The+Crooked+Man


 * __Short Stories - Literary Devises Title: The Crooked Man __**

Point of View: It was in first person, because Dr. Watson (a character in the story) was telling the story, and was telling what he heard from his point of view.

Protagonist: I think that Sherlock Holmes was the protagonist, because he was one of the main characters in it, and told Dr. Watson most of the things he saw and noticed.

What type of character is the Protagonist? He is a static character, because he never really changed through the course of the story; he had many clues even when starting the story, there were already clues he knew. Also, he didn't exactly become smarter, because he was already smart from the start, and throughout the story he kept making analogies, such as when he saw Dr. Watson's shoes he knew that he was busy at his job that day. Also, he is a round character, because he had quite a few different traits (smart, curious, etc.)

Antagonist: The antagonist in the story is Colonel Barclay, because he was the one who lead Henry to his death, because he was Nancy's lover, and he loved her almost as much as the Colonel did. Also, the Colonel had a heart attack, because when he saw Henry he got so shocked that he was still alive, and he was guilty for his deformed body; so he had a heart attack, because of all of the fear.

Describe the setting: The story takes place in Aldershot, England, because that is where Sherlock Holmes is from, and it takes place from around 1880 to the 1920s; known as the Victorian Age. You can tell it is that old, because they do not have that many cars back then, and Dr. Watson was riding a cab, that was pullen by horses, which we do not have now a days. Also, they do not have the advanced technology we do now, so they couldn't scan fingerprints or anything around the crime scene. The overall mood of this story, I think was also ironic, because Colonel Barclay thought that he had killed Henry, and would never see him again, but it turns out he didn't kill him, and he ends up coming back to town, and meets up with the love of his life, Nancy.

Type of Conflict: It was both internal and external, because internally they were jealous of eachother and also hated eachother, because they both loved Nancy just as much as the other. But, externally Henry was being tortured for many years, and when Barclay saw Henry he went into complete shock, and had a stroke, and smashed his head, leaving a big cut in his head, and lost a lot of blood.

Describe the main conflict: The main conflict of the story, was between the Colonel and Henry, because Barclay had tried to send Henry to his death, because they both loved Nancy, and they would do anything to have her. So, Barclay sent him in the wrong direction and he was captured and tortured for many many years, until he had finally escaped. Also, we learn that Barclay had died from fear, after seeing that Henry was still alive after these many years.

Describe the Climax of the Story: I think that the climax of the story is when Miss Morrison tells Sherlock about the man, her and Nancy had run into, and how she went very pale right as they saw eachother. Also, how she told Miss Morrison to start walking a bit so that she could talk to this mystery man (Henry.) I think it's the climax, because when Sherlock finds out about this, it sort of leads to that he may have followed her home, and had killed Mr. Barclay, instead of Nancy herself, and that there were indeed three people who were in that room.

How does the Protagonist change over the course of the story? I don't think that the protagonist (Sherlock Holmes) changed that much throughout the the story, because he stayed smart and curious throughout the whole thing, and he never gave up on the case, he was determined to find out what had happened in that room since the start of the story. Also, he thought that the case wouldn't be that difficult to figure out, and that it was some sort of misunderstanding, and it turns out that he was correct, the Colonel was not actually murdered.

Describe the relationship between the title and the theme. Well first of all, I think that the theme of the story is mystery, because it is a murder investigation, that is a bit confusing and hard to figure out who killed Colonel Barclay and how who or what did it. They are related, because the story is called "The Crooked Man" and it makes some people wonder what that means; it could mean he is literally crooked, his body is mis shaped, or that his personality is different. So, the meaning of the title is a mystery, and the theme is mystery, because no one knows who the real murderer is.

How does the main conflict help to illustrate the theme? The conflict helps to illustrate the theme, because we weren't quite sure about why Barclay had given Henry the wrong directions, and why Nancy had turned very pale, and had told Miss Morrison to walk ahead, when she had saw Henry; so, it is like a mystery, just like the theme of the short story.

How does the climax help to illustrate the theme? The climax helps illustrate the theme, because when Nany and a mystery man ran into eachother, on the way back home, she had turned pale, and told Miss Morrison to walk a little bit ahead and wait for her there. It was a mystery who this man was, that she had run into on he street, because he was not mentioned before, until Miss Morrison explains, and Sherlock realizes who it is. So, mystery is involved in the climax and as well as the theme.

Give examples of each of the following literary terms in the story (use quotes):

Simile: "...the smile had often been struck from his mouth, as if by some invisible hand..." "...and they were as keen as a set of terriers round a rat cage." "..than see him living and crawling with a stick, like a chimpanzee.

Metaphor: "He's a token of evil." "...he had been sunk in the deepest gloom." "...but she was still deadly pale..." "...and shaking his clenched fists in the air, as if he were mad with rage."

Personification: "His eyes kindled and a slight flush sprang into his thin cheeks." "The facts were only two days old."

Symbol: I think that the key was an important symbol in this story, because it wasn't found on any of the Barclay's (the ones who were supposedly in the room by themselves.) It is important, because it proves that there must have been another person involved in the argument, or was watching, or even was in the room and had killed the Colonel.

Foreshadowing (give both elements): "It was a quarter to twelve. This could not be a visitor at so late an hour. A patient, evidently, and possibly an all night sitting. With a wry on my face I went out into the hall and opened the door. To my astonishment, it was Sherlock Holmes who stood upon my step." This is foreshadowing, because mostly everyone knows that Sherlock Holmes was a very famous and good investigator/detective, that solved crimes such as murder, like in this story. When he comes to the door, it is obvious that something bad has happened to someone, and that he is trying to get some help so solve, even though he is already extremely smart.

Irony: The irony in the story is when Mr. Barclay sent out Henry on a different and dangerous route, where he is then captured. Barclay thought that Henry was gone for good, and he would never have to see him again, or worry about his wife ever seeing him again. But, near the end of the story we learn that Henry is actually alive, and went into the room where the Barclay's were fighting, and once Mr. Barclay saw Henry he was so shocked and so much fear ran through his body, that he then had a stroke, because he thought he had killed Henry many years ago.

Imagery: " 'Ah! He has left two nail marks from his boot up upon your linoleum just where the light strikes.' " " 'There is a room which is used as a morning-room at Lachine. This faces the road, and opens by a large glass folding door on to the lawn. The lawn is thirty yards across, and is only divided from the highway by a low wall with an iron rail above it.' "

Describe the relationships between the class theme and the story. Like I've said before the class theme of the story is mystery, and the whole story is about a murder investigation, which of course is mystery. It is mystery, because there are many suspects that could have killed the victim, in this case it could have been Mrs. Barclay, anyone living/working in their house, someone watching them fighting from the highway, or even Henry. With all these different suspects, you think about who would have the best reasons to kill him, and when and where they were during the time he had died. Even just thinking about who did it, where and when they were at the time, are also mystery, because sometimes it doesn't even say, and sometimes they could also be lying, and in this case it wasn't revealed til the near end of the story. Also, the man who she ran into on the streets was a mystery, because no one knew who he was or how he was involved in this story, and Mrs. Barclay started acting very odd when she saw him (she went pale, etc.) But, it turned out it was her ex lover (Henry,) and she had thought he was dead, just like her husband had thought. That is how the theme is related to the story; they are both mystery. ﻿ Completion 5/5 Effort5/5 Content 55/5

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