INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF NOVI PAZAR
DEPARTMENT IN PANČEVO
Name
(Index No. )
Sherlock Holmes
(Seminar paper on theme „Sherlock Holmes“)
Pančevo, 2011
I. Preface
This seminar paper was writen on the theme „Sherlock Holmes“, at International University
of Novi Pazar, department in Pančevo, academic year 2011/2012 under the supervision of
prof. Banina Kacapor
SHERLOCK HOLMES
Sherlock Holmes
is a fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle. The fantastic London-based "consulting detective", Holmes is famous for his
astute logical reasoning, his ability to take on almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science
skills to solve difficult cases.
Holmes, who first appeared in publication 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 grew
tremendously in popularity with the first series of short stories in Strand Magazine, beginning
with A Scandal in Bohemia in 1891; further series of short stories and two novels published in
serial form appeared between then and 1927. The stories cover a period from around 1880 up 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 Blanched Soldier" and "The Lion's Mane") and two
others are written in the third person ("The Mazarin Stone" and "His Last Bow"). In two stories
("The Musgrave Ritual" and "The Gloria Scott"), Holmes tells Watson the main story from his
memories, while Watson becomes the narrator of the frame story. The first and fourth novels, A
Study in Scarlet and The Valley of Fear, each include a long interval of omniscient narration
recounting events unknown to either Holmes or Watson.
Inspiration for the character of Holmes
Doyle said that the character of Sherlock Holmes was inspired by Dr. Joseph Bell, for whom
Doyle had worked as a clerk at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Like Holmes, Bell was noted for
drawing large conclusions from the smallest observations.
Sir Henry Littlejohn, Lecturer on
Forensic Medicine and Public Health at the Royal College of Surgeons, is also cited as a source
for Holmes. Littlejohn served as Police Surgeon and Medical Officer of Health of Edinburgh,
providing for Doyle a link between medical investigation and the detection of crime.
Early life
Explicit details about Sherlock Holmes's life outside of the adventures recorded by Dr. Watson
are few and far between in Conan Doyle's original stories; nevertheless, incidental details about
his early life and extended families portray a loose biographical picture of the detective.
An estimate of Holmes's age in the story "His Last Bow" places his birth in 1854; the story is set
in August 1914 and he is described as being 60 years of age. Commonly, the date is cited as 6
January. However, an argument for a later birthdate is posited by author Laurie R. King, based
on two of
1.
Conan Doyle's stories:
A Study in Scarlet
and
"The Gloria Scott" Adventure
. Certain
details in
"The Gloria Scott" Adventure
indicate Holmes finished his second and final year at
university in either 1880 or 1885.
1
1
1.
Conan Doyle's stories:
A Study in Scarlet
and
"The Gloria Scott" Adventure
. Certain details in
"The Gloria Scott"
Adventure
indicate Holmes finished his second and final year at university in either 1880 or 1885.
