A good crime drama Essays

A good crime drama Essays A good crime drama Essay A good crime drama Essay When they go to their room Holmes stays awake silent and motionless, rearranging his thoughts about the case, hoping he can spot any clues that he has not already come across. Watson seems to be more relaxed and goes to sleep. The next morning Holmes wakes Watson with a question, Game for a morning drive? This made me feel very excited because he gave me a sense of adventure as he may have come up with a hunch that might be the solution of the case. Holmes and Watson set off, on another journey that Watson seems to know nothing about, and they end up at the prison where Hugh Boone was being kept. As they were entering the cell Holmes humorously states, Hes a beauty, isnt he? Holmes then peels back the hideous face off this man and then he awoke to find Holmes stood over him with a mask in his hand. Doyle uses very effective ways to describe the image of this man without his mask, which in my opinion gives a very vivid view of how this man really looks. He uses words like, refined, and smooth-skinned, which I think are good words to use because the other face had a nasty scar, so it probably gives the reader a reminder of that. The endings that Doyle has used in these stories are rather unique and they are very similar to those in the modern day crime dramas, which makes me think that Doyle was probably the one who invented those types of endings and they have been carried on in dramas ever since then as they are so popular and seem to make quite an impact on people who watch or read these stories. In the end of this story Holmes reveals his technique to finding the answer to this investigation without giving too much away, which in my opinion makes a really good impact because it may make the reader feel like they want to hear more as this extract shows: I reached this one by sitting upon five pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if we drive to Bakers Street we shall just be in time for breakfast. The Final Problem was probably one of the most effective stories in that time in history because it is when Doyle tried to kill off Holmes and the readers were horrified. This story starts off with Watson writing a journal about the events that happened between Holmes and Professor Moriarty before they fell off the cliff. This story seems to give quite a different light to Holmes as you may be able to see in this extract when Watson states, You are afraid of something? And Holmes answers, Well, I am. Holmes usually seems confident and in this story he seems to be scared of something. Even Watson sees a difference in his behaviour as this quotation shows: There was something strange in all this. It was not Holmess nature to take an aimless holiday. Holmes asks Watson to accompany him on a trip and goes on to tell him about the story of Professor Moriarty. Holmes describes him as being a man of good birth and excellent education, so he seems to be a very intelligent man, but a man who uses his education to do criminal things. Holmes seems really worried as this is probably the most superior criminal mind he has ever had to face and he is not just worried for himself, he is also worried for the people of London. We can see this from the following extract: I could not sit quietly in my chair, if I thought that such a man as Professor Moriarty were walking the streets of London unchallenged. Holmes seems to be overwhelmed by the intelligence of this man as he uses his mind and skills to be very dangerous. He used to be a professor, but he had a criminal strain that ran in his blood, which was probably the cause of his behaviour. He also has cunningly devised safeguards so he doesnt get caught. Holmes gives Watson instructions for the next morning so they could meet on the way to Newhaven. They met on the train, merely escaping Moriartys gang members. When they arrived Holmes got a telegraph from the London police informing him that Moriarty had escaped as they had secured the rest of the gang with exemption of him. Holmes is aware that he maybe in danger as he advises Watson to return to England because he may find him a dangerous companion. Later after Holmes has received the telegraph, he and Watson have a conversation that seems as though Holmes maybe giving up as he explains his past career in this extract: The air of London is the sweeter for my presence. In over a thousand cases I am not aware that I have ever used my powers upon the wrong side. In my opinion this seems quite sad because Holmes seems to be looking back on his career as though it is coming to an end, so this may give the reader a clue to what is about to occur. Also the use of the word power in this quotation, I think, is quite effective because it makes me see Holmes in a different light. As though he is someone superior than others. He describes Moriarty as the most capable criminal in Europe and that after he has caught him he doesnt feel the need to pursue his career any further. As Holmes and Watson made their way along a hill to the hotel they were approached by a young boy who gave them a letter addressed to Watson by the landlord explaining that there was a lady at the hotel who had suffered from a haemorrhage and needed the assistance of an English doctor. Watson was unsure of leaving Holmes, but had to assist this woman. Watson then explains the last he saw of Holmes as you can clearly see in the following extract: I saw Holmes, with his back against a rock and his arms folded, gazing down at the rush of the waters. It was the last that I was ever destined to see of him in this world. This would probably leave the reader weeping as it is now revealed that Holmes is going to die! Watson then arrives at the hotel to find that there is no sick Englishwoman, so he realises what has really happened. He then rushed to Holmes rescue, but was too late and found a letter addressed to him from Holmes. Before the letter is read Conan Doyle uses a great technique to get the readers attention, which was asking questions such as And then what happened? Who was to tell us what happened then? This created quite an impact on me because it made me feel as though I had been put on the spot and really had to think what did really happen? It intrigued me so I wanted to read on to see if these questions were going to be answered. The letter explained that he has now come into contact with Moriarty and has been able to free society from any further effects of his presence. It seems to me that Conan Doyle has written this very carefully to make sure that not too much is being given away as he may be trying to keep the mystery in the story so it leaves the reader wondering. The Empty House is the next story, which brings Holmes back. Conan Doyle probably found an easy way to bring Holmes back into his stories since he had left so much mystery in The Final Problem. In this story Holmes comes back and explains to Watson what really happened to him. When Holmes enters the story Watson amazement is clearly seen when he cries Holmes! Is it really you? I would describe Conan Doyles description of Holmes as very vivid and imaginative as you may be able to see in the following extract: Holmes looked even thinner and keener than of old, but there was a dead-white tinge in his aquiline face. Doyles use of words in this quotation interested me greatly. When he used the words aquiline face and white tinge it made me question myself, where has he been? What has he been doing? I think he uses a great technique for creating curiosity in the readers mind, which is probably another way to keep his readers interested. Holmes goes on to tell Watson that he had thrown Professor Moriarty off the cliff and saved himself, but some of Moriartys thugs had seen him and now are trying to kill him. I think this is a great storyline because the readers are probably curious to know how he is going to get away from them. This leads