Sir Arthur Canon Doyle

Arthur Canon Doyle is a Scotland born on May 22,
1859. Doyle came from a very heart wrenching
background with only an alcoholic father. When he
turned 7 years old he was pushed into school by
family members. He was very unhappy about going
to school in England and was brutally punished for
his misbehaving in school. The only time he was
happy was when he was writing to his mom back
home. Another thing that created happiness was
cricket which he was very good at. He would tell
stories to groups of younger kids where he found his
great ability for storytelling. At the age of 17 Doyle
graduated from a Jesuits boarding school. At the
age of 22 he married 17 year old Mary Foley who
was very well educated.

Doyle followed Dr. Bryan Charles Waller and Joseph Bell at the
University of Edinburg where Arthur was sent to study the
medical field. He met numerous others who would grow up to
be authors too. Bell inspired him by his logic, observation and
ability to diagnose materials. You can still find these details in
his writings of Sherlock Holmes. His first writing of a short story
called The Mystery of Sasassa Valley that was accepted into
the Edinburgh Magazine. His first job though was to be part of
a ship called Hope where he went to Arctic Circle to hunt for
seals. After graduation it took him a couple of years to start his
practice of being a doctor. He could only furnish 2 rooms for his
patients to come into. After his hard work and dedication he
found himself with a decent income. When trying to make a
profession in Ophthalmology he came across his most
impressive idea, writing short stories that all featured the same
character. In that instance the dynasty of Sherlock Holmes
began.

Dolye went on to write 56 short stories and 4 novels
about his character Sherlock Holmes. Some of his
best work was in the stories of The Red-Headed
League, the Speckled Band but also had his falls like
Brigadier and The tragedy of the Korosko. Sherlock
Holmes is based on Doyles’ medical teacher Dr.
Joseph Bell at Edinburgh University. He even later
dedicated, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, to
Dr. Bell. Not only was his writing important but also
his adventures himself. He traveled to countries like
New York to Egypt. Also his family played a huge
part in his life with his wife and 3 children. Doyles’
last words were “you are wonderful” to his wife Jean
Leckie which was his second wife and his true love.
Doyle died on Monday July 7, 1930.
The Red-Headed League


The Red-Headed League starts out with Sherlock Holmes at his office with blazing red
haired Jacob Wilson. Then enter Sherlock Holmes friend Doctor John Watson to have a
chat with him. Sherlock Holmes is astounded by the story he just heard from Jacob
Wilson that he ask him to share it to Watson. Jacob Wilson tells Watson how he hired
an assistant named Vincent Spaulding who only needed half the pay. Awkwardly
Wilson gave him the job which he became a very good worker but sometimes went to
the basement to develop photos. Wilson is suggested from his new coworker to try out
for this ad about a red headed league. So they both go the place to meet and try out
and right away they accept Wilson.
Wilson goes to this place four hours a day but cannot leave and a couple months
under his belt it all shuts down. He goes to work and no one or anything is there.
Sherlock Holmes asks Watson if he would like to attend a concert with him. As they
walk they stop to ask Spaulding for directions. After he gets directions he goes around
the corner and notices a bank behind Wilson’s house. They then proceed onto to the
concert.
After the concert Sherlock asked Watson to meet him at the bank behind his house.
Sherlock also asked the manager of the bank and a yard detective. The four men wait
in the dark cellar and notice a light start shining through the floor. John Clay or also
known as Mr. Watsons assistant come through the hole first while trying to help another
man. They capture John Clay but the other man escaped before they could get him.
Sherlock Holmes later explains all the reasons how he knew about the Robbery
attempt and the capture of John Clay.
Literary Devices

Characterization is the description of traits, feelings and actions of a
character.(Dictionary.com) One very important characterization part of
the story is when they describe Mr. Watson. It is actually the first line of
the story where they stat “I has called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock
Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year, and found him in deep
conversation with a very stout, florid faced, elderly gentleman, with fiery
red hair” (The Red-headed League pg. 23) This is very important
because his fiery red hair is why John Clay made up the scandal of the
league to commit his crime. That was the one point of view John Clay
seen in Watson to attract him in by the help of Vincent Spaulding. Also
another quality of characterization was how Vincent Spaulding had
worn out knees on his jeans. This was important because this is when
Sherlock Holmes got an idea that something was really up with him and
the Red-Headed League. Another one was how Spaulding would only
take half pay and worked very hard for his assistance to Mr. Watson.
This is important because this is why Mr. Watson accepted him to work
with him and stuck with him. This gave Spaulding time to dig his tunnel
to the bank.

Foreshadowing is when a warning or indication to is used to
foreplay a future event. (Dictionary.com)They use the same
quote and first line of the story to show you that the description
of Mr. Watson was important to the story. This can be told by the
way Doyle used this statement as the thesis statement. This
was important because this laid out the rest of the story to
understand why he was chosen for this League. They use
Foreshadowing when they talk about Spaulding and his worn
out jeans and how he goes to the basement all the time to
develop photos. “I went to my work as usual at ten o’clock, but
the door was shut and locked, with a little square of cardboard
hammered on to the middle of the panel with a track.” (The
Red-Headed League pg.32) This was important because it
gave you the suspicious idea that something was up with the
job he took and the hours he worked without being able to
leave. Also how he had to copy the encyclopedia had nothing to
do with red hair.

