How does Doyle use setting to help create mystery in The Hound of theBaskervilles?
Arthur Conan Doyle was born in Edinburgh on 22 May 1859. He died in1893. His first book he published was when he was still a student. In1885 he married Louise Hawkins. Sherlock Holmes made his firstappearance in a short novel called “A Study in Scarlet” which wasprinted in 1887. He continues to write thrilling stories until herealised he wanted to be known not just for Sherlock Holmes but wantedto get involved in other projects. Readers were astonished when Doylefinally killed off the famous detective when he was shoved off a cliffin 1893 by his arch-nemis Professor Moriaty. Thousands of readers madecomplaints and the once well known cult figure had been feared to begone forever! For a couple of years Conan Doyle avoided the reader’scomplaints but Doyle eventually buckled under stress and wrote a bookcalled “The Hound of the Baskervilles”. A story set before the tragicending of Sherlock Holmes.
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This is a detective story with elements of a gothic story. The twomain characters are Sherlock Holmes and James Watson. In this storySherlock is in some ways the main character but most of the attentionis given to Watson as he tells the story.
The story starts in the pleasant setting of Holmes’ Baker Street flatwere it is safe and cosy. The other setting in London is theNorthumberland Hotel. This is where Sir Henry and Doctor Mortimer arestaying. The first mystery is introduced here when one of Sir Henry’sboot goes missing.
“I put then both outside my door last night, and there was only onethis morning”
Conan Doyle creates a mysterious atmosphere here. London is a perfectplace because it is a heavil…
… convict brings suspicion as he fell on his neck.Watson and Holmes mistake this man to be Sir Charles. As they lookcloser they see that it is the convict in his clothes. Mystery isintroduced when Stapleton appears at the crime scene. This adds asense of mystery.
This novel in scene in some ways can be described as a Gothic Novelbecause it has characteristics of one. For example it has a gloomysetting, strange events, violence, mystery, super-natural and horror.The gloomy setting is Baskerville Hall and the Moor. A strange eventwould be the missing boot. This is also a detective story. For exampleinteresting setting, a crime to be solved. The interesting setting isBaskerville Hall and the crime is the death of Sir Charles.
I conclude that Doyle creates mystery by using setting. He does thisby using methods like weather and descriptive words.
