Literature Review Essay

Alarcon 1
Zelma Alarcon
Professor Matthew Harrison
Writing 39B
27 July 2014
Detective Character Traits: Holmes at?in his Finest
In a world where emergent emerging human technology and social
composition were are risingon the rise, Doyle created one of the most masterful
characters of the era, and marked the real beginning of the detective story [that]
[presents] real difficulties of the time (Panek 79). The creation of such a
masterful character was due to the new configuration of experience [that] was
shaped by a large number of factors, which were clearly dependent on the change
in production marked by the Industrial Revolution (Gunning 15). This rapid
change also brought transformation to daily life due to the growth of capitalism,
urban growth, and advances in technology during the Victorian Era. By developing
a detective that is always mathematically correct and precise, Doyle presented the
world with the first crime-solving machine,, an actual instrument of detection
(Panek 81). All throughout Doyles stories, he demonstrates Holmes powers of
observation and analytical skills, -which are the driving forces of a great detective
and role model; numerous texts display that Holmes characteristics are what make
Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman, 14 pt
Comment [Z1]: The font needs to be size 12 and in Times New Roman for MLA Format. This has to be done all throughout the essay
Comment [Z2]: I dont knowif it really matters or not,but on the internet it says MLA needs to be in times newroman 12 font.
Comment [Z3]: emerging/ take out
Comment [MH4]: Verb forms dont match here. Also, can you be more specific about social composition, as this is something that emerges throughout history. What are the peculiar traits of the Victorian social composition? You might use Tom
Gunning to clarify.
Comment [Z5]: In this section I plan on following Professor Harrisons advice and will be adding and excerpt fromGunning to further explain the Victorian Era.

The creation of such a masterful character was due to the newconfiguration of experience *that+ was shaped by a large number of factors, which were clearly dependent on the change in production marked by the Industrial Revolution (Gunning 15).
This rapid change also brought transformation to daily life due to the growth of capitalism, urban growth, and advances in technology during the Victorian Era.
Comment [MH6]: Commas go inside quotation marks
Comment [Z7]: Throughout all of
Comment [MH8]: Try to make greater use of commas, too, to separate dependent and independent clauses
Comment [MH9]: Punctuation needed here
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the detective genre (Panek 84). Holmes constant outlandish and magical
assertions, which he explains as a simple routine is nothing more than the
forwarding thinking of an emergent class, a symbol (Panek 84). In many of
Doyles stories Holmes is presented as anti-social and superior, which
demonstrated the growth of knowledge within the middle. Holmes is a common
man that is intellectually superior to any authority figure within Doyles story, for
example, when the police ask for Holmes help on a case or collecting carcasses for
experiments as presented in the story A Study in Scarlet.
All throughoutThrough Conan Doyles many stories, he places distinctive
character traits of a detective such as in The Sign of Four. Sherlock Holmes was
Conan Doyles creation of a perfective authority figure because he was a
steadfast, honest, [and] trustworthy (Doyle 83). Holmes always used logic and
deduction to solve his mysteries which aided in his success as a detective; it was
thought that a detective should gain success through his knowledge and mind
during this time and not just by sheer luck, as mentioned by Leroy Panek (Panek
3). Holmes demonstrates his skills of deduction in crime scenes such as in the
story Sign of the Four, written by Doyle, where he is with Watson inspecting the
crime scene murder of Sholto. Holmes tells Watson to sit in corner before his
footprints complicate matters and the police arrive. Holmes forward thinking that
all must be captured before the evidence with tampered with reflects the
Comment [MH10]: The intro has potential, but at present does not provide a controlling idea of your own. You offer a summary of Panek as your personal claim. To begin to synthesize, you need to say more about your understanding of Holmes as
representative of an emergent Victorian character. Ask: howdo his characteristics reflect changing Victorian values. Powers of observation is not in itself peculiar and specific enough.
Comment [Z11]: I decided to include a bit more examples on the reflection Holmes has to society. And Ill further explain in detail in one of my body paragraphs.
Comment [Z12]: Throughout all of?

