Sherlock Holmes Research Paper
Hunter Byars
Andrew Kelly
ENG1123
July 24, 2013
Dr. Joseph Bell: Doyle’s inspiration for his Sherlock Holmes character Arthur Conan Doyle is the author of the very popular Sherlock Holmes series. He wrote many adventures about Sherlock Holmes, a consulting detective who is extremely intelligent and sees the world differently than most people. Although Holmes is a fictional character, Doyle was inspired by one of his University professors, Dr. Joseph Bell, who was an expert in deductive reasoning. Doyle was quite impressed and used these same principles when he created his Sherlock Holmes character. Doyle’s education began in his hometown of Edinburgh where he attended one of the local schools. When he turned nine, he was transferred to Jesuit preparatory school of Hodder in Lancashire. Doyle then proceeded to the Jesuit secondary school of Stonyhurst where he exceled as a student (Roden). After his school years in Stonyhurst, he then attended Edinburgh University to practice medicine. It was there that Doyle became a student of the professor of clinical surgery, Dr. Joseph Bell (Haycock). Bell came from a family of medical …show more content…
After Doyle finished his second year at the University, he was hand selected by Bell to be his assistant. After earning this role, Doyle really began to notice Bell’s deductions that he taught to his students, and he often described them as “amazing.” One event in particular, Doyle remembers Bell deducting that a patient of his was a sailmaker. He told Doyle that the man’s address, which was located on a street near the docks, and his callused thumb is what gave him reason to think he was a sailmaker, and indeed he was (Haycock). Also, with the position as Dr. Bell’s personal assistant, it is believed that Doyle created Dr. Watson, Sherlock’s assistant, as a reflection of himself (“Sherlock
Andrew Kelly
ENG1123
July 24, 2013
Dr. Joseph Bell: Doyle’s inspiration for his Sherlock Holmes character Arthur Conan Doyle is the author of the very popular Sherlock Holmes series. He wrote many adventures about Sherlock Holmes, a consulting detective who is extremely intelligent and sees the world differently than most people. Although Holmes is a fictional character, Doyle was inspired by one of his University professors, Dr. Joseph Bell, who was an expert in deductive reasoning. Doyle was quite impressed and used these same principles when he created his Sherlock Holmes character. Doyle’s education began in his hometown of Edinburgh where he attended one of the local schools. When he turned nine, he was transferred to Jesuit preparatory school of Hodder in Lancashire. Doyle then proceeded to the Jesuit secondary school of Stonyhurst where he exceled as a student (Roden). After his school years in Stonyhurst, he then attended Edinburgh University to practice medicine. It was there that Doyle became a student of the professor of clinical surgery, Dr. Joseph Bell (Haycock). Bell came from a family of medical …show more content…
After Doyle finished his second year at the University, he was hand selected by Bell to be his assistant. After earning this role, Doyle really began to notice Bell’s deductions that he taught to his students, and he often described them as “amazing.” One event in particular, Doyle remembers Bell deducting that a patient of his was a sailmaker. He told Doyle that the man’s address, which was located on a street near the docks, and his callused thumb is what gave him reason to think he was a sailmaker, and indeed he was (Haycock). Also, with the position as Dr. Bell’s personal assistant, it is believed that Doyle created Dr. Watson, Sherlock’s assistant, as a reflection of himself (“Sherlock