...The Hound of the Baskervilles opens with a mini mystery—Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson speculate on the identity of the owner of a cane that has been left in their office by an unknown visitor. Wowing Watson with his fabulous powers of observation, Holmes predicts the appearance of James Mortimer, owner of the found object and a convenient entrée into the baffling curse of the Baskervilles. Entering the office and unveiling an 18th century manuscript, Mortimer recounts the myth of the lecherous Hugo Baskerville. Hugo captured and imprisoned a young country lass at his estate in Devonshire, only to fall victim to a marauding hound of hell as he pursued her along the lonesome moors late one night. Ever since, Mortimer reports, the Baskerville line has been plagued by a mysterious and supernatural black hound. The recent death of Sir Charles Baskerville has rekindled suspicions and fears. The next of kin, the duo finds out, has arrived in London to take up his post at Baskerville Hall, but he has already been intimidated by an anonymous note of warning and, strangely enough, the theft of a shoe. Agreeing to take the case, Holmes and Watson quickly discover that Sir Henry Baskerville is being trailed in London by a mysterious bearded stranger, and they speculate as to whether the ghost be friend or foe. Holmes, however, announces that he is too busy in London to accompany Mortimer and Sir Henry to Devonshire to get to the bottom of the case, and he sends Dr. Watson to be his...
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...Detective Fiction The Hound of the Baskervilles By Yue Zhao Submitted to the School of Foreign Studies in Partial Fulfillment to the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts in English (International Trade) Under the Supervision of Ms. Tang Jun June, 2012 Acknowledgement I would like to pay tribute to all those people who have given me a hand in the process of writing this thesis. Without their gracious help, the accomplishment of this thesis would not be so smooth. First and foremost, I deeply appreciate my supervisor, Ms. Tang Jun, who has provided me with so many valuable comments and constructive advice all the way through. But for her constant and invariable patience and kindness in guiding me, it would be more difficult for me to go through all the confusions and find a right direction. My thanks also go to the teachers who has given me suggestions, which benefit me a lot when I make the original plan, in the opening defence. With their help, I get to know where I should go next. Last but not the least, I extend my thanks to my classmates and my dearest parents for their encouragement and support. Wheneve I feel frustrated with my work, they are always there. Gothicism in Detective Fiction The Hound of the Baskervilles Abstract: As one of the most influential people who are never alive, Sherlock Holmes, written by Arthur Conan Doyle, attracts researches. The Hound of the Baskervilles is one of series...
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...In Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s, The Hound of the Baskervilles the death of Sir Charles Baskerville causes anguish all through the town of Devonshire, England. Sherlock Holmes and his assistant, Dr. Watson work to solve the mystery of who killed Sir Charles. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle explores the theme of not being ruled by fear by causing many problems and bodies that the residents of Devonshire are willing to face. The people in Devonshire had to face the fact that there was a hound on the loose ready to strike at any given moment. They had to stay strong and not be ruled by fear. Sir Arthur writes, when Watson discusses unknown news to Holmes and Dr. Mortimer, “This family paper was committed to my care by Sir Charles Baskerville, whose sudden and tragic death some three months ago created so much excitement in Devonshire.”(12) The death of Sir Charles Baskerville served as a lesson for everyone around him that they couldn’t let the hound get to them. They couldn’t let the hound rule them. The hound served as a big threat throughout the story, howling in the night and killing souls along the moor near Baskerville Hall. Most people weren’t fazed of the hound and stayed strong, which kept them out of harm's way unlike Sir Charles....
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...When Sir Charles Baskerville is found dead in his country house, Baskerville hall, Dr. Mortimer, his friend, goes to London to seek Sherlock Holmes’s help. He asks him about what to do with the new heir and tells him about the family curse of a hellhound. After this, the doctor reveals that there were footprints of a hound next to the dead body of Charles Baskerville. He then tells that Charles Baskerville appeared to be waiting for someone and that his footprints showed him running away. He had a weak heart and therefore died from a heart attack. Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick, Dr Watson, intrigued by the case agree to help. Sir Henry, the heir, who arrived from Canada receives a note at his hotel which warns him to stay away from the Devonshire moors (where Baskerville Hall is). On seeing the note, Holmes recognizes cut out letters from the previous day’s Times and is able to deduce that it was written from a hotel and that it was written by a women. Sir Henry also has one of his new boots stolen. Once Sir Henry had been told of the situation, he and Holmes decide to meet again later that day, once Holmes has had time to think. Holmes and Watson trail Sir Henry and Dr Mortimer on their way back to the hotel and discover that a man with a black beard is following them in a cab. When the man finds out that Holmes had seen him, he drives away. However, Holmes is able to get the cab number and employs someone to find out copies of the Times in hotels which have...