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advancement in photography, or at least its importance. Doyle portrays Holmes as
a man that is constantly led bmy logic rather than by emotion, mainly because
emotion would make his judgment biased as opposed to fair (Doyle 2179). The
path that led Doyle to create Sherlock Holmess characteristics was mainly due to
the time frame he was living in and the ideas borrowed from Edgar A. Poes
techniques which brought on the thought as police versus the amateur, the
detectives conceit; who was a symbol of the common man and gain of power
through knowledge (Panek 80).
In How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes, written by Maria Konnikova , she
explains Holmess character in a way that standardizes him as a common man that
has tapped into his full potential of logic and mindfulness (Konnikova 4). Holmes,
a common man with stupendous knowledge, is human and has felt emotions such
as, annoyance, anger, chagrins and hes a person able to admire a worthy
adversary (Binyon 10). Sherlock Holmes unique character allows him to see
beyond the average mind. Konnikova makes a contrast between seeing and
observing, which is something that Holmes is automated to do unconsciously
(Konnikova 2). The major factor that makes Sherlock Holmes a great detective is
his unprecedented way of thinking, and if used in common day, he would make a
great role model for how we can think better than we do as a matter of course
(Konnikova 12). One way that Maria Konnikova, as mentioned in her article,
Comment [Z13]: Here I amgoing to add two more quotes that further define Holmes character. One being that he is superior to other detectives. And also the connection with the technological advancement in his field of detection
Comment [MH14]: Wrong word form
Comment [Z15]: Maybe talk a little more about the time frame since you mentioned it. Either in another paragraph or in this paragraph.
Comment [MH16]: Sentence structure is confusing. I suggest breaking into two sentences in order to more clearly get your point across. Also what, in your view, constituted the common man. More context is also needed for police versus the
amateur to make full sense here.
Comment [Z17]: In this paragraph I plan to synthesize two scholarly texts so that they agree with one another. I will be adding a quote from Murder Will Out and talk about howhuman traits began to creep into Holmes character.
Example:
to create a pure detective who would be little more than animated reason. But almost immediately human traits began to creep in. Holmes can feel emotion: annoyance, anger, chagrin. He can admire a worthy adversary, as he admires Irene Adler for
outwitting himin A Scandal in Bohemia.
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characterizes Holmes thinking is his skepticism and his inquisitiveness toward the
world (Konnikova 17). This in an overall summation leads to the many great
qualities of Holmes as model.
In a different article called "Murder Will Out: The Detective in
Fiction" written by T.J. Binyon, Binyon explains furthermore that Doyle [had]
taken the abstract idea of the detective provided by Poe, and [had] fleshed out both
the main figure and his surroundings (9). He goes more into detail, stating that
without Watson in Holmes' adventures, there would be no credibility because
Watson is the bridge between the average man and Holmes (Binyon 10). Yet even
though Doyle hadnt wanted to make Holmes an emotional character because it
would make his judgment biased, he gradually did include certain traits to make
him more human (Binyon 10). Yet what Doyle hadnt realized is that he had
contradicted his original idea of Holmes. He created a Holmes that was proud,
[an] alienated hero, superior to and isolated from the rest of humanity; who
alleviates the deadly boredom of existence with injections of cocaine and
morphine (Binyon 10). Not only does he demonstrate Sherlock Holmes isolation
from the rest of the world so that his judgment may not be biased, but by doing so
he has made Holmes vulnerable to human faults. This of course is not the
emblematic figure that is considered a role model for society, but it does make him
appear more real to the reader just like how Watson helps him bridge a connection
Comment [Z18]: Provide some examples of Holmes inquisitiveness

Comment [Z19]: When you use not only it usually needs to be followed by but also. Also explain some of Holmes human faults

Comment [Z20]: Who is him
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as well. See, by creating Holmes to be more in touch with his feelings, he can
connect more with the reader and his character traits are more approachable and
empathetic. Like T.J. Binyon stated in his article Murder Will Out: The Detective
in Fiction, Holmes is the greatest of them all, and certainly the best known. He
has given society its popular image of a detectiveyet, paradoxically, he is at the
same time unique; his creation broke the mold (Binyon 11). His creation did
indeed break the mold and it also led to different views about the topic.

As indicated in another excerpt of the Theory and Practice of Classic
Detective, Fictionwritten by Delamater, Jerome and Ruth Prigozy stated that
Holmes was a popular detective during his time and was a great factor in the
cultural significance as society was gradually changing (1). In the Victorian Era,
society and technology began to expand and new ideas were created; notions such
as one can create solutions to problems, that man can create new means of
bettering himself and their environment (Oshkosh 1). Holmes actually represented
that change because the middle class man was now shown be as more than a mere
factor in society. Hhe [helped reassure [society] in the belief that the universe,
underneath it all is rational despite of the disordered world they lived in
(Prigozy 1). Unlike Binyon, in the Prigozy excerpt it states that Holmes is eccentric
Comment [Z21]: Good paragraph and good use of 2 scholars to have themconverse. There is a little too many quotes though. Instead of focusing on a lot of quotes, try to talk more about each quote.

Comment [Z22]: Broke the mold and led to different views about the topic.

Comment [MH23]: written bystated doesnt work grammatically
Comment [MH24]: It might be better to include this paragraph earlier, as it is more specific about certain changes of social mood that informed the creation of SHolmes.
Comment [Z25]: Expand on this.

