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Ruby Park
Professor Harrison
Writing 39B
25 July 2014
Restructure/Reword
Omit
Needs more explanation
Grammar
Aspects of the Detective Genre
The detective genre is viewed in a different light compared to other genres, making it
more unique and interesting. Whenever someone picks up a book, they are simply reading what
the author has to give; however, are they truly engaging with the story? The detective genre
requires the reader to interact within the story as if he or she is experiencing it first hand. Sir
Arthur Conan Doyle beautifully demonstrates this in many of his stories, specifically: A Study
in Scarlet, Sign of Four, and in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Doyle creatively
constructed these plots in order for his readers to participate in a journey in which he has
strategically created. Some of the scholars the class has read about, believe that the detective
genre entails much more than just a plot and some characters. This genre enables the reader to
experience a characters words as if they were their own. Watsons narration does just that and
even shows the reader that the bond between him and Sherlock Holmes is what defines the
detective genre.
The audiences cooperation is what differentiates this detective genre against the other
genres. In Doves scholarly text, The Different Story, he mentions how the story is a game,
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role of the reader is both recreational and intellectual; the reader voluntarily accepts the limits,
in order to permit the game to be played (4). He also explains this process in how these types of
stories often generate blanks within the readers mind; these are the unanswered questions that
the reader formulates throughout the storyline. Sir Conan Doyle constantly creates scenarios
throughout his stories in which the reader is forced to think and even predict their own theories
as to what the end result may be. Reading Doyles stories, the readers often play the detective
role themselves without even knowing it by unconsciously creating these blanks. Doyle invites
his audience to participate in his creative investigations as if they were in the story. Giving the
audience a role builds this sense of realism that captures their attention.
The relationship between Holmes and Watson influence how the detective genre
develops. Whenever people think about a pipe and a magnifying glass or simply a skillful
detective, most people often think about Sherlock Holmes. However, Holmess popularity did
not immerse until much later in the late nineteenth century. In Paneks scholarly text,
Beginnings, he discusses the progress of Doyles detective stories through universal education.
This shows the evolution of Holmes and how he has reached onto a universal level (9). Panek,
Doyle, and Prigozy agree that Holmes has left his mark in the detective genre not only as the
most perfect reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen (Doyle, A Study in
Scarlet), but is also known for his physical characteristics. Doyle depicts Holmes as a man with
superb intellect, cunning, and ingenious. Although Holmes may seem to have everything figured
out, he lacks anything regarding to the emotional side of him. Doyle then purposely creates
Watson in order to fill that void. Watson builds their partnership by showing his loyalty
throughout their adventures together. His loyalty is conveyed in Conan Doyles series of short
stories, The Man With the Twisted Lip, when Watson and Holmes surprisingly bumped into
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each other at the den he stated how it was hard to refuse Holmes requests because he would ask
with such mastery. Therefore, Holmes and Watson go hand in hand when it comes to fighting
crime.
Most people believe Sherlock Holmes is the main character of Doyles stories, however
they forget who is even describing these adventures to them. The role of Watson is crucial when
it comes to understanding the plot. Without Watson, the audience is pushed into the dark, full of
confusion. Because Watson has the intellect of an average person, readers are able to relate and
interact within the text. In Doyles novel, Sign of Four, Watson is confused as to what the
thorn may mean; however, Holmes being the erudite man he is, explains how it clears every
instant(#). Binyon also agrees in his scholarly text, Murder Will Out: The Detective in Fiction
explaining the importance of Watson and his narration for the audience. Binyon states, his
prosaic, stolid personality gives them a reality and a plausibility which they would otherwise
lack, he gives more evidence on how Watsons narration is key to the detective genre (10).
Watsons voice describes not only the setting, but also every small detail and process. This
engages the reader to create what Dove called blanks and to have Watson ask and answer those
questions through his own voice.
All in all, the uniqueness of the detective genre is its ability to merge the reader and the
text into one. Combining the two produces a clear understand of what the author wants the
audience Sir Arthur Conan Doyle provides the reader with the key to unlock the truth and
mysteries with the help of one of his characters. The partnership between Holmes and Watson
helps shape the detective genre by filling in the parts they may be missing. It is no wonder that
this type of genre has stayed and persisted since the Victorian Era.

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Works Cited

Binyon, T.J. "Murder Will Out": The Detective in Fiction. Oxford: Oxford University Press,
1989. Print.
Conan Doyle, Arthur. Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes: Adventure #6: The Man With the Twisted
Lip. Lit2Go. PDF.
Conan Doyle, Arthur. A Study in Scarlet. Print.
Conan Doyle, Arthur. The Sign of the Four. Seattle: Amazon Digital Services, 2013. Kindle
eBook. Online.
Delamater, Jerome and Ruth Prigozy, eds. Theory and Practice of Classic Detective
Fiction. New York: Praeger, 1997. Print.
Dove, George N. The Reader and the Detective Story. Bowling Green, OH: Bowling Green State
University Popular Press, 1997. Print.
Panek, Leroy. An Introduction to the Detective Story. Bowling Green, OH: Bowling Green State
University Popular Press, 1987. Print.