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Sir Arthur Ignatus Conan Dolye
Best known for his crime fiction stories about the detective, Sherlock Holmes.
Created the well known characters Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson.

Born on 22May1859, in Edinburgh, Scotland.
After seven years of education in Lancashire, England, and after another year of schooling in Austria, Conan Doyle returned to Edinburgh.
He went to the University of Edinburgh's Medical school and received his Bachelor of Medicine and Master of Surgery qualifications from Edinburgh in 1881 and an M.D. in 1885.

More information about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle go to the link below.
Sir Artur Conan Doyle

¨A crime happened at Boscombe Valley, in Herefordshire.

¨Sherlock Holmes arrives with Dr. Watson to investigate the death of Mr. Charles McCarthy who has supposedly been murdered by his son James.

¨James was taken into the prison Lestrade, a crime investigator convinced that the father and son involved in violent altercation.

¨Holmes refuses to accept the easy conclusion.

¨A host of mysteries boggle the minds such as the motive for Mr. McCarthy’s visit to the pond, his being followed by his son with a gun under his arm, the son’s report of the strange “cooee” call in the woods. Etc.

¨Mr. Turner’s daughter also believes in the innocence of young McCarthy.

¨ Holmes’ investigation reveals interesting set of footprints from which Holmes deduce that the perpetrator of the murder is a tall and lame man smoking Indian cigar. But dramatically before Holmes’ hands lay upon him, he visits Holmes to make a confession.

¨The story ends as the young McCarthy walk free and the culprit meeting his natural death after a couple of months of the admission of his misdeed.

¨A moral standpoint is given to the culprit saving him from turning into a reckless criminal. The ending furnished by saving an innocent man from the gruesome punishment.

  • Curiosity
    Pg.6- “No, I don’t. A simple case can be very complex in reality, my dear Watson”.
  • Investigation Of a crime
    Investigation of the death of McCarthy.
    The searching for evidences
    Tracking down the information
  • Vengeance
    John Turner vs Charles McCarthy
    Turner robbed McCarthyMcCarthy blackmailed Turner
    Turner killed McCarthy






Sherlock Holmes (a detective)

  • The protagonist character
    He appears in most of the scenes, influencing the plot of the story.
  • His physical appearance
    He is thin, tall, and has a long nose and black hair ( are proved from the drawing of him)
  • His personal characteristics
  • Intelligent
    He knows who the murderer is without meeting or questioning him,  only after checking on the murder scene.
    ‘I can also tell you what our murderer looks like. He’s a tall man. He is left-handed and limps on his right leg.
    He wears heavy work boots and a grey coat. He smokes Indian cigars’ (page 62)
  • Rational in deciding
    He fixes on not telling the truth of the murder, considering Mr James Turner’s request.
    ‘I understand.
    We need to know the truth to save James, but we can keep the information private at present……’ (page 69)
  • Observant
    He can describe James McCarthy quite well after meeting him once.
    ‘He’s young and handsome with a good, heart, but he’s not very clever.’ (page 62)
  • His particular talent
    He can play the violin (is showed in the illustration, page 58)


Dr Watson (a doctor)
  • The protagonist character
    He appears in most of the scenes, assisting Mr. Holmes as well as manipulating the plot of the story.
  • His physical appearance
    He is quite fat, short, spectacled, mustached with black hair (from the illustration)
  • His personal characteristics
    A good companion, friendHe hesitantly assists Holmes to solve the crime
    ‘Watson! Over here! It’s good of you to come…’ (page 5)
  • Inquisitive
    He asks a lot of questions regarding the case
    ‘What do the newspapers say about the case, Holmes?’ (page 12)


Inspector Lestrade (police officer) 
Minor character
  • His physical appearance
    He is thin, tall and mustached.
  • His personal characteristics
  • Dependent
    Being a police officer, ironically, he seeks for Mr. Holmes’ help to solve the crime.
    ‘Good heavens! But how do you know it’s the murder weapon? (page 62)
  • Slow – learner
    He could not infer on how to find the right murderer, even after Mr. Holmes stating the traits of the murderer.
    ‘But I can’t arrest every man who smokes cigars and limps. Everyone in Scotland Yard is going to laugh at me!’ (page 63)

Time Setting

  1. A period from when Watson received the telegram until seven months later
  2. Flashback touches the time back during 1860s and twenty years after
  3. Transportation punishment was prominent


Place Setting
  1. Boscombe Valley, imaginary setting near Ross-on-Wye,
    between England and Wales
  2. Dr. Watson’s house
    Dr. Watson received the telegram from Holmes
  3. Paddington station
    Discussion about the case
  4. Local Hotel
    Met Alice Turner
  5. Ross-on-Wye prison
    Met James McCarthy
  6. A room
    Further deduction
  7. Boscombe Pool
    Searching for clues
  8. A study
    Explanation on clues
  9. Holmes’s house in Baker Street
    Met John Turner
    revelation
  10. Ballarat, Australia
    flashback robbery
  11. Regent Street, London
    Turner met McCarthy


Social Setting

  1. 18th century Londoners
  2. Former outcast
  3. The authority
  4. The silent hero of justice

The story is in third person point of view

1. Never make a harsh decision.
For example, Holmes carefully investigate the case first although everyone decides that James was the murderer.

2. Care towards the society.
Patience Moran saw the argument and told it to her mother because she was scared that something bad will happen.

3. Knowledge about the world.
Holmes has useful knowledge of the world for example about “Cooee” and Ballarat, in Australia that enables him to find the answer to the case.

4. Keeping your promises.
Holmes promised Mr. Turner that he will keep his confession secret from the police.