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and is even characterized by Watson as emotionless, unable to love, [and]
[possesses] a cold and detached mind which again indicates his characteristics as
someone not easily swayed by emotion. Holmess knowledge is also another factor
that is considered eccentric because he demonstrates does demonstrate vast
knowledge of chemistry, poisons, and sensational literature, but he refuses to
attain insignificant knowledge of the world around him (Prigozy 22). By
throwing away the clutter in his brain attic he is creating space for what is
needed and not over doing it with useless information that doesnt pertain to
him, (Prigozy 22). This idea of de-cluttering is what makes him a great detective
and brings about his unique style; Holmes provides the [perfect] prototype for the
British ratiocinative detectives approach (Prigozy 22). This approach is his own
style and characteristic of a detective; Holmes unique contribution to the ultimate
detective is well known, but like Holmes stated, once you eliminated the
impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be true (Prigozy 22).
His approach of deduction is by far the most distinct in history and as stated before
he has broken the mold with his supernatural power of detection [which] make
him so extraordinary (Mc Bratney 161).
Sherlock Holmes has proven to be the last and highest court of appeal in
detection during his time (Doyle 787). All through Doyles numerous stories
about Sherlock Holmes, he Doyle constantly displays Holmes as the ultimate
Comment [Z26]: I will place this paragraph earlier as suggested by professor Harrison. It makes logical sense since it describes more about the time.
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establishment figure (Amazon Digital Services 87) as mentioned before. In tThe
Holmes timeline, it is clear to see the gradual change that he has taken in and
exerted. In Doyles short stories such as A Scandal in Bohemia Holmes reiterates
that theorizing before one has data can be a grave mistake because then one can
twist fact to fit what one thinks instead of the theories fitting into the facts that are
displayed in the case (Doyle 3). Holmes This ultimate figure demonstrates to
society that in order to apply deduction one must observe and not just see because
there is an obvious distinction between the two (Doyle 3). With a role model like
Holmes, for society it is easily to understand that anyone can try to achieve such
perfection because it is like any other [art], the Science of Deduction and
Analysis [can] only be acquired by long and patient study; unfortunately life is
not long enough to reach the highest perfection, as stated in A Study In Scarlet
(Doyle 11). Even with his human faults, Holmes is a symbol for striving perfection
and continues to mold ourt society today.

Work Cited:
Binyon, T.J. "Murder Will Out": The Detective in Fiction. Oxford: Oxford
University Press, 1989. Print.
Comment [Z27]: Is he Holmes?

Comment [Z28]: Howdoes Holmes twist fact to fit in a scandal in bohemia

Comment [Z29]: What does this mean?

Comment [Z30]: Overall I think your essay is really good since you have so many quotes. I just personally think that you used too many quotes. Instead of using so many quotes, try to use about half and then add in more of your own insights into the
essay. Also, your 5
th
paragraph seemed to drag on for me. Instead of having such a long paragraph and all those quotes, split the paragraph into two different paragraphs.

Formatted: Font: 14 pt
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Conan Doyle, Arthur. The Sign of the Four. Seattle: Amazon Digital Services,
2013. Kindle eBook. Online.
Delamater, Jerome and Ruth Prigozy, eds. Theory and Practice of Classic
Detective Fiction. New York: Praeger, 1997. Print.
Doyle, Arthur Conan. "Lit2Go." Adventure 6: "The Man with the Twisted
Lip Florida Center for Instructional Technology, College of Education,
University of South Florida, 2006. Web. 24 July 2014.
Doyle, Arthur Conan. "A Study In Scarlet." The Project Gutenberg EBook of A
Study In Scarlet,
by Arthur Conan Doyle. Roger Squires, and David Widger, 12 July 2008.
Web. 27 July 2014.
Konnikova, Maria. Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes. New York:
Viking, 2013. Print.
McBratney, John. Racial and Criminal Types: Indian Ethnography and Sir
Arthur Conan Doyles The Sign of Four. Victorian Literature and
Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman, 14 pt, Not Italic
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Culture 33:1 (2005): 149-167. JSTOR. Web. 01/15/2014.
Oshkosh. "Victorian England." Victorian England. University of Wisconsin-
Oshkosh, n.d. Web.
26 July 2014.
Panek, Leroy. An Introduction to the Detective Story. Bowling Green, OH:
Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 1987. Print.

Zelma,
My comments above have not meant to edit your sentences line by line, but
to highlight issues that would benefit your writing as a whole. So, if I suggest that
you check comma use in one sentence, you should do so for the entire paper, too.
That said, this draft has a promising organization and is written with an
engaging energy. Your summaries of the scholarly texts are effective overall;
however, you never quite move from summary to synthesis. As a result, the paper
reads as a kind of list of summaries that give multiple perspectives on SHomes,
but you dont bring any of these perspectives together under a firm controlling
idea, apart from suggesting, occasionally, that Sherlock characterizes some
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emergent social changes. In sum, from the grading rubric, you need to work on
building a more specific controlling idea; on synthesis (review Dr. Haass recent
handout on the difference between summary and syntheses); and on applying ideas
from the scholarly texts to your personal readings of selected passages from the
stories.
There is some awkwardness throughout with integrating quotations with
your own clauses. Ive revised some of these sentences as models for you to
follow, but I encourage you to review those documents in Materials that pertain
to quotation/citation.
And as ever, do write with any questions you have!
MH


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