Study notes: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Dr. Watson tells twelve cases he shared with Sherlock Holmes at 221B Baker Street. A king asks for help over a photograph. A pawnbroker’s assistant is hired for no real work. A woman fears a stepfather and a whistle in the night. Holmes looks at mud, scratches, and the thing everyone else ignored. The stories are puzzles first. Watson is the friend who writes them down and sometimes gets the answer wrong on purpose, so the reader can try.
Themes
Careful looking beats guessing. Friendship can be uneven and still be real. Pride gets clients into trouble before Holmes arrives.
People to follow
Sherlock Holmes, the detective. Dr. John Watson, the narrator. Clients and culprits who change with every story, including Irene Adler in the first one.
Talk about
- Which clue does Holmes notice that the police skip?
- Is Watson only a sidekick, or does the story need him?
- Which case feels fair, and which ending feels sharp?
Public-domain text.