Sherlock Holmes

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• Leerjaar 4

Sherlock Holmes

00:56

Sherlock never says ''Elementary, my dear Watson''

1. True
2. False

01:08

Sherlock Holmes is always right

1. True
2. False

02:27

Sherlock Holmes was based on a real person

1. True
2. False

03:10

There were more than 200 adaptations of Holmes

1. True
2. False

04:03

Palimpsest

writing material used one or more times after earlier writing has been erased

Why do you think Sherlock Holmes' stories are so popular?

Who is the author?

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle  (22 May 1859 – 7 July 1930) was a British writer and physician. He created the character Sherlock Holmes in 1887 for ''A Study in Scarlet'', the first of four novels and fifty-six short stories about Holmes and Dr. Watson.

Why is Sherlock so popular?

1. Holmes was one of the first fictional detectives.

2. Conan Doyle believed that in a mistery story you must give the reader all the elements to find the solution.

3. He used fingerprints and other clues that were new at that time.

4. Readers love Holme's ability to deduce lots of information from small details.

5. Loyal friendship with Dr. Watson.

How many stories are there?

Traditionally, the canon of Sherlock Holmes consists of the 56 short stories and four novels written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

In this context, the term "canon" is an attempt to distinguish between Doyle's original works and subsequent works by other authors using the same characters. 

Victorian England 1832-1901

Not only was Sherlock based on a real person, but he was created during the era of Victorian England, and the story takes place in the same time period. Naturally, this allows the bizarre detective to give us a peek into what it was like to be a person (or detective) in London in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Let's watch an episode of Sherlock Holmes!

7 interesting facts about Sherlock Holmes

Holmes was inspired by a teacher

Conan Doyle was so impressed by Dr Joseph Bell, a lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, who could diagnose patients on sight, that he based Sherlock’s skills of perception on him.

A Study in Scarlet wasn’t popular

His first adventure was rejected by several publishers and printed in Beeton’s Christmas Annual, which was not a success.

Sherlock Holmes is the most popular film character

…or at least, the most popular human character! He’s been in 226 films while Dracula has been in 239!

And he’s been on film for more than 100 years

With the first silent version – Sherlock Holmes Baffled – made in 1900.

Sherlock never says ‘Elementary, my dear Watson’

It feels like everything we know is a lie! While the detective says ‘elementary’ and ‘my dear Watson’ several times, he never puts the two together.

Conan Doyle tried to kill Sherlock Holmes because he was bored

After two years of writing the popular stories, the author was sick of the detective, and complained ‘it takes my mind from other things’.

The Sherlock Holmes Museum isn’t at 221b Baker Street

It’s actually at number 239.

Writing a short story

What is a short story?

A short story is a work of fiction that can be read in one sitting—usually between 20 minutes to an hour.

Key elements to a short story

• Setting – one time and place

• 1-2 main characters

• Single plot – one storyline

• Central theme or moral lesson

• Uses literary devices

Assignment

write a short story based on a detective. Use the elements mentioned before, also mind the spelling and grammar.

Hand this in next week for feedback.