How Does Arthur Conan Doyle Create Suspense In Sherlock Holmes And The Speckled Band

Sherlock Holmes & The Speckled Band / Lamb To The Slaughter

"Lamb to the slaughter", by Roald Dahl, and "The Speckled Band" by

Arthur Conan Doyle share many features, despite the difference in eras in which they were written.

Each story has its own distinctive style when creating both tension and an atmosphere of suspense.

"The Speckled Band" has a sense of urgency about it, yet manages to build up suspense until the climax of the story.

"I have reasons to know....which tend to make the matter even more terrible than the truth."

This quote, found in the first paragraph, immediately begins creating an atmosphere for the story, and intriguing the reader as to what the narrator (Dr. Watson) is talking about. The reader will

Holmes. It is terror." At this point, the events have not been explained - this character

(Miss Stoner) describing how she is feeling inceases the tension, as the readers do not yet know the full situation; only that they should be scared of whatever it is. The use of the word "terror" helps to emphasise the point - 'fear' may not be strong enough, but following it with 'terror' helps to reinforce the situation to the reader.

"You must not fear...we shall soon set matters right."

As Sherlock Holmes says this, it may cast a doubt over the reader's mind - if a character issues a statement proclaiming that things will turn out well, there is a concept that the opposite may happen instead. All this further adds to the need to read more, as the reader will now want to see if Holmes is indeed correct.

"The very horror of my situation lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my decisions depend entirely upon small points."

Miss Stoner declares this when asked about her problem, and her reply only enhances the mystery. The fact that she has no proof, nor any idea of what is actually going on means that anything could happen in

the

"...as he spoke, he did an unusual thing."

The idea that a character is performing differently to the way they normally do lets the reader know straight away that something is not right in the situation.

Both stories contain twists in them, which helps build the overall atmosphere and sense of mystery - they suggest that you may not know as much as you think.

In "The Speckled Band", the means of death is a snakebite. This is unexpected as no-one would randomly expect this to be used as a murder weapon. The author uses the situation well though - using the murderer's own weapon against him brings the story to a successful climax. Thw twist in "Lamb To The Slaughter" also involves the murder weapon - in this case, the disposal of it. The author here also manages to end the story in a fitting manner, by having the investigating officers eat the murder weapon. The atmosphere and overall tone changes at the climax - from a serious murder story to a black comedy, using the line: "Personally, I think it's right here on the premises." "Probably right here under our very noses."

The irony is that the men are being unknowingly correct - they