“Intriguing and memorable as some of the nineteenth-century detectives were, there is only one great detective” (Knight 2010: 55). When reading these few words everyone who is more or even less familiar with literature should know who these lines are dedicated to. The detective in question is of course Sherlock Holmes. This detective, who was brought to life by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in 1886 (cf Weller 1992: 11), has defined nineteenth-century crime fiction in a remarkable way. This present paper is dedicated to this great figure of detection.
It is important to note, though, that Sherlock Holmes will not solely be dealt with as a literary figure but also as a movie character that has been embodied by several actors in over a hundred movies. This huge number of adaptations is a proof for the various interpretations one can apply when working with Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories. The most important and famous movies will be briefly discussed in section 1.3.Some of the screenplays relate very closely to Doyle’s stories and some show only marginal similarities to the literary original. However, this paper is mostly concerned with the latest film adaptation from the year 2009, titled Sherlock Holmes, directed by Guy Ritchie. This paper deals with the way the great detective is depicted in this modern movie. In what way did director Guy Ritchie take the stories from the nineteenth century as a guideline when creating his very own Sherlock Holmes embodied by Robert Downey Jr.? How much of the original great detective can be found in the film adaptation from 2009? These are the questions this papers aims at clarifying.
Firstly, Sherlock Holmes is to be introduced by describing his role in the literary world in general and the significance he has had for British crime fiction in particular. Following this introduction, three exemplary Sherlock Holmes stories will be presented, among them of course the adventure in which Holmes first occurred, namely “A Study in Scarlet” (cf Weller 1992: 11) After a short discussion of these three stories, and an outline as to how Sherlock Holmes is presented in these written works, the paper is turning its focus on the medium of film. The main focus lies on the comparison between the movie of 2009 and the stories by Doyle.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction - Welcome to the World of Sherlock Holmes
- The great detective of the literary world
- The stories
- A Study in Scarlet
- The Adventure of the Speckled Band
- A Scandal in Bohemia
- Sherlock Holmes goes to the movies
- The movie from 2009
- One but not the same? A Comparison between the stories and the movie
- Sherlock Holmes' outward appearance
- Sherlock Holmes' personality
- Relationship between Holmes and Dr. Watson
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the depiction of Sherlock Holmes in the 2009 film adaptation of the same name, directed by Guy Ritchie, and compares it to the original character created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The objective is to analyze how the film portrays Sherlock Holmes, considering his outward appearance, personality, and relationship with Dr. Watson, and how these portrayals align with or diverge from the original literary works.- The enduring legacy and impact of Sherlock Holmes on British crime fiction.
- The evolution of Sherlock Holmes as a character in various film adaptations.
- A comparative analysis of the portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in the 2009 film adaptation versus the original literary works.
- The significance of the film's depiction of Sherlock Holmes' outward appearance and personality.
- The role of the relationship between Holmes and Dr. Watson in the film and its comparison to the literary works.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction - Welcome to the World of Sherlock Holmes: This chapter introduces the paper's subject, Sherlock Holmes, emphasizing his enduring influence on crime fiction. It delves into his literary origins, exploring the significance of his creation by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in 1886. The chapter highlights the widespread impact of Sherlock Holmes and his numerous film adaptations, particularly the 2009 movie directed by Guy Ritchie. This section paves the way for the analysis of the 2009 film adaptation.
- The great detective of the literary world: This section focuses on Sherlock Holmes's role in the literary world, examining his global impact and exploring the reasons for his enduring success. It discusses the ingenuity of Arthur Conan Doyle's writing, his unique methods of deduction, and the innovative nature of his stories in establishing crime fiction as a popular genre. The chapter explores Doyle's techniques of blurring the lines between fact and fiction, his use of intertextuality, and the influence of his detective on the perception of Victorian London.
- The stories: This section introduces three exemplary Sherlock Holmes stories, including the novel "A Study in Scarlet" and two short stories. These stories provide a framework for understanding the character and his methods, setting the stage for the analysis of the 2009 film adaptation.
- One but not the same? A Comparison between the stories and the movie: This chapter explores the similarities and differences between the portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in the 2009 film and the original literary works, focusing on his outward appearance, personality, and relationship with Dr. Watson. It provides a detailed analysis of the film's depiction of Sherlock Holmes and its alignment with or divergence from the literary source material. This section delves into the specific elements of the character and their portrayal in the film.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and topics in this paper include Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle, British crime fiction, film adaptations, detective fiction, Victorian London, character analysis, outward appearance, personality, relationship, Dr. Watson, and the 2009 film adaptation of Sherlock Holmes directed by Guy Ritchie. This paper examines the evolution of Sherlock Holmes as a character and explores the differences between the original literary portrayal and its modern cinematic rendition.- Arbeit zitieren
- Annika Witzel (Autor:in), 2011, Sherlock Holmes - One but not the same?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/207737