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...A Gothic Twist What is it that makes The Hound of the Baskervilles a Gothic novel? This story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is full of mystery and intrigue as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson work together to solve a case and prevent murder. Along the way, the readers of the story encounter certain elements that give this masterpiece a Gothic feel. The setting, the supernatural, and a curse are all parts of this tale that contribute to making it so complete. To begin with, the setting has an enormous part in making the story Gothic. Taking place on the moors, the setting is very gloomy and dreary. Adjectives such as 'dark' , 'chill', 'strange', and 'uncanny' are just a few of the words that give the tale a mysterious aspect. They help build up suspense and interest for the readers as they are introduced to the scene. As Dr. Watson and Sir Henry travel to Baskerville Hall, they both notice the moor: “but behind the peaceful and sunlit countryside there rose ever, dark against the evening sky, the long, gloomy curve of the moor, broken by the jagged and sinister hills” (Doyle 40). This first impression of the moor is further strengthened when the two leave the carriage: “Baskerville shuddered as he looked up the long, dark drive to where the house glimmered like a ghost at the farther end” (Doyle 41). The comparison of the house to a...
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...In the Hound of the Baskervilles, both the movie and the book, neither Holmes nor Watson are police officers. However, in the movie adaptation, Watson shoots Stapleton in the climax scene. This simple change introduces a theme of judgement and justice. Watson simply judged that Stapleton should die as an effect of his actions. Though Stapleton would most likely be put to death for killing Sir Charles and attacking others, Watson acted without legal authority. This theme introduces the excitement and seriousness of doing something illegal, which is commonly found in most action-packed movies today. The theme of judgement and justice is not found as much in the book however, where Stapleton dies by getting swallowed by the great Grimpen...
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...Sir Arthur Conan Doyle takes Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson on yet another wild ride of murder, greed, and consequences in The Hound of the Baskervilles. They will test their limits and face their fears. Throughout the book, the theme of portrayed as a powerful motivator is explored by showing envy's great kick-backs in the character's painful repercussions. Due to Hugo Baskerville's uncontrollable greed, it cost him both him and his maiden's lives. This is heavily portrayed in the quote, "-to his captive. And so [Sir Hugo] found the cage [holding the kidnapped maiden] empty..." (8). When Sir Hugo kidnapped the maiden and let the hellhound loose to both find and kill her, it cost him both him and his maiden's lives. The hellhound killed Sir Hugo...
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...Detective Fiction Assignment 4 Submitted by Ankit Bhansali(201001012) Question 1 The episode starts with a scared boy running away from the forest where a man is seen struggling. The boy then encounters a big dog and screams in fear. This shows that the whatever he saw at the forest resembled with the dog or was some kind of an animal which we see later in the episode is called a hound. The viewers were never given a glimpse of the hound in the opening sequence the reason for which we find later that it never existed and was just the product of hallucination from a chemical. The scene sets up the tone for prodigious horror mystery to follow. After that we see a man (Henry Knight) standing in the moor surrounded by fog. At the end of the story we learn that hallucinatory sea of fog turned out to be at the root of the case and the cause for the visuals of the gigantic hound.Therefore the opening sequence was an amazing display which the viewers could relate to at the end. The complete opening sequence is constructed to give the viewers an idea of an horrific story to follow and also helps to maintain immense suspense throughout the episode. After this we see sherlock and watson at their homes. Here sherlock is shown to be desperately wanting a case and the mere delight on his face when he hears a door bell ...
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...Freshman Summer Reading Required Reading: Shane by Jack Schaefer (This book will be read first in Literary Traditions I.) The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Gods, Heroes, and Men of Ancient Greece by W.H.D. Rouse General instructions for answers to all journal questions: After reading the books named above, each student is to prepare a journal to be handed to his English teacher on the first day of his English class. The journal must be neatly handwritten in blue or black ink—not typed—on lined loose-leaf paper and on only one side of the paper. All of the questions for each required book are to be answered in this journal. Be sure to answer thoroughly every question not only by providing the answer but also by citing and discussing several quotes and/or examples (a minimum of three) from the book to support each of your answers. Average length of each paragraph should be a minimum of 100 words (approximately one-half page or more). All responses must be written in complete sentences with close attention to all words spelled and capitalized correctly. In addition, students should avoid writing fragments and run-on sentences. When the journal is complete, each student should fasten the entire report into a binder or folder. No typed journals will ever be accepted. Journal Questions for Required Reading Shane 1. In the New Testament, Jesus teaches us to “love our enemies” and to “turn the other...
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...mutually-influential relationship. Though it is genres that serve to categorise and classify texts, it is the texts themselves that characterise and modify their genre. Crime fiction can be recognised as texts that encircle criminal activity and the motives surrounding it. In order to accommodate contemporary audiences, composers can playfully rework and innovate the conventions of crime fiction. This subversion can be achieved by encompassing relevant contextual issues. However, crime fiction texts must still incorporate traditional elements to preserve their core appeal. This delicate balancing act between tradition and innovation is shown through P.D. James’ novel The Skull Beneath the Skin (1982) and Tom Stoppard’s play The Real Inspector Hound (1968) when viewed alongside Edgar Allan Poe’s The Murders in the Rue Morgue (1841) and Raymond Chandler’s Farewell, My Lovely (1940). Ultimately though, it is the ability of genre to evolve through subversion whilst retaining its inherent traditional features that ensures its durability. The ever-changing nature of society and context results in the innovation of genre. In The Skull Beneath the Skin, P.D. James subverts Poe’s original detective prototype, presented in the character of Cordelia Gray. Traditional detectives were equipped with exceptional intellect, and often portrayed as powerful, almost surreal figures. Conversely, James’ innovative detective is expressed as vulnerable and inexperienced: “…her control broke. She gave a...
