The Adventure of the Speckled Band

by

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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Sherlock Holmes Character Analysis

The eccentric hero of the story, Sherlock Holmes is a detective with hypersensitive abilities of observation and deduction. As this story comes after the publication of dozens of other popular stories starring Holmes, Doyle is assuming that the reader already has some familiarity with the biographical details of Holmes life. In this story, Doyle gives only passing hints about Holmes’s life: he shares an apartment with Watson, he tends to be a late riser in the mornings, he has a sharp sense of humor, and is rather strong despite his slim build. He is also prone to reverie, as he frequently stares off into space or takes quick naps throughout his investigation. Most importantly, though, he is an excellent detective. In his chosen profession, he works more “for the love of his art than for acquirement of wealth” and he only takes cases that “tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic.” His dedication to the job goes above and beyond what a typical detective might be willing to do in order to solve a murder.

Sherlock Holmes Quotes in The Adventure of the Speckled Band

The The Adventure of the Speckled Band quotes below are all either spoken by Sherlock Holmes or refer to Sherlock Holmes. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Exoticism Theme Icon
).
The Adventure of the Speckled Band Quotes

…working as he did rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic.

Related Characters: Dr. Watson (speaker), Sherlock Holmes
Page Number: 396-397
Explanation and Analysis:

He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone more cunning than himself upon his track.

Related Characters: Sherlock Holmes (speaker), Dr. Grimesby Roylott
Page Number: 411
Explanation and Analysis:

There are one or two very singular points about this room. For example, what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated with the outside air!

Related Characters: Sherlock Holmes (speaker)
Related Symbols: Stoke Moran Manor
Page Number: 413
Explanation and Analysis:

When a doctor does go wrong he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge.

Related Characters: Sherlock Holmes (speaker), Dr. Grimesby Roylott
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number: 417
Explanation and Analysis:

“It is a swamp adder!” cried Holmes; “the deadliest snake in India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls into the pit which he digs for another.”

Related Characters: Sherlock Holmes (speaker), Dr. Grimesby Roylott
Related Symbols: Swamp Adder
Page Number: 421
Explanation and Analysis:
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Sherlock Holmes Quotes in The Adventure of the Speckled Band

The The Adventure of the Speckled Band quotes below are all either spoken by Sherlock Holmes or refer to Sherlock Holmes. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Exoticism Theme Icon
).
The Adventure of the Speckled Band Quotes

…working as he did rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic.

Related Characters: Dr. Watson (speaker), Sherlock Holmes
Page Number: 396-397
Explanation and Analysis:

He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone more cunning than himself upon his track.

Related Characters: Sherlock Holmes (speaker), Dr. Grimesby Roylott
Page Number: 411
Explanation and Analysis:

There are one or two very singular points about this room. For example, what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated with the outside air!

Related Characters: Sherlock Holmes (speaker)
Related Symbols: Stoke Moran Manor
Page Number: 413
Explanation and Analysis:

When a doctor does go wrong he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge.

Related Characters: Sherlock Holmes (speaker), Dr. Grimesby Roylott
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number: 417
Explanation and Analysis:

“It is a swamp adder!” cried Holmes; “the deadliest snake in India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls into the pit which he digs for another.”

Related Characters: Sherlock Holmes (speaker), Dr. Grimesby Roylott
Related Symbols: Swamp Adder
Page Number: 421
Explanation and Analysis: