The novel “The Sign of the Four”, written by Arthur Conan Doyle is about Sherlock Holmes and his partner, Watson. The book follows them throughout their adventures, however, only the beginning will be discussed. What could possibly have sparked much interest in Doyle’s works that film adaptations from 1954-2010 by various movie directors? Was it the resolute mindset of Sherlock Holmes? Was it his uncanny detective work? His professional use of drugs? Or perhaps was it his ideology? Such beginnings are what writers like K.M. Weiland excels in; to craft an irresistible lure for their audience of fish. Doyle’s book introduces us to a multitude of questions and concerns, which according to Tim O’Brien is meant to “not explain or to resolve, but …show more content…
Watson’s actor angrily expresses Watson’s character of being disapproving of Holmes’ use of drugs. Sherlock Holmes’ actor stares off to somewhere, while sounding calm and delivers his line of drugs being the only thing that makes existence not dull. The tone when delivering the dialogue was rather monologue and stern, which somewhat complements his stoicness. At this point, the movie has strayed from the direction of the book. Holmes then hands Watson a letter to read which has instructions of what to do and the time to do it. Watson listens to Holmes’ deduction of who crafted the letter, all his speculations ranged from penmanship and paper quality, to …show more content…
For some little time his eyes rested thoughtfully upon the sinewy forearm and wrist all dotted and scarred with innumerable puncture-marks” (Doyle 381). Doyle describes the process of Holmes using a needle to inject himself with drugs. Although there is a good chunk of text to read after that line, a very clear picture can be imagined of how frequent and seemingly painful the process is. When Watson was offered by Holmes to partake in drug use, he is described as being constitutionally frail due to his experience during the “Afghan campaign” (Doyle
By having Watson narrate, Doyle is able to write in a more literary manner. For instance, the first time Watson, as well as the reader, is introduced to the hound of the Baskervilles, it is through auditory imagery. Watson describes a “long, low moan” that “sounded incredibly sad” that sweeps over the Moore and grows into a deep roar (50). When Watson hears the howl again later in the book, he describes a “wild and menacing howl” that pierces through the silence of the Moore before dying away in a sad moan (69-70). In both instances, the descriptions are important in developing the tone of the novel, and the atmosphere of the Moore. Were it Holmes narrating, the descriptions would likely result in a more inquisitive and curious tone, rather than one of dread and foreboding created when described by Watson. As the novel is not only a mystery, but a mystery wrapped in a horror aesthetic, it is important that a sense of rising tension and terror is established. By having Watson narrate the novel rather than Holmes, Doyle is able to develop a much greater sense of dread, tension, and anticipation for the
on a train. The music is very sad and depressing; it is slow and is
“The Sign of The Four” is a thrill riding book that has suspense hidden everywhere, especially through the cliff hangers at the end of the chapters. The whole chapter is building you up to this moment and it leaves you wanting to read even more. One example is when Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are approaching the house that holds the treasure and an unknown stranger said, “There was something strangely incongruous in this Oriental figure framed in the commonplace doorway of a third-rate suburban dwelling-house. ‘The Sahib awaits you,’ said he, and even as he spoke there came a high piping voice from some inner...
...r Conan Doyle loathed writing Sherlock Holmes. He would write the wrong name for major reoccurring characters and not care if the reasoning in his stories was completely illogical, yet he ironically created his own genre of mystery novels that are recognized even to those who have never read them. Doyle unwillingly created the most insane fanbase that is still alive and thriving today. Doyle’s stories are still popular even eighty-four years after his death because they keep readers enthralled with the story. He wrote war stories based on his own exciting experiences, stories that he believed brought him to the height of his writing capabilities, and stories that sent him crashing back down when a frenzy into Spiritualism crumbled his prestige as a writer. His stories manage to capture the reader’s attention, making them timeless classics in the world of literature.
There are usually differences in two different versions of something. This can often be seen when a book is made into a movie. There are many similarities and differences in the book and movie versions of To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
Another convention of the detective story is that the detective will have a confidant through whom he can explain his reasoning to the reader. Holmes has a confidant, Watson, who is the stereotypical gentle doctor who is plain and uninteresting so as not to draw attention away from Holmes. “I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his professional investigations'; this implies that Watson lead an uninteresting life, without many interesting hobbies or pastimes.
