Essay on Sherlock Holmes and The Hound of the Baskervilles Analysis

This essay provides a detailed analysis of an article discussing the narrative structure and themes within Arthur Conan Doyle's 'Sherlock Holmes and The Hound of the Baskervilles'. The essay explores the use of retrospection, the juxtaposition of classic fables with contemporary issues, and the portrayal of Sherlock Holmes as a hero. It examines the scientific methods employed by Doyle, the complexity of the case, and the detective's struggle to solve it. The essay also focuses on the character of Sherlock, emphasizing his logical and scientific approach, and the blend of mystery and gothic genres within the novella, referencing Burke's ideas on the sublime and its impact on the reader's response to the unknown. The essay supports the arguments presented in the article and provides a comprehensive overview of the literary and historical context of the work.

Running Head: ENGLISH ESSAY
ENGLISH ESSAY
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Authors Note

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ENGLISH ESSAY
Question 1
The authors of “Sherlock Holmes and The Ritual of Reason” argue that it claims to fit
into the category of a full length novel qualifying the aspects of retrospection narrative (Kissane
and Kissane). The article revolves around how the narration involves a flashback method where
a story of focuses on a completely different plot without a tiny contribution of Sherlock and
Watson. The entire story is recited or narrated by Doctor Mortimer where there is no association
of both Sherlock and Watson with the narrative. The article also argues how Doyle juxtaposes a
classic fable with contemporary issues placing in a contemporary context. Another argument that
has been focused in the article is that the nature in which Sherlock works has a tinge of appealing
folklore. The story revolves around how Sherlock becomes a hero from the art gallery of the folk
tales who can dive into the battlefield of Grendel and Beowulf to solve the cases with ease. The
authors of the article have emphasized upon the scientific method Doyle had employed to come
to the conclusion of the cases. This particular story is not exception of that. The scientific
implementation of logic and reasoning is present and prevalent throughout the story.
However, this case has been shown to be really complex in nature. The detective has
been given the stature of a hero in Doyle’s creation where he emerges triumphant from the filth
of complexity of a particular case. He has been able to have solved all the cases by being able to
reach the riverbed of all the cases (Fromm). However, the unparallel complexity that is contained
in the text has given him real struggle to come to the culmination of the case. The well-
constructed plot, therefore; remains a unmatched success from the series of Sherlock.
Question 2

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ENGLISH ESSAY
The character of Sherlock have been shown to be so logical and based upon reason and
scientific and meticulous process of slowly approaching the root of the case that Sherlock seems
to be a hero of detective series that is undoubtedly unparallel of all time of literature of detective
metafiction. First of all the article claims the story namely, The Hound of Baskerville to have a
retrospective narration that has to be agreed completely because the there are two plots running
in the story. The present plot starts at Sherlock’s gloomy chamber at 221 B Baker Street, London
which suddenly transports the readers to the incident that took place in the scientific laboratory
and how the mysterious hound was taking away of lives of people. The story continuously
lingers between past and present and finally settles down in the current situation where Sherlock
has been shown to be a hero who is unstoppable and invincible.
Sherlock has been shown to be struggling here and there in the case because he felt like
giving up but still he continued to work on it. The way the mysterious fog turned out to be the
ultimate villain and the scientist from the same laboratory who was also the friend of the victim
to be the mastermind behind the whole crime never have been intended from the beginning of the
story. Sherlock had been shown to have applied all his scientific approaches to come to the end
of the case where the readers along with him had no idea that the case could have led them.
Sherlock had been a hero even though he had to cross a good number of hurdles to come to the
conclusion of proving the fog to be the supposed hound at the moor with his logic. Therefore, the
arguments that have been presented in the article are justly appropriate and agreeable.

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ENGLISH ESSAY
Reference
Fromm, Devin. "Sherlock Holmes, Addiction, and the Price of Enlightenment: The Case of a Cautionary
Tale." English Literature in Transition, 1880-1920 61.3 (2018): 310-332.
Kissane, James, and John M Kissane. Sherlock Holmes And The Ritual Reasoning. 4th ed., University Of
California, 1663, http://www.jstore.org. Accessed 1 Mar 2020.