How does Sir Arthur Conan Doyle create suspense in the novel The Speckled Band free essay sample

One of the ways that Doyle builds up suspense throughout the story is by weaving in lots of red herrings into the storyline. The reader believes one thing whilst the story twists at the end and reveals something completely di? erent. As an example, when Miss Stoner’s sister dies and makes reference to a ‘Band† , the reader automatically assumes a ‘band of people’. Even Watson refers to a band of people, leading the reader to instantaneously think of the gypsies when in fact they have nothing to do with the crime. the way that Mr Doyle creates the characters helps build suspense into the story. He  portrays Sherlock’s character as a wise man who is quiet and reserved. Whilst making Dr Roylott character, a mean, tough and a sinister one. He also portrays Helen Stoner as a timid character who is scared of her father and is constantly in danger of losing her life. We will write a custom essay sample on How does Sir Arthur Conan Doyle create suspense in the novel The Speckled Band or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page the stark contrast in all of the characters creates a tense and compelling atmosphere. An additional method, by which Sir Arthur Conan Doyle creates suspense in the story is by making the characters give out all the facts â€Å"Pray be Precise as to Detail† (page 153) but doesnt give away any clues as to how or why the incident happened. As an example, when Helen asked about her sister’s death, Sherlock didnt say a word which leads the reader to think of possible causes of death. This engages the reader and also introduces mis-information into the story. The reader would believe someone (ie: the gypsies) or something had caused the death of Helen’s sister. When Conan Doyle writes his stories, he gives them a quick change of atmosphere. A chapetr begins with a relaxed feeling which suddenly becomes tense and fast-paced. An example, is when Sherlock and Watson are waiting in Helen’s room. The atmosphere is relatively calm and suddenly, Sherlock jumps and starts to thrash about. His style of writing and his attention to detail grabs the readers attention from the very start and holds it until the very end. The reader is taken on a rollercoaster journey ? lled with intrigue and emotion. The story is absorbing and un-put-downable. As is evident, there are many ways in which Sir Arthur Conan Doyle very e? ectively creates suspense throughout the story. This is one of the qualities that makes him among one of the most successful and popular authors.

A ROSE FOR EMILY Essays - Fiction, A Rose For Emily, Free Essays

A ROSE FOR EMILY Essays - Fiction, A Rose For Emily, Free Essays A ROSE FOR EMILY A Rose for Emily takes place after the Civil War and into the 1900?s in the town of Jefferson, Mississippi?a town very similar to the one in which William Faulkner spent most of his life. It is a story of the conflict between the old and the new South, the past and the present?with Emily and the things around her steadfastly representing the dying old traditions and the present expressed mostly through the words of the narrator but also through Homer Barron and the new board of aldermen. The issue of racism also runs throughout the story. In part I, Faulkner refers to Emily as a "fallen monument", a monument to the southern gentility that existed before the Civil War. Her house is described as having once been white?the color of youth, innocence and purity, and also of the white society?but decayed now and smelling of dust and disuse. It stands between the cotton wagons (the past) and the gasoline pumps (the present)an "eyesore among eyesores". Emily comes from an upper class family and grew up privileged and protected by her father. An agreement between her father and Colonel Sartoris?a character we assume was a veteran of the Civil War and who also represented the old South with his edict that no Negro woman should appear on the streets without an apronexempted her from paying taxes. The authorities decide to pay Emily a visit to try to collect the taxes due the town. When we are introduced to Emily, she is described as being in black?the color of death?and her eyes are lifeless?"two small pieces! of coal". The description of Emily is not unlike that of her house, and I thought of a corpse when reading that "she looked bloated, like a body long submerged in motionless water, and of that pallid hue."the dying old traditions. The tarnished gold head on her black cane is the one reminder of her affluent, upper class position of years ago. And the invisible watch hanging from her neck but hidden under her belt is symbolic of her living in the pasttime at a standstill in the Grierson house. When asked if she got the tax notice from the sheriff, Emily claims she has no taxes to pay and refers them to Colonel Sartoris who has been dead for ten yearsanother indication of Emily?s living in the past. Referring to the sheriff, she says, "Perhaps he considers himself the sheriff?I have no taxes in Jefferson." This implies that Emily still considers herself superior to the rest of the town. Emily has difficulty accepting the death of her father, and she hangs onto him and the past for three days after he dies until she finally allows the body to be taken away for burial. Her father had overprotected her throughout her life, chasing suitors away because they weren?t good enough for her. And when her sweetheart deserts her, she becomes a virtual recluse. The "only sign of life" is the young Negro servant who gardens and cooks for her. In fact, it is apparent that Emily would have died years earlier if he had not taken care of her. To me, Faulkner is suggesting that the South will die, or certainly not progress, unless its culture changes and it accepts the Negro as a vital part of society. I wonder if the smell of Homer?s rotting corpse represents racial prejudice: the 80 year old mayor refuses to directly confront Emily about the odor?just as he would not deal with the immorality of racial repressionand after several complaints, four aldermen take it up! on themselves to do something about it. Three of them are "graybeards" representing the old South; one of them is a "younger man, a member of the rising generation". I think the three older men helped to find the source of the stench, but they didn?t really do anything to stop it?I believe it is the young alderman who spreads the lime in a "sowing motion" in an effort to get rid of the smell?the lime perhaps representing tolerance. After her father dies, Emily disappears within the house for some time; but when a construction company comes into Jefferson to pave the