One major part of Doyle’s writing is conflict; to come to
conclusion or disagreement with battle.
(Dictionary.com)The battle in this story is for Sherlock
Holmes to find the answer to Mr. Watson not being able to
understand what happened to the League. “‘Evidently,’
Said I, ‘Mr. Wilson’s assistant counts for a good deal in
this mystery of the Red-Headed League.” (The RedHeaded League pg. 35) This is where Sherlock Holmes
stops at Mr. Watson’s house to see Mr. Wilson for
directions and notices his worn out jeans. Mr. Wilson is
suspicious to be a part of it because he works for half pay
and always goes downstairs to “develop” photos. Also he
notices how the bank is right behind the house of Mr.
Watson and that it is suspicious how Mr. Wilson is always
in the basement. This explains the reason why he is
always in the basement and the League dissolved close
to the time they could get into the bank.
Review

I thought this short story was very good
because it had suspense and made you
think about what was coming next.
The Speckled Band
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
Helen Stoner comes into Sherlock Holmes office looking for him to help
solve a mysterious death of her twin sister. Twin sister Julia was going
to receive two hundred fifty dollars monthly due to their mother’s death.
Helen is now engaged and will receive that money while step father Dr.
Roylott will be left with barely anything. Dr. Roylott keeps trying to make
Helen sleep in a different room. When Sherlock Holmes goes to check
out the bedroom he notices a strange bell cover on the bed. Julia’s last
words to Helen were “It was the band, the speckled band!”
Dr. Roylott comes to visit Holmes after following his step daughter
asking him to tell him what she said. Sherlock does not respond to his
request and gets a funny unwary feeling. Sherlock Holmes and his
assistant Watson sneak into their house and go to Helen’s new room.
Sherlock Holmes thinks he has a start on the mystery in which he does.
As they are in there Dr. Roylott sends a snake through the ventilation.
When the snake enters Holmes sends him back by fighting him off.
When the snake goes back he ends up biting Dr. Roylott and he ends
up dying. Sherlock understands everything now by which how it was
done. The bell cover was for the snake to hide in after he bite the
sister’s and then he would call it back through the ventilation. Even
though Sherlock had responsibility for the death of the step father, he
felt no harm or greed by the result.
Literary Devices

Conflict was used immensely in this story mostly
associated with murder. The first conflict was the murder
of Julia, Helen’s sister and who killed her. This was
important because this was the step fathers, Dr. Roylott,
first remark to get what he wanted. Also there was a
conflict of Dr. Boylott attempting to murder Julia, his step
daughter and how he was doing this murdering. This was
important because Holmes was trying to understand how
this was happening and what the bell cover was used for
and the whistle. Finally the conflict of what Dr. Roylott
actually wanted which was the money the mother had left
for the daughters but only if they were to get married.
“While even one of them would cripple him to a serious
extent,” (The Adventures 156) which explains how if one
daughter gets married Dr. Boylott will not get any money.

Mood is a statement or quality of a feeling at a particular
time.(dictionary.com) The mood of the story changes
throughout the story. At first you are confused of how
Helen was murdered and what the bell cover and whistle
was for that you could hear and see in her room. The
mood changes to hatred when you find out that the stingy
step father was trying to get the money from the mother if
he had the girls out of his life and them not being able to
get married. In the end of the story you feel unconcerned
for the death of Dr. Roylott because he deserved it. “In
this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr.
Grimesby Roylott’s death, and I cannot say that it is likely
to weigh very heavily upon my conscience”, (The
Adventures 168). This is showing how not even Sherlock
Holmes was worried about the death of Dr. Roylott.

The setting of the story was very important in this story. Setting
is the time, place and mood of the story.(dictionary.com) The
main setting in the story was Helens bedroom. This was
important because this is where he murdered Helen and was
forcing Julia into it so he could murder her too. “My evidence
showed that the door had been fastened upon the inner side,
and the windows were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with
broad iron bars, which were secured every night.” (The
Adventures 152) This is the description of the room and how it
played a factor of what could have caused the death. Also how
they use Africa and how it plays a part of the snake and the
speckled band. This is important because right before Helen
dies she cries out “Oh, my God! Helen! It was the band! The
Speckled band”, (The Adventures 150)This was important
because it was referring to the snake as the Speckled Band.
The home of the sisters and the step father is important in this
story because this is where all the murdering occurs and the
mystery is held. The setting in The Speckled Band plays a huge
part in this story.
Review

Very good short story because it had
expects that would make you think. All
Doyle's writings make you wonder
what's going to happen next.
Work Citied

Work Citied"Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Home Page." Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Home Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 May 2012.
http://www.sherlockholmesonline.org/.
"His Life: Arthur Conan Doyle Online Exhibit." PlaceHolder for westminsteronline.org.
N.p., n.d. Web. 21 May 2012.
<http://www.westminsteronline.org/conandoyle
"Arthur Conan Doyle, Spiritualism, and Fairies." Lock Haven University. N.p., n.d. Web.
21 May 2012. <http://www.lhup.edu/~dsimanek/doyle
Dudley, Alysa. "Plot Summary: The Red-Headed League, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle."
Helium. Helium, 25 July 2009. Web. 22 May 2012.
http://www.helium.com/items/1529540-tell-me-about-the-red-headed-league-asherlock-holmes-mystery-by-sir-arthur-conan-doyle.
"The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes The Red-Headed League Summary." Shmoop.
Web. 22 May 2012. http://www.shmoop.com/sherlock-holmes/the-red-headed-leaguesummary.html.
Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Danbury, Connecticut:
Scholastic, 1892. Print.