福尔摩斯的性格与他主要角色推论演绎研究

学号100816105毕业论文题目SHERLOCKHOLMES,EXPATIATINGONHISINCOMPARABLECHARM院系外国语学院专业英语（国际贸易方向）姓名杨浚纲指导教师关丽君完成日期2014年4月10日ABSTRACTSIRCONANDOYLE18591930,HONOREDAS“THEFATHEROFBRITISHDETECTIVESTORIES”,ISSTILLONEOFTHEMOSTPOPULARAUTHORSOFDETECTIVESTORIESHISDEBUTNOVELLASASTUDYINSCARLET,FEATURINGANUNOFFICIALCONSULTINGDETECTIVESHERLOCKHOLMES,FINALLYMANAGEDTOBEPUBLISHEDIN1887,REPRESENTINGTHEINITIATINGOFCONANDOYLESWRITINGCAREERHECREATEDASERIESOFSPECTACULARDETECTIVESTORIESOFSHERLOCKHOLMES,THESIGNOFFOUR,ASCANDALINBOHEMIA,THEFINALPROBLEM,THEADVENTUREOFTHEEMPTYHOUSE,THEHOUNDOFBASKERVILLESETCTHISTHESISATTACHESIMPORTANCETOHEROSHERLOCKHOLMESSCHARACTERISTICSANDRATIOCINATIONSONTHEBASISOFTHE60DETECTIVESTORIESWRITTENBYSIRCONANDOYLE,THUSHAVINGABETTERUNDERSTANDINGOFTHENOVELSTHISTHESISELABORATESUPONTHEIDEAOFTHISTHESISBYTHREEASPECTSFIRST,THISTHESISANALYZESHOLMESSLEGENDARYLIFEINACCORDANCEWITHHISANCESTORS,HOUSEHOLD,GROWINGEXPERIENCE,DETECTIVECAREER,MYSTERIOUSGREATHIATUSANDHISDEATHSECOND,THISTHESISEXPOUNDSHOLMESSPERSONALITYSUBJECTIVELYINTHELIGHTOFHISTRAITS,LIVINGHABIT,UNKNOWNPSYCHOLOGICALPROBLEMANDHISUNIQUEVALUEOFLOVETHIRD,THISTHESISSTATESHOLMESSTWOMAJORREASONINGMETHODSUSEDWHENHOLMESINVESTIGATESTHECRIMEKEYWORDSHOLMESCHARACTERISTICRATIOCINATION摘要柯南道尔爵士（18591930）被誉为“英国侦探小说之父”，迄今为止仍是全世界最畅销侦探小说作家之一。首部中篇侦探小说血字研究以夏洛克福尔摩斯这一私人咨询侦探为主角几经周折最终在一八八七年发表，就此开启了他的写作生涯，写出一系列精彩的福尔摩斯探案的故事，如四签名、波西米亚丑闻、最后一案、空屋、巴斯克维尔的猎犬等经典作品。本文通过对柯南道尔爵士写作的六十篇侦探故事着重分析主人公福尔摩斯的性格、与他相关的主要角色以及其推论演绎法，从而使读者加深对小说的理解。透过分析，本文从以下三个方面进行阐述。第一，通过对福尔摩斯的祖上身份、家庭成员，成长经历，侦探生涯，神秘的大空白时期以及福尔摩斯之死六方面来展示福尔摩斯传奇的一生；第二，探究分析福尔摩斯的性格与特性、生活习惯、不为人知的心理疾病和独特的爱情观；第三,通过对福尔摩斯探案时常用到的两种主要推论方法分析其推论演绎法。关键词福尔摩斯；性格；推理CONTENTSINTRODUCTION1CHAPTERONE“THEFATHER”OFSHERLOCKHOLMES2IABRIEFINTRODUCTIONABOUTCONANDOYLE2IITHEBIRTHOFSHERLOCKHOLMES2IIISHERLOCKHOLMESSCREATIONCOURSE3CHAPTERTWOINCOMPARABLECHARMOFSHERLOCKHOLMES5IACASEOFSHERLOCKHOLMESSIDENTITY51SHERLOCKHOLMESSANCESTORS52SHERLOCKHOLMESSHOUSEHOLD73SHERLOCKHOLMESSGROWTHEXPERIENCE84SHERLOCKHOLMESSDETECTIVECAREER105SHERLOCKHOLMESSGREATHIATUS146SHERLOCKHOLMESSDEATH15IIANALYSISONSHERLOCKHOLMESSCHARACTERISTICS161SHERLOCKHOLMESSTRAITS162SHERLOCKHOLMESSPROCESSOFUNRAVELINGCRIMES183SHERLOCKHOLMESSAPPETITES214SHERLOCKHOLMESSSHORTCOMINGSANDPSYCHOLOGICALPROBLEM215SHERLOCKHOLMESSVALUEOFEMOTION23CHAPTERTHREESHERLOCKHOLMESSTWOMAJORRATIOCINATIONS26IDEDUCTIVEREASONING261REASONINGFORWARD272REASONINGBACKWARD28IIINDUCTIVEREASONING29IIITHECOMBINATIONOFTWORATIOCINATIONS30CONCLUSION33BIBLIOGRAPHY34ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS35INTRODUCTIONSHERLOCKHOLMES,ANIMAGINARYTALENTEDDETECTIVE,WASCREATEDBYSIRAUTHORCONANDOYLE,ABRITISHNOVELISTOFDETECTIVESTORYSHERLOCKHOLMESHASALWAYSBEENONEOFTHEMOSTCELEBRATEDFICTIONALCHARACTERSEVERCREATEDSINCEFIRSTPUBLICIZEDIN1887HOLMESCALLSHIMSELF“ANUNOFFICIALCONSULTINGDETECTIVE”,WHICHMEANSTHEINDIVIDUALSORLONDONPOLICESWILLCONSULTHIMWHENTHEYAREOUTOFTHEIRDEPTHSMOSTOFTHESTORIESCONCENTRATEONSOMETOUGHCASESNEEDINGHOLMESTOINVESTIGATEHOLMESISADEPTINSOLVINGCRIMESWITHOBSERVATIONANDDEDUCTIONHEHASTHEFEATUREOFBEINGCOOLHEADED,OBSERVANTANDPROFOUNDINKNOWLEDGEHEISPROFICIENTINSWORD,BOXINGANDVIOLINFRAMEANDWEALTHARENOTTHETHINGSAROUSINGHISATTENTIONHEHASNOWIFEORCHILDRENHISDEDICATIONISONLYTOHISPROFESSIONTHISTHESISELABORATESHOLMESSINCOMPARABLECHARM,WHICHISSEPARATEDINTOTHREEPARTSTHEFIRSTPARTISMAINLYABOUTTHEINTRODUCTIONOFTHEAUTHORANDTHECREATIONALCOURSEOFSHERLOCKHOLMESTHESECONDPARTISTHEBODYOFTHISTHESISANALYZEDFROMTWOASPECTSTHEFIRSTONEISTOINTRODUCETHELIFETIMEOFHOLMESINDETAILTHEOTHERISFOCUSEDONTHECHARACTERISTICSOFHOLMESSFROMFIVEASPECTSTHELASTPARTISABOUTTWORATIOCINATIONSANDITSRELATIONSUSEDREGULARLYWHENHOLMESINVESTIGATINGTHECASECHAPTERONE“THEFATHER”OFSHERLOCKHOLMESSINCEHISFIRSTAPPEARANCEINBEETONSCHRISTMASANNUALFOR1887,SIRARTHURCONANDOYLESSHERLOCKHOLMESHASBEENONEOFTHEMOSTBELOVEDFICTIONALCHARACTERSEVERCREATEDTHEFOLLOWINGISTHEPRESENTATIONONTHESETWOEMINENTFIGURESIABRIEFINTRODUCTIONABOUTCONANDOYLESIRAUTHORCONANDOYLEISONEOFTHEMOSTOUTSTANDINGWRITERSOFDETECTIVESTORIESHELIKEWISEPRODUCEDNUMEROUSSTORIESOFADVENTUREANDHISTORICALROMANCE,DRAMASANDPOETRIESINHISLIFETIMECONANDOYLEWASBORNONMAY11TH,1859INEDINBURGH,SCOTLANDHELIVEDAVARIEDANDADVENTUROUSLIFEHEWASAHISTORIAN,WHALER,ATHLETE,WARCORRESPONDENT,ANDSPIRITUALISTHEPERSONALLYCHAMPIONEDTWOCASESOFINJUSTICE,USINGHISOWNDETECTIVEWORKTOPROVETHEMENINNOCENTOFTHECRIMESFORWHICHTHEYWERECONVICTEDCONANDOYLEWASKNIGHTEDIN1902FORHISWORKINSOUTHAFRICANFIELDHOSPITALDURINGTHEBOERWARHEPASSEDAWAYONJULY7TH1930IITHEBIRTHOFSHERLOCKHOLMESCONANDOYLEHASCREATED60DETECTIVENOVELS,INCLUDING56SHORTNOVELSAND4NOVELETTESMRSHERLOCKHOLMESISTHEPROTAGONISTOFTHEENTIREDETECTIVENOVELSCONANDOYLEGOTTHEIDEAFORADETECTIVESTORYFROMTHEACKNOWLEDGEDCREATORSOFTHEGENREEDGARALLANPOEHADWRITTENTHREESHORTSTORIESFEATURINGPARISIANSLEUTHCAUGUSTEDUPIN“MURDERSINTHERUEMORGUE,”“THEMYSTERYOFMARIEROGT,”AND“THEPURLOINEDLETTER”CONANDOYLELIFTEDSOMUCHDETAILFROMPOETHATHESEEMEDAPLAGIARISTTOSOMEHETOOKSEVERALKEYCOMPONENTSFROMDUPINHOLMES,LIKEDUPIN,ISAPRODIGIOUSPIPESMOKERHEALSOPLACESADSINTHENEWSPAPERTOLURETHEPERPETRATOROFTHECRIMETOHISAPARTMENTHEGOESTOTHESCENEOFTHECRIMETOFINDCLUESTHEPOLICEHADOVERLOOKEDYETANOTHERCOMPONENTBORROWEDFROMDUPINWASHISTRICKOFBREAKINGINONHISCOMPANIONSTHOUGHTPROCESSBYGUESSINGTHELINKSINHISTRAINOFTHOUGHTIRONICALLY,HOLMESCOMPLAINSINTHISFIRSTSTORYASTUDYINSCARLETTHATTHISHABITOFDUPINANNOYSHIM,BUTAPPARENTLYNOTASMUCHASHECLAIMS,ASHEADOPTSITHIMSELFINTWOLATERSTORIESMOSTIMPORTANT,LIKEPOE,CONANDOYLEDECIDEDTOGIVEHISDETECTIVEACOMPANION,DRWATSON,TONARRATETHECASECONANDOYLEALSOBORROWEDFROMTHEWORKOFMILEGABORIAU,AFRENCHMANWHOWROTETHEFIRSTPOLICENOVELSHISINSPECTORLECOQUSESSCIENTIFICMETHODSTOBUILDASOLIDCASEAGAINSTTHECRIMINALPIECEBYPIECEHOLMESSSCIENTIFICMETHODOWESTHEMOSTTOTHISSOURCEGABORIAUALSODIVIDESHISNOVELSINTOTWOEQUALPARTS,WITHFLASHBACKSTOPRIORACTION,ADEVICECONANDOYLECOPIEDINTHEFIRSTTWOHOLMESNOVELSCONANDOYLEBASEDHOLMESSDEDUCTIVEPROCESSLIGHTNINGQUICKANDSEEMINGLYINTUITIVE,THOUGHINFORMEDBYCAREFULOBSERVATIONOFDETAILANDMOUNTAINSOFPRECISEKNOWLEDGEONCONANDOYLESTEACHER,DRJOSEPHBELL,WHOMCONANDOYLEMETATTHEEDINBURGHINFIRMARYANDWHOSEOBSERVATIONPOWERSAMAZEDCONANDOYLEONCEEMBARKEDONTHEPROCESSOFSTIRRINGALLTHESEINGREDIENTSTOGETHER,CONANDOYLEHADTOCHOOSEANAMEFORHISDETECTIVETHEFIRSTHECHOSEWASJSHERRINFORDHOLMES,THENSHERRINGTONHOPE,ANDFINALLYTHEONESHERLOCKHOLMESWEKNOWTODAYWEDONTKNOWWHEREHEGOTTHENAMESHERLOCK,BUTWECANBESURETHATTHELASTNAMEWASATRIBUTETOOLIVERWENDELLHOLMES,THEAMERICANPHYSICIANANDAUTHOR,FATHEROFTHEGREATUSSUPREMECOURTJUSTICEOFTHESAMENAMESHERLOCKHOLMESCAUSEDAHUGEIMPACTTHETIMEHEWASCREATEDHEHASBEENINVOGUEANDBECOMETHEMOSTDISTINCTIVEDETECTIVEAROUNDEUROPEFORHISINTELLIGENCE,SAGACITY,CALMNESSANDINCOMPARABLEINFERENCEIIISHERLOCKHOLMESSCREATIONCOURSECONANDOYLEWASBROUGHTUPTOBEFOUNDOFLITERATUREANDSERVEDASANEDITORFORTHESCHOOLMAGAZINEINHISMIDDLESCHOOLAGEHEPRACTICEDMEDICINEFORDECADESAFTERGRADUATINGFROMEDINBURGHMEDICALSCHOOL,WHICHCOULDHARDLYMAKEALIVINGITWASTHENTHATHEBEGANTOWRITEHISMAIDENWORKASTUDYINSCARLETWASFINALLYPUBLISHEDONBEETONSCHRISTMASANNUALFOR1887AFTERBEINGREJECTEDFORSEVERALTIMESTHEHEROOFTHISMASTERPIECEISSHERLOCKHOLMESIFCONANDOYLEMADEHISDEBUTONASTUDYINSCARLET,THESIGNOFFOUR,PUBLISHEDONLIPPINCOTTSMONTHLYMAGAZINEIN1890,WOULDBETHEINITIATIONOFSUCCESSHETHENPUBLISHEDASERIOUSOFDETECTIVESTORIESADVENTURESOFSHERLOCKHOLMES,18911892ONTHESTRANDMAGAZINE,MAKINGSHERLOCKHOLMESAHOUSEHOLDNAMECONANDOYLECONTINUEDPRODUCINGAGREATDEALOFBRILLIANTDETECTIVESTORIESMEMORIESOFSHERLOCKHOLMES,18921893UNTILTHEDEATHOFSHERLOCKHOLMESINTHESTORYTHEFINALPROBLEMPUBLISHEDIN1893ONACCOUNTOFAFIERCESTRUGGLEWITHHISANTAGONISTPROFESSORMORIARTYINWATERFALLREICHENBACHINSWITZERLANDONMAY4TH1891THISENDINGASTONISHEDEVERYREADERANDTHEYSCARCELYBELIEVEDSUCHAMARVELOUSDETECTIVEWASFINISHEDLIKETHISTHEREFORE,ASARESPONSETOTHESEAFICIONADOS,CONANDOYLEHELDTHEIMAGINATIONAGAINANDRESTOREDHOLMESINGENIOUSLYTOLIFEINTHESTORYTHEADVENTUREOFTHEEMPTYHOUSEHEKEPTUPCREATINGAVARIETYOFSPLENDIDPRODUCTSWHEREAFTER,COVERINGTHEHOUNDOFBASKERVILLES,1901,THERETURNOFSHERLOCKHOLMES,19031904,THEVALLEYOFFEAR,1914,HISLASTBOW,18931917ANDTHECASEBOOKOFSHERLOCKHOLMES,19211927ALLOFHIS60DETECTIVESTORIESWEREBOILEDDOWNTOTALESBY1929,ALMOSTALLOFWHICHWERENARRATEDBYDRWATSON,HOLMESSINTIMATEFRIENDCONANDOYLEWASPRAISEDAS“THEANCESTOROFTHEDETECTIVESTORIES”OWINGTOHISTRIUMPHANTSHAPINGOFTHEFIGURESHERLOCKHOLMESCHAPTERTWOINCOMPARABLECHARMOFSHERLOCKHOLMESIN2002,SHERLOCKHOLMESWASMADEASPECIALHONORARYFELLOWOFTHEROYALSOCIETYOFCHEMISTRYINRECOGNITIONOFTHEPERFORMANCEOFHISCOMBINATIONOFCHEMISTRYANDDETECTIVEWORK,MAKINGHIMTHEFIRSTFICTIONALCHARACTERISTICEVERTOBESOHONOREDANDSUCH,NOTSURPRISINGLY,FANATICISMOFHOLMESHASTENACIOUSDURABILITYFOROVER100YEARS,SHOWINGNOSIGNOFABATINGSHERLOCKHOLMES,ASYNONYMFORDETECTIVE,ISAMYTH,AFAITHANDALEGENDIACASEOFSHERLOCKHOLMESSIDENTITYINGENERAL,SHERLOCKHOLMESSVERYAPPEARANCEISSUCHASTOSTRIKETHEATTENTIONOFTHEMOSTCASUALOBSERVERINHEIGHTHEWASRATHEROVERSIXFEET,ANDSOEXCESSIVELYLEANTHATHESEEMEDTOBECONSIDERABLYTALLERHISEYESWERESHARPANDPIERCING,SAVEDURINGTHOSEINTERVALSOFTORPORTOWHICHIHAVEALLUDEDANDHISTHIN,HAWKLIKENOSEGAVEHISWHOLEEXPRESSIONANAIROFALERTNESSANDDECISIONHISCHIN,TOO,HADTHEPROMINENCEANDSQUARENESSWHICHMARKTHEMANOFDETERMINATIONASTUDYINSCARLET,1887THISISTHEMOSTDIRECTIMPRESSIONOFHOLMESASDRWATSONCONVEYEDAFTERHELIVEDWITHHOLMESFORAFEWMONTHSNOW,LETSDEDUCETHEHOLMESSIDENTITYTOGETHERFROMSIXASPECTS1SHERLOCKHOLMESSANCESTORSMYANCESTORSWERECOUNTRYSQUIRES,WHOAPPEARTOHAVELEDMUCHTHESAMELIFEASISNATURALTOTHEIRCLASSMYGRANDMOTHERWASTHESISTEROFVERNET,THEFRENCHARTISTARTINTHEBLOODISLIABLETOTAKETHESTRANGESTFORMSTHEGREEKINTERPRETER,1893SHERLOCKHOLMESSCARCELYREFERREDTOHISRELATIONSANDHARDLYEVERTOHISOWNEARLYLIFETODRWATSONWHOHADLONGANDINTIMATEACQUAINTANCEWITHHIMTHOUGH,MAKINGHIMTOBELIEVETHATHOLMESWASANORPHANWITHNORELATIVESLIVINGHOWEVER,INTHECASETHEGREEKINTERPRETER,HOLMESFORTHEFIRSTTALKEDABOUTHISIDENTITY,ASABOVETHISISNEWSINDEEDOFHOLMESSIDENTITYHOLMESHASIRISHANDBRITISHBLOODSINCEHISSURNAMEDERIVEDFROMTHEIRISHNOBILITYHOWEVER,THE“COUNTRYSQUIRES”HOLMESREFERSTOISNOTTRUENOBILITY,MERELYALORDINGORSQUIREARCHYACTUALLYHOLMESALSOHASFRENCHBLOODDUETOHISGRANDMOTHERISTHESISTEROFVERNET,WHOISAPIVOTALFRENCHLANDSCAPISTOFTHE18THCENTURYACCORDINGTOTHEGREATCOMPOSERANDPIANISTMENDELSSOHN,SHEWASAMETHODICALANDDISCIPLINEDPERSONWITHTALENTEDPERCEPTIONANDAMAZINGMEMORYHERBRAINWASJUSTLIKEABUREAUINORDER,WHICHCOULDSEEKOUTWHATSHENEEDEDWHENEVERSHEOPENEDTHEDRAWER,PRECISELYTHESAMEASHOLMESSTHEORYINTHECASETHEFIVEORANGEPIPSPUBLISHEDIN1891,ISAYNOW,ANDISAIDTHEN,THATAMANSHOULDKEEPHISLITTLEBRAINATTICSTOCKEDWITHALLTHEFURNITURETHATHEISLIKELYTOUSE,ANDTHERESTHECANPUTAWAYINTHELUMBERROOMOFHISLIBRARY,WHEREHECANGETITIFHEWANTSITACCORDINGTOWILLIAMSBARINGGOULDSSHERLOCKHOLMESOFBAKERSTREET,HOLMESSANCESTORSLIVEDINNORTHRIDING,YORKSHIRE,ENGLANDANDHOLMESHIMSELFWASBORNINTHEREASWELLTHISVIEWISINLINEWITHHOLMESSELDERBROTHERSNAMEMYCROFTHOLMESELDESTSONWASPROBABLYNAMEDAFTERHISFAMILYLANDSATTHATAGEINYORKSHIRE,THEREWERESEVERALESTATESCALLED“CROFT”ANOLDSAXONWORDWHICHMEANS“AFFILIATEDLAND”HOLMESSANCESTORSCALLEDHIM“MYCROFT”“MYAFFILIATEDLAND”WITHTHEPURPOSEOFDISTINGUISHINGHIS“AFFILIATEDLAND”FROMTHEOTHERSBASEDONTHIS,SHERLOCKSBROTHERGOTHISNAME“MYCROFT”2SHERLOCKHOLMESSHOUSEHOLDHOLMESMADENARYAMENTIONOFHISPARENTSSOTHATAMERICANFORMERPRESIDENTROOSEVELTSPECULATEDTHATHOLMESWASANORPHANHOWEVER,HEGAVEUPHISFORMERPOINTAFTERATTENTIVESTUDYACCORDINGTOROOSEVELT,HOLMESWASANAMERICANWHOWASBROUGHTUPBYHISFATHERORADOPTIVEFATHERUNDERTHEENVIRONMENTOFGANGDOMANDHENCEACQUAINTEDAMERICANCRIMESINEVERYREGARDWILLIAMSBARINGGOULDINFERREDTHATTHEGIVENNAMEOFHOLMESSMOTHERISVIOLETBECAUSETHEREWEREFOURWOMENCALLEDTHISNAMEINTHECANON,MISSHUNTERINTHEADVENTUREOFTHECOPPERBEECHES,MISSSMITHINTHEADVENTUREOFTHESOLITARYCYCLIST,MISSDEMELVILLEINTHEADVENTUREOFTHEILLUSTRIOUSCLIENTANDMISSWESTBURYINTHEADVENTUREOFTHEBRUCEPARTINGTONPLANSWHATSMORE,HOLMESSHOWEDUNEXPECTEDCOURTESYTOTHEMASFORHOLMESSFATHER,WILLIAMSBARINGGOULDDEEMEDSIGERWOULDBEHISNAMEFORHOLMESONCEUSEDSIGERSONASHISALIASSIGERSONCANBEEXPLAINEDASSIGERSCHILDASFARASWEHAVEKNOWN,HOLMESHASANELDERBROTHER,MYCROFTHOLMES,WHOISHOLMESSSENIORBYSEVENYEARSANDWHOHASANEXTRAORDINARYFACULTYFORFIGURES,ANDAUDITSTHEBOOKSINSOMEOFTHEGOVERNMENTDEPARTMENTSMYCROFTFIRSTAPPEAREDINTHECASETHEGREEKINTERPRETER,MYCROFTHOLMESWASAMUCHLARGERANDSTOUTERMANTHANSHERLOCKHISBODYWASABSOLUTELYCORPULENT,BUTHISFACE,THOUGHMASSIVE,HADPRESERVEDSOMETHINGOFSHARPNESSOFEXPRESSIONWHICHWASSOREMARKABLEINTHATOFHISBROTHERHISEYES,WHICHWEREOFAPECULIARLYLIGHT,WATERYGRAY,SEEMEDTOALWAYSRETAINTHATFARAWAY,INTROSPECTIVELOOKWHICHIHADONLYOBSERVEDINSHERLOCKSWHENHEWASEXERTINGHISFULLPOWERSMYCROFTHOLMESISSHERLOCKSSUPERIORINOBSERVATIONANDDEDUCTIONHOWEVER,HEHASNOAMBITIONANDNOENERGYHEWILLNOTGOEVENGOOUTOFHISWAYTOVERIFYHISSOLUTIONS,ANDWOULDRATHERBECONSIDEREDWRONGTHANTAKETHETROUBLETOPROVEHIMSELFRIGHTHOLMESPERSONALLYADMITTEDTHATHEAGAINANDAGAINTOOKAPROBLEMTOHIM,ANDRECEIVEDANEXPLANATIONWHICHHASAFTERWARDSPROVEDTOBETHECORRECTONEACCORDINGTOWILLIAMSBARINGGOULDSSHERLOCKHOLMESOFBAKERSTREET,SHERLOCKHOLMESWASBORNONJAN6TH1854HISFATHERINSISTEDONCALLINGTHISNEWLIFEWILLIAMSHERLOCKFORHEWASADEEPADMIREROFWILLIAMSHERLOCK,WHOWASACELEBRATEDTHEOLOGIANINTHE17CENTURYNEVERTHELESS,HISMOTHERHADAPREFERENCEONCALLINGHIMWALTERSCOTT,ASCOTTISHHISTORICALNOVELISTINTHEEND,THEYMANAGEDTOREACHANAGREEMENTTHECHILDWASBAPTIZEDWILLIAMSHERLOCKSCOTTHOLMES“SHERLOCK”MEANS“BLOND”OR“TWINKLING”INTHEOLDANGLOSAXONSINCETHELITTLEBOYREWHICHLEYLOOKEDLIKEHISMOTHER3SHERLOCKHOLMESSGROWTHEXPERIENCEANYHOW,HOLMESREMAINEDTIGHTLIPPEDABOUTHISCHILDHOODANDMIDDLESCHOOLAGEHOWEVER,FROMDRWATSONSSTATEMENTS,HOLMESHADNEVERGIVENANYINDICATIONOFBEINGASTUDENTOFAPRIVATEBOARDINGSCHOOLWHATSMORE,THEPECULIARFACULTYOFOBSERVATIONANDDEDUCTIONHOLMESPRESENTEDCOULDNOTBELEARNEDFROMAGROUPTHEREFORE,THESEINDICATETHATHOLMESSPARENTSEDUCATEDHIMWITHPRIVATETUTORSOMESCHOLARS,SUCHASTREVORHAAR,HOLDTHATTHISTUTORWASNOTOTHERTHANPROFESSORJAMESMORIARTYHAARPOINTEDOUTTHATPROFESSORMORIARTYHADSEVEREDASMYCROFTANDSHERLOCKSTUTORWILLIAMSBARINGGOULDPRONOUNCEDANIDEAINHISBOOKTHATHOLMESHADPUTTHROUGHTHEMOSTUNCERTAINTIMEINRUSHINGAROUNDTHEEUROPEFORFOURYEARSATHISEARLIERAGESINCEHISFATHERCOULDNOTENDURETHEMONOTONOUSLIFEOFLIVINGINTHESAMESURROUNDINGDURINGTHETRIP,HOLMESNOTONLYENRICHEDHISKNOWLEDGE,BUTLEARNEDSOMESKILLSWHICHBROUGHTHIMUNCOUNTABLEBENEFITSHISFATHERTAUGHTHIMPUGILISMANDSENTHIMTOAFAMEDACADEMYINEUROPEFORTHESAKEOFSTRENGTHENINGHISHEALTHANDTHECANONCLUEDUSTOTHEABOVEINFERENCETHATHOLMESHADSPENTHISTIMEINTHESOUTHOFLONDONNOWADAYSCALLEDLAMBETH,WANDSWORTHANDCAMBERWELLINHISCHILDHOODFORINSTANCE,INTHECASETHESIGNOFFOUR,WHENHOLMESWENTACROSSTHESTREETSINTHESOUTHLONDON,HECOULDTELLTHENAMEEXACTLYBESIDESTWOSTREETSWHICHTHEIRNAMEHADBEENCHANGEDAFTER1880STOCKWELLSTREETANDROBERTSTREETLIKEWISE,INTHECASETHEADVENTUREOFTHEEMPTYHOUSE,DRWATSONNARRATED,HOLMESSKNOWLEDGEOFTHEBYWAYSOFANYPARTSOFLONDONWASEXTRAORDINARYWEDONOTKNOWWHETHERHOLMESHADBEENAMIDDLESCHOOLSTUDENTWHATEVER,HEMUSTHAVEGONETOACOLLEGEBECAUSETHEREAREHARDEVIDENCEINTHECASETHE“GLORIASCOTT”ANDTHECASETHEMUSGRAVERITUALINTHEHOLMESSFIRSTDETECTEDCASETHE“GLORIASCOTT”,DURINGWHICHHEWASSTILLACALLOWSOPHOMORE,HEDEPICTEDTHEFOLLOWINGSITUATION,VICTORTREVORWASTHEONLYFRIENDIMADEDURINGTHETWOYEARSIWASATCOLLEGEIWASNEVERAVERYSOCIABLEFELLOW,WATSON,ALWAYSRATHERFONDOFMOPINGINMYROOMSANDWORKINGOUTMYOWNLITTLEMETHODSOFTHOUGHT,SOTHATINEVERMIXEDMUCHWITHTHEMENOFMYYEARBARFENCINGANDBOXINGIHADFEWATHLETICTASTES,ANDTHENMYLINEOFSTUDYWASQUITEDISTINCTFROMTHATOFTHEOTHERFELLOWS,SOTHATWEHADNOPOINTSOFCONTACTATALLHOWEVER,INTHECASETHEMUSGRAVERITUAL,HOLMESDESCRIBEDHISPOSITIONLIKETHIS,DURINGMYLASTYEARSATTHEUNIVERSITY,THEREWASAGOODDEALOFTALKTHEREABOUTMYSELFANDMYMETHODSBASEDONTHEABOVETWODRAMATICALLYDIFFERENTSITUATIONS,WECOULDINFERTHATHOMESHADBEENINACOLLEGEFORTWOYEARSFROM1872TO1874THENHESUCCESSFULLYDETECTEDTHECASETHE“GLORIASCOTT”IN1874,DURINGWHICHHEWASPERSUADEDBYTREVORSFATHERTOBEADETECTIVE,MRHOLMES,ITSEEMSTOMETHATALLTHEDETECTIVESOFFACTANDOFFANCYWOULDBECHILDRENINYOURHANDSTHATSYOURLINEOFLIFE,SIR,ANDYOUMAYTAKETHEWORDOFAMANWHOHASSEENSOMETHINGOFTHEWORLDAFTERWARDS,HISPERSUASIONWASATREACLYTRIBUTETOHOLMESSMEMORYWHENHEDISCUSSEDWITHDRWATSON,THATRECOMMENDATION,WITHTHEEXAGGERATED,ESTIMATEOFMYABILITYWITHWHICHHEPREFACEDIT,WAS,IFYOUWILLBELIEVEME,WATSON,THEVERYFIRSTTHINGWHICHEVERMADEMEFEELTHATAPROFESSIONMIGHTBEMADEOUTOFWHATHADUPTOTHATTIMEBEENTHEMERESTHOBBYHOLMESTHOUGHTTHATHISSPECIALTYDIDNOTMATCHWITHTHEENTERPRISETHEONLYUNOFFICIALCONSULTINGDETECTIVEHEDETERMINEDONTHROUGHTHECASETHE“GLORIASCOTT”ANDTREVORSFATHERSPERSUASIONSOTHATHETRANSFERREDTOANOTHERAPPROPRIATECOLLEGEFORADVANCEDSTUDYFORATLEASTTWOYEARSWILLIAMSBARINGGOULDDRUMMEDINHISVIEWPOINTTHATHOLMESWASANOXFORDUNIVERSITYSTUDENTOFCHRISTCHURC