes realised that "it is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data". By this he means that it is not about guesswork, but about getting the facts strait. Likewise, Morse feels that his "weakness is guesswork". And if he does a "leap to conclusions" and they are "usually wrong". Similarly, Poirot feels that "it is the brain, the little grey cells…on which one must rely". He thinks that the senses mislead". When he says this he means that you have to use your brain and not go with your instincts. From the fact that all three detectives have the same method of detection I can see that this is one of the characteristics that have been taken from Sherlock Holmes.
Another style of detection that Holmes uses is to listen very hard while a victim or witness of crime is telling their story. In 'The Adventure of Speckled Band' Holmes "drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat in silence". To think about his cases he has his "arms folded, his hat pulled down over his eyes, and his chine sunk upon his breast". When he did this Watson could tell he was "buried in the deepest thought". Although Poirot did not simply sit and listen to his witnesses, suspects or victims, he would ask questions. In 'The Disappearance of Mr Davenheim' for instance, he asks "Any trouble in his home life?" and "Had he any enemies?" In the same way Holmes asks small questions such as "Was the photograph in the cabinet?" and "You are sure she has not sent it yet?"
Holmes often, after thinking for a long time, arrives at conclusions and jumps up out of his chair re-energised and ready to prove his theory. Yet when Holmes thinks of these theories he keeps them to himself not even telling Watson. This is similar to Morse who never lets Lewis in on his theories. It is only towards the end that Holmes reveals his theories to Watson and the readers. Morse explains his theories when he has carefully thought them through. This may sometimes be the wrong answer and Morse will say that he gets things "arse about face" meaning he gets things the wrong way round. He will then think of a new theory, whereas Holmes will generally be right first time.
Holmes' relationship with the police is very distant. This is because he can solve problems that the police cannot. Holmes is a private detective. Morse is a police detective and his boss insists that he obey the rules. This doesn't stop him from making up his own rules though. Morse disobeys the police by using "Morse's law". One of these is that "there's always enough time for one more print". This is one of the few characteristics that Morse does not take from Holmes.
Holmes has "extraordinary powers of observation" and so is occupied by solving mysteries "abandoned as hopeless by the police". Morse is also given the mysteries that the police have given up on.
The police view Holmes as a bit of an odd ball who has a particularly good method of detection. They rely on him to solve the crimes they cannot. This is the same with Inspector Morse. He is seen, by the police, as the detective, that doesn't do as he's told. It seems as though they are very reluctant to use him to solve crimes, but know that they have to in order to find the criminal. Cracker is a Psychological Profiler who is brought in by the police reluctantly to solve a crime they are getting nowhere with. Cracker is seen by the Police Force as very much as an outside who doesn't 'play by the rules'. He also irritates his fellow detectives by playing psychological games on them, and they always rise to the bait.
Private detectives work differently from police detectives. Private detectives are more distant and are rarely seen with the police, yet police detectives are on the whole team players and brainstorm crimes.
Holmes lives in London in the Victorian times (1890's), yet he is known throughout the world. One of stories involves a German speaking person, whom Watson describes has "a strongly marked German accent". This shows his clients come from all over Europe, or even the world, to have their mysteries solved by Holmes. Unlike Holmes, Morse is not as well known and his clients are from around the Oxford area where he lives and works. We know this because he is shown going from his house to visit his clients in only short drive. He also knows the pubs around the area well, where his clients live, showing that he visits them often and doesn't come from far away. Similar to Holmes, Poirot who is Belgian, has clients in England. We know this because he knows the English and their passions "Le sport, it is the passion of you English".
Holmes is very unusual because, unlike Watson, and most ordinary people, he "loathed every form of society". Watson also tells us that Holmes is not normal by saying that Holmes has a "bohemian soul". Morse tends to socialise more. We know this when Morse tells Lewis "You know where the drinks are, pour us a couple of Sherries". This shows that Lewis is often round at Morse's house. Likewise, Poirot socialises more than Holmes. In 'The Disappearance of Mr Davenheim' Poirot is "sitting round the tea table". Holmes, sits at home "buried among his old books".
The way in which he doesn't like to socialise much shows us tht he is an outside. He is clearly a bit of a loner who doesn't like the company of other human beings much!
Although a reason for his unsociable ways is to observe society in order to gather as much information as possible about his suspects and the people around them. This is so that he is able to solve the crimes without getting too involved. If he became a friend of one of the people involved with a crime it would be difficult to look on them from a distance and work the crime out.
All detectives are shown to have an accomplice aiding them in their work. Holmes has Watson, Morse has Lewis, Poirot has Hastings, and Jonathan Creek has . She helps Creek in his detective work. She deducts and works things out only one level down from Creek, yet she will never be the one to find he final answer. This is like Lewis, who never solves the crime. The difference here is that Lewis doesn't give Morse much help in his detective work. He generally lets Morse do all the thinking and waits for Morse to tell him what's going on at the end. Although Hastings gives Poirot a bit of help he never comes up with the full answers or solves the mysteries. Poirot, Morse and Creek are very similar to Holmes in this way because Watson maybe gives him a few ideas, but will never be the one to solve the crime, by pulling all the clues and deductions together.
Women are not of much interest to Holmes. He never has a relationship with a woman. The only time a woman has ever been of any interest to Holmes, is Irene Adler, who is known to him as "the woman". He would never have a relationship with her though.
Morse, however, has had many relationships with women. He is obviously interested in them as he says, "She seemed rather attractive to me". He also comes across as interested in women because he asks the attractive woman in his choir out to a film and notices when she is not at choir. In one episode of Inspector Morse, he accuses a woman of a crime. When he realises she didn't do it she begins to cry so he passes her a tissue. This shows he is thinking about her feelings. He then gives her a hug, which is very unusual for a detective.
What makes Morse and Holmes similar here is that Morse's relationships never work out for one reason or another. This shows he is incapable of making a relationship with the opposite sex work.
From looking at and studying these detectives, it is possible to say that the majority of fictional detectives have been based on Sherlock Holmes. He has a unique method of detection, which other writers have used as a characteristic for their detectives.
Morse, Creek, Frost, Poirot and Holmes all use deduction as their way of solving the crimes.
Each detective feels that "the senses mislead" and that "guesswork" and "theorising before data" is "often wrong". This shows they all think in the same way.
Each detective has that same sarcasm in their humour, saying that their problems are "pretty" and "charming". Some detectives speak at least two languages and often mix the two. Showing they are bright and intellectual.
Each detective likes classical music and is involved with it in some way i.e. playing an instrument or singing in a choir. Morse has the same flaws as Holmes; Morse drinks, Holmes takes drugs. Morse cannot keep up a relationship, Holmes never starts one. Morse in unorganised and likewise is Homes.
Each detective is very much involved in his work.
These characteristics, idiosyncrasies and methods of detection are certain to have originated from somewhere. Inspector Frost was created in 19 , Cracker was created in 19 , Jonathan Creek was created in the 1990's, Inspector Morse was created in the 19 , Hercule Poirot was created in the 1930's, and Sherlock Holmes was created in the late 1890's. Through knowing when each detective was created and studying each one in detail, it is obvious that Sherlock Holmes certainly was the first fictional detective. This allowed future authors/creators to build on his very strong characteristics and although many of Holmes' character traits are used they have built on his character and sometimes developed it.
