The Adventure of the Speckled Band
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

or to save your progress

The Adventure of the Speckled Band: Frame Story 1 key example

Key Examples in The Adventure of the Speckled Band

Frame Story
Explanation and Analysis—Watson the Storyteller:

One defining characteristic of the Sherlock Holmes stories is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's use of a frame story, or a story within a story. In "The Adventure of the Speckled Band," the main narrative consists of the events of Sherlock's investigation. However, Watson narrates the investigation from a later point in time. By enclosing the main narrative within this framework, Doyle makes the crime feel more realistic and thus heightens the suspenseful tone of the story. Moreover, the frame story structure allows Watson to play a more active role as the narrator.