In Class we watched two movies based on a book we read called Of Mice and Men. Both of the movies were very similar to the book. In I was able to hear exact lines from the book in the two movies.
As most everyone knows, there are differences between a book and it’s movie adaptation. This is applicable to the book and it’s movie counterpart To Kill a Mockingbird, as well. But aside from the differences, there are also similarities between these two.
Into the Wild, a novel written by Jon Krakauer, as well as a film directed by Sean Penn, talks about Chris McCandless, a young individual who set out on a journey throughout the Western United States, isolating himself from society, and more importantly, his family. During his travels, he meets a lot of different people, that in a way, change his ways about how he sees the world. There are many characteristics to describe McCandless, such as “naïve”, “adventurous”, and “independent”. In the book, Krakauer described McCandless as “intelligent”, using parts in his book that show McCandless being “intelligent”. While Krakauer thinks of McCandless as being “intelligent”, Penn thinks of McCandless as a more “saintly” type of person.
There is one immensely popular figure in Victorian literature that uses scientific deduction to solve criminal mysteries, and his curiosity to solve mysteries has become his obsession. However, he is so cool and distant from his own emotions that he does not care if the obsession leads to his destruction, as long as he solves the mystery to appease his voracious mind first. The only thing that truly excites him in a passionate way, the one thing that causes any emotion within his cool demeanor, is his curiosity, which is his addiction, for solving mysteries. He is the hero of the story The Sign of Four, and his name, of course, is Sherlock Holmes.
The book, "Being There," is about a man named Chance, who is forced to move out of the house he lived in his whole life and his experience in the outside world. Based on the success of the book, the movie, "Being There," was made. The author of the book, Jerzy Kosinski, also wrote the screenplay for the movie. I think the major difference between the book and the movie is that in the book, we get to read what Chance is feeling and thinking, but in the movie, we only get to see his actions.
“Good show, Watson!” John Watson, and his role model Sherlock Holmes are characters from Arthur Conan Doyle’s most famous Sherlock Holmes Series. Young Sherlock Holmes is a movie that recreated the first time that Sherlock and Watson become friends. The characters in this movie, Young Sherlock Holmes, are that of many. Of course there was Sherlock Holmes himself and his apprentice John Watson, but also there was others. Including Sherlock’s love interest, Elizabeth Hardy; the professor, Professor Rathe; and the nurse, Mrs. Dribb. In the movie, it shows the first time Watson and Holmes meet. Right away, Holmes is shown to be a student with very high intelligence. When citizens start having mental breaks and committing suicides, Holmes starts to suspect something. He rushes down to the police station, and tells the lead detective that he believes that something is wrong, but the detective just blows it off. After Sherlock finds a clue that leads him to an egyptian cult, he gets himself and his friends into trouble. Arthur Conan Doyle has written many other works that included important characters such as Sherlock Holmes, Brigadier Gerard and Professor Challenger (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Literary Estate). If the film, Young Sherlock Holmes, is historically correct compared to the novels written by Arthur Conan Doyle, then the film could be used to learning purposes.
This paper will explore the relationship between Sherlock Holmes and his companion and friend Dr. John Watson. What is the relationship between Holmes and Watson? Are they compatible or are their differences to great for them to overcome. Looking at how they work together will also be a key factor in how well the relationship works between the two of them. Do their own interests and abilities get in the way? Does the time period in which they live factor into the environment of their communication styles?
Sherlock Holmes, a name most people would know if they were to hear it, has come to greatly influence the modern world of mysteries. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had no idea a character he started to write about for the first time in 1887 would still be carried alive by other TV and movie producers in 2014. Doyle also never new that Holmes would become such a popular character or result in a name mostly everybody would know. Even if there was a person who did not know who or what Sherlock Holmes was, they are certain to have at least heard his name before. “Doyle turned his principal character into a household word” (Haining 7). Doyle started a legacy that lives on forever. Sherlock Holmes personality and looks may change with every generation he is in, but his main characteristics remain the same. Sherlock Holmes’ style of deduction, great sense of observation and strange personality in Arthur Doyle’s stories influenced how TV and movie producers would portray Holmes in their version of Doyle’s mysteries in shows such as Elementary and Sherlock.
The book that got everything started for Conan Doyle, and brought him fame world wide