The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes Literary Elements

Crime fiction

Various locations in Britain during the late 1800s

Doctor John Watson narrates the collection as if writing them.

Although the mood of many of the crimes is bleak, Watson never looses faith in his friends ability and so the tone remains hopeful and often reverential.

Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson are the protagonists, facing multiple antagonists throughout the collection

The various villains commit their crimes, which are them re told to Sherlock and Watson, leading the His Final Bow.

Sherlock is presumed killed in the final story.

As the stories are told after the fact, Watson is able to use dramatic foreshadowing to build tension for the readers.

Sherlock often understates his own abilities, saying that when he explains himself people become disappointed that the answer was so simple and no longer see him as quite so clever. He also accuses Watson of being un unreliable narrator and being hyperbolic in his retellings of crime solving.

Sherlock, being a scientist, often alludes to the scientific breakthroughs of the time, they also allude to the countries political and financial situation.

The stories focus on Holmes, who is often likened to a blood hound in his search for clues. Such animal imagery is common in a lot of Doyle's work.

Sherlock often tells his clients that both himself and Watson are discreet about the crimes they solves, but the format of the stories themselves are presented as if Watson is writing for public perusal.

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