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The Red-Headed League
52
Senior Editors: Jenna, Devan, Kasey, and Sruti
The Red-headed League
October 1891
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
£1.00
Get to know the author
Who is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle?
Plot Diagram and Conflict
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born May 22, 1859, in Edinburgh, Scotland, and died July 7, 1930, at 71 in Crowborough, Sussex, England. He studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh Medical School from 1876 to 1881. He had two children with his first wife, Mary Louise Hawkins, and three with his second, Jean Elizabeth Leckie. When Conan Doyle first started writing fiction, he had a hard time finding a publisher for his work. When his work started becoming popular, he said that he based Holmes off his former professor at university, Joseph Bell.
Characters and Characterization
Who are the characters in the Red-headed League?
Protagonist: Sherlock Holmes, he i
Antagonist:John Clay/Vincent Spaulding
Static Characters:
1. Sherlock Holmes
2. John Clay/Vincent Spaulding
3. Jabez Wilson
Main Characters:
1. Sherlock Holmes
2. John Clay/Vincent Spaulding
3. Jabez Wilson
Characterization of Main Character, Sherlock Holmes:
Sherlock Holmes is a detective who is marvelous at his job. In the beginning, Holmes 'read' Jabez Wilson's character and background by just looking at his appearance. He glanced at Wilson's physical traits, clothes, and jewelry; he came up with an extremely accurate background description for Wilson. That trait that he possesses for reading people, is what makes him an expert.
A Brief Example from the "Red-headed League" on Holmes's Ability to 'Read' People
"I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor bore every mark of being an average commonplace British tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow....Altogether, look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save his blazing red head and the expression of extreme chagrin and discontent upon his features.Sherlock Holmes's quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. 'Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual labor, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of writing lately, I can deduce nothing else'.... 'How, in the name of good fortune, did you know all that" (p.98).
NON-FICTIONAL ARTICLE
Point of View
What view is the story told in?
In "They're back! Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman return as Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson in Victorian-era teaser snapshot of new series," an article in the Daily Time, Mailonline Reporter presents the audience with pictures from the new series, Sherlock Homes. The author gives the audience an insight on scenes taking place in each picture. In the captions of the pictures, the author also discloses details about which episode the pictures are from and the attire of the characters during the scenes. The author informally speaks to the audience in a captivating tone and refers to the readers as fans of Sherlock Homes.
The "Red-headed League," is told in first-person from the view of Dr. Watson. Dr. Watson's view differs from that of other characters. If the story was told from Holmes's view the story would be less suspenseful. The readers would be able to read what Holmes's thoughts were on the case. On the contrary, Dr. Watsons' view helps to build suspense.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3154499/They-Benedict-Cumberbatch-Martin-Freeman-return-Sherlock-Holmes-Dr-Watson-Victorian-era-teaser-snapshot-new-series.html
Literary Elements
This short story contains suspense, irony, foreshadowing, and symbols. An example of where irony was used in this story was the part where Mr. Wilson says, “There is no vice in him" (p. 100), meaning that Spalding is not capable of such cruelty or treachery. This turns out to be ironic because Spaulding is John Clay, the villain. An example of where suspense was used in this story was the part where Mr. Wilson found out, “THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE IS DISSOLVED” (p. 105). This builds suspense because it leaves the reader in question. Foreshadowing was used in this story when Mr. Wilson claimed that his assistant, Spaulding worked well for half wages. Through foreshadowing an inference could be made that Spaulding had other intentions. There were many symbols used in this story. An example of a simile used in this story includes “brave as a bulldog” (p. 111). This simile was used by Holmes to describe Mr. Jones.
Digital image. Why Do We Enjoy Mysteries So Much? Web. 25 Oct. 2015. <http://misaramirez.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/its-a-mystery-500x325.jpg>.
Point of View. Digital image. Web. <http://www.thesagegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/point-of-view.jpg>.
"The Red Headed League." Cpengl9 -. Web. 20 Oct. 2015.
Reporter, MailOnline. "They're Back! Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman Return as Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson in Victorian-era Teaser Snapshot of New Series." Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 09 July 2015. Web. 20 Oct. 2015.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Digital image. FictionFan's Book Reviews. Web. 25 Oct. 2015. <https://fictionfanblog.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/sir-arthur-conan-doyle.jpg?w=132&h=170>.
"Sir Arthur Conan Doyle." Britannica School.Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2015. Web. 20 Oct. 2015. <http://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/31102>.
Works Cited
MOOD
The mood of the story is puzzling and dramatic. The author creates this melodramatic mood by keeping the reader entertained. Doyle keeps the audience captivated by allowing them to question the figures in the story.