Doyle first sets up an instance of situational irony—overturning audience expectations—in Chapter 9 when Watson, writing to Holmes, describes seeing a mysterious figure on the Tor:
There, outlined as black as an ebony statue on that shining background, I saw the figure of a man upon the tor. Do not think that it was a delusion, Holmes. I assure you that I have never in my life seen anything more clearly. As far as I could judge, the figure was that of a tall, thin man. He stood with his legs a little separated, his arms folded, his head bowed, as if he were brooding over that enormous wilderness of peat and granite which lay behind him.
Doyle first sets up an instance of situational irony—overturning audience expectations—in Chapter 9 when Watson, writing to Holmes, describes seeing a mysterious figure on the Tor:
Unlock with LitCharts A+There, outlined as black as an ebony statue on that shining background, I saw the figure of a man upon the tor. Do not think that it was a delusion, Holmes. I assure you that I have never in my life seen anything more clearly. As far as I could judge, the figure was that of a tall, thin man. He stood with his legs a little separated, his arms folded, his head bowed, as if he were brooding over that enormous wilderness of peat and granite which lay behind him.
Doyle first sets up an instance of situational irony—overturning audience expectations—in Chapter 9 when Watson, writing to Holmes, describes seeing a mysterious figure on the Tor:
Unlock with LitCharts A+There, outlined as black as an ebony statue on that shining background, I saw the figure of a man upon the tor. Do not think that it was a delusion, Holmes. I assure you that I have never in my life seen anything more clearly. As far as I could judge, the figure was that of a tall, thin man. He stood with his legs a little separated, his arms folded, his head bowed, as if he were brooding over that enormous wilderness of peat and granite which lay behind him.