This document is a guest lecture outline discussing Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, focusing on the detective genre's elements and context. It covers Holmes's character traits, the use of observation and inference in solving mysteries, and introduces a plot analysis assignment related to detection structure. The lecture emphasizes critical thinking and challenges the conventional wisdom found within narrative resolutions.

1. Being Sherlock Holmes
Or,
Observation and Inference:
Arthur Conan Doyle
(Part 1)
Guest lecture by Patrick Mooney
Based substantially on material
by Professor Chris Newfield
English 193, Winter 2014
9 January 2014

2. Some quick announcements
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The course reader should be available Friday or
Monday at SB Printing, 6549 Pardall Rd.
A copy of the syllabus is available on line at
http://is.gd/oricop.
Because the reader is not yet available, we will
we watching the 1984 TV adaptation of “Dancing
Men,” starring Jeremy Brett as Holmes.
Pay close attention to specific pieces of
evidence – the follow-up lecture will be a model
for how you complete your first assignment.
TAs will handle crashing after lecture.

3. Detection Structure
Assignment
•
Write a plot analysis and “breakout” of the
detection structure for:
Agatha Christie
or
Sue Grafton
•
•
DUE Week 3 in section
Not graded (provided that you do an adequate
job) – you’re practicing for later

4. Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930)
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Studies medicine at U of Edinburgh 1876
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His university professor Joseph Bell MD
–
model for Holmes
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Fails as “serious” writer
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First detective story in 1886. Nobody cares.
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First big success “A Scandal in Bohemia” 1891
– thanks to serial character called “Sherlock
Holmes”

5. THE DETECTIVE GENRE:
Basic Elements
A) The Detective (and sidekick)
B) The Corpse / Crime / Mystery -- dancing men,
worried wife, corpse-to-come
C) The Investigation -- decoding work & letter to
Chicago; post murder inquiry
D) Villain Exposed -- Holmes’s explanation
•
•
•
effect of surprise: conventional wisdom undermined
by detective
like science
paradigm shift opens minds, shifts power
E) Arrangements and Aftermath (sentencing, etc.)

6. Victorian Context
1. “British” as pragmatic rationality (also Poe)
2. Era of “scramble for Africa” (1880-1914) – arts
& science progress AND white supremacism
3. era of scientific empiricism & “plain facts” (prerelativity)
4. Rise of professions
•
fact-based expert knowledge (Poe again)
•
impartial (not driven by political / financial interest)
•
independent (e.g. of political pressure)

7. The Detective (review)
S/he who creates original knowledge
against the wishes of those in power
Sherlock’s Deduction: the Warm-up
conclusion: Watson will not invest in
South African gold fields

8. Holmes’s Chain of Inferences
OBSERVATION
INFERENCE
Watson’s chalky hand
Watson’s played billiards
Watson only plays with
Thurston
W played, talked w/ T
Thurston wants W to invest
in South Africa
T again pressured W
W’s checkbook is locked up
W will not invest w/ T

9. Holmes’s Character
A “Genius”
=
He Who Takes the Hidden Steps

10. Holmes’s Character
1) Vulnerability (to boredom and depression)
•
romantic melancholic: the “truth is out there” (the truth
is hidden)
2) Male Domesticity
•
Homosociality
•
Competitive mutual support
•
top / bottom
3) Arrogance
•
Confidence
•
No fear of unknown, no fear of hidden steps
4) Independence - unconventional thinking

11. The Real Test: Cubbitt
Homicide

12. The Conventional Wisdom
The Inspector’s Theory:
One gun, two shots
• Window closed
∴ they shot each other
•
Conventional Wisdom is
Wrong

13. Procedure
(for finding hidden steps)
Example: Decoding “The Dancing Men” (p. 540-)
1)Attitude: anti-conventional wisdom ->High-quality, precise
observations
2)Context: Starts with applying known rules (languages have
words; E is the most common English letter)
3)Revision process:
•
•
Honest clarity about limits of his knowledge
Knows when to stop and wait for “fresh material” (no
anxiety over mystery)
•
Persists with little pieces (1 of 26 letters)
•
Notes and tolerates ambiguity
4) Theory: Risks a guess (and reevaluate)
.
•
Holmes takes (a) small steps (b) in the dark

14. Final Thought
The Mystery Story:
Life is about solving mysteries
•
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finding the hidden truth
(crime, violence, coercion are exceptions, can
be managed)
The Mystery:
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Watson says: “how absurdly simple”
•
WATSON IS RIGHT
Anyone can find the hidden steps

15. Anyone can do this:
OBSERVATION
INFERENCE
dancing men messages
a third man is around–called Slaney
Cubitts a “devoted couple”
Mrs wouldn’t shoot Mr
Two “explosions,” first louder
first bang was two shots
smell of powder in the house
window open (draft) – someone maybe in
window
window is shut and locked
somebody shut it later
Money in Elsie’s handbag
attempted bribe (of a 3rd party)
third bullet (in window sash)
third person was present
candles not gutted
window open briefly (ent/ex)
third casing outside
third shot was what hit Mr C – Elsie not
shooter
➜ Slaney’s confession