University Article Analysis: ENG 1120, The Hound of the Baskervilles

This assignment provides an in-depth analysis of the Kissane and Kissane article, "Sherlock Holmes and The Ritual of Reason," focusing on the detective fiction story "The Hound of the Baskervilles." The analysis explores the article's arguments, including the use of retrospective narrative and the portrayal of Sherlock Holmes as a hero within the gothic genre. The student's response discusses how the story employs flashbacks, the juxtaposition of classical tales, and the application of scientific methods by Sherlock. The analysis also examines Sherlock's character development, highlighting his human qualities and struggles, and the symbolic use of fog to create mystery. The assignment references key points such as Sherlock's initial confusion, his use of logic, and his eventual triumph, demonstrating a thorough understanding of the article and its relationship to the novella and its themes. The student's work demonstrates a strong understanding of the literary techniques and character analysis presented in the article, offering a comprehensive overview of the subject matter.

Running head: ARTICLE ANALYSIS
ARTICLE ANALYSIS
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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ARTICLE ANALYSIS
Question 1
The article namely, “Sherlock Holmes and The Ritual of Reason” places multiple
arguments throughout. It asserts that the story entitled, The Hound of Baskerville possess the
quality of a fully fledged novel that is based upon the technique of retrospective narrative
(Kissane and Kissane). Unlike other stories this plot engages a flashback method of narration
to introduce a completely new plot to narrate the pretext of the case. Through the technique
of retrospection, the previous plot is narrated where Sherlock and Watson were not shown to
be a part of the pretext. As the plot is recapitulated by Dr. Mortimer the case is gradually
unveiled however this is the only story from Sherlock’s journey that confuses the readers
along with Sherlock about the mystery of the case till the end. The article claims that this
story is a platform where Doyle had experimented with the juxtaposition of familiar classical
epic tales with the current issues located in current situation. Sherlock is considered to be the
hero of a folklore tale where he would fight against all the mysteries to reach the conclusion.
This particular case can be looked at as if it was the battleground where Beowulf and Grendel
had been fighting against each other for the power and glory. Sherlock has been shown to
have used scientific methods in this story where fusing logic with his unparallel intellect is
able to reveal the mystery.
A complex case with more complex insight of Sherlock is imbedded perfectly inside
this story. Although the detective is not just a mere layman with slightly high intelligent
quotient and is attributed the quality of an invincible hero yet he is shown to have struggled a
lot the initial stage of the case. He reaches the core of the case by using his insane capability
of solving crime and mystery by applying the ability to penetrate the psyche of human minds.
Question 2

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ARTICLE ANALYSIS
Sherlock being one of the most celebrated and qualifying creation in the genre of
detective metafiction is always showcased as a hero. Sherlock is a hero who loses but never
gives up, who is hurt both mentally and is even ready to hurt when his closest associates are
in trouble, who feels emotional but does not vent out normally and finally is shown to be man
of flesh and blood with some amazing mental ability who does not know what giving up is.
The first setting that had been used is the gloomy chamber of Sherlock’s rental apartment
where the retrospective narration takes place that is culminated at the dark moor near the
mentioned laboratory (Ahmadi and Ahmadi 79). This is agreeable that the claim of showing
Sherlock as a hero with the application of his meticulous technique to approach the case with
logic and his impeccable intellect are the essence of the story. The story is a bridge between
the past and the current situation where Sherlock emerges as a hero to be as triumphant as
Mount Everest.
In order to establish Sherlock to be a man of flesh and blood he has been shown to
have faltered at the beginning. He is baffled and flabbergasted at the complexity of the case.
He is never given the attribute of an epic hero like that of Beowulf rather he is a hero who
gets disgusted and does not stop himself from shouting at his best friend cum the narrator of
his tales when he feels frustrated. However, his reasoning and scientific approaches and the
indomitable courage and enthusiasm that he exhibits make him a hero. In this story Sherlock
as well as the readers are thrown into the pit of astonishment through the effectiveness of
both the literal and the metaphorical fog. The symbolic fog hides all the characters from the
truth crawling up to the surface (Jones 120). The shocking aspect that the story covers is that
Sherlock had been shown to continue his investigation in a misled way in the beginning. He
is shown to have committed mistakes while he ends up being victorious with his scientific
approaches and logical perspective.

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ARTICLE ANALYSIS
References
Ahmadi, Moslem, and Mosleh Ahmadi. "The Illusion of Magic Realism as a Stratagem in the
Hound of the Baskervilles." Advances in Language and Literary Studies 9.3 (2018):
78-80.
Jones, Stephanie. "“The Dog Stole the Picture”: The Hound of the Baskervilles and the
Cinematic Revisionist Cycle of the 1970s and 1980s." Journal of Popular Film and
Television 45.2 (2017): 114-126.
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.