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...Block Method- Holmes vs. Inspector Gadget Detectives around the world look up to characters in an effort to understand the art of uncovering a case. These characters reflect the characteristics of a good detective. Although the characters Sherlock Holmes and Inspector Gadget both find the solution to each of their cases, they differ completely in their intelligence, method of thinking, planning and comprehension skills, and ability to communicate and cooperate. Holmes uses his extremely high intelligence quotient and perceptiveness to expose the verdict in both difficult and easy cases. Unsurprisingly, his critical thinking and unbiased opinions lead him to the resolution of his cases. Holmes concludes that Mortimer lives as a young lad...
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...The Nameless Growth My latest challenge was a book called The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco. I had a basic idea about what I would encounter in the reading, but I could not be so sure. Looking at the back cover, I could postulate that this would be a very logical book, possibly in the style of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. However, this book had given me more problems than any of the Sherlock Holmes novels, mainly due to the strong aspect of religion that was ever-present in the novel. If there is one thing in this world that is the true antagonist to logic and reason, it would have to be blind faith. Never the less, I poured my V-8 Juice in my glass, sat down in my favorite red chair in the corner of my room, and cracked open the pages of the book. The Name of the Rose shares something with the last extra-credit novel that I read: an extremely slow introduction. Umberto Eco’s opening can be easily summarized in a few sentences, but Eco drags it out as slowly as one would have to drag a tauntaun through a blizzard. Basically, this is the intro: My name is Adso. My master’s name was William. I am writing about an experience I had with my master involving a supposed suicide. Oh, and even if you know a bunch about clergy history, you are going to have a bad time. Umberto Eco deems it necessary to include a history lesson when some context is missing in the telling of his story. These lessons are quite helpful in understanding what is going on in the story...
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...Sherlock Holmes (/ˈʃɜrlɒk ˈhoʊmz/) is a fictional character created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a graduate of the University of Edinburgh Medical School. A London-based "consulting detective" whose abilities border on the fantastic, Holmes is known for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to adopt almost any disguise and his use of forensic science to solve difficult cases. Holmes, who first appeared in print in 1887, was featured in four novels and 56 short stories. The first novel, A Study in Scarlet, appeared in Beeton's Christmas Annual in 1887 and the second, The Sign of the Four, in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine in 1890. The character's popularity grew with the first series of short stories in The Strand Magazine, beginning with "A Scandal in Bohemia" in 1891; additional short-story series and two novels (published in serial form) appeared from then to 1927. The events in the stories take place from about 1880 to 1914. All but four stories are narrated by Holmes's friend and biographer, Dr. John H. Watson. Two are narrated by Holmes himself ("The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier" and "The Adventure of the Lion's Mane"), and two others are written in the third person ("The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone" and "His Last Bow"). In two stories ("The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual" and "The Adventure of the Gloria Scott"), Holmes tells Watson the story from memory, with Watson narrating the frame story. The first and fourth novels, A...
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...first convention is the gothic setting of the opening that is the yorkshire moors. Typically of the horror genre, the setting is shown to be damp, cold, dark and full of mist. Preying on the audience's fears of being alone in the middle of the wilderness the film displays the truly horrific nature of isolation. Like any typical horror film, the setting for the attack isn't a warm, inviting place but rather an eerie place full of mist, that blinds the two protagonists, so that they cannot find shelter or see if anything may be coming to attack them. This gothic setting is the most likely place to set a monster/werewolf story, being the setting for many monster films and texts, with one of the most memorable being Arthur Conan Doyle's Hound of...
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...scientist Baron Frankenstein, Sherlock Holmes and the vampire hunter Dr. Van Helsing, among many other roles. He appeared frequently opposite Christopher Lee, and occasionally Vincent Price. A familiar face on both sides of the Atlantic, Cushing's best-known roles outside the Hammer productions include Grand Moff Tarkin in Star Wars (1977) and Doctor Who in Doctor Who and the Daleks (1965) and Daleks - Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D. (1966), films based on the Doctor Who television series” (Wikipedia). Cushing is a favorite actor of mine and has other numerous films worth mentioning like 1984 (1954, BBC TV), The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), The Abominable Snowman (1957), Horror of Dracula (1958), The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958), The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959), The Mummy (1959), The Brides of Dracula (1960), The Evil of Frankenstein (1964), The Gorgon (1964), She (1965), Frankenstein Created Woman (1967), Island of the Burning Damned (1967), Horror Express (1972), At the Earth's Core (1976), and Shock Wave (1977). Alec Guinness (1914 - 2000) played Obi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi (Jedi Knight), a film and television actor and screenwriter. “Guinness started doing stage work in the 1930s and performed in a number of classics. Great Expectations (1946) and Oliver Twist (1948). He established a film career both in Britain and in the U.S. and received several Oscar nominations, winning for The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957). Roles in The Lavender Hill Mob (1951), The Ladykillers (1955) and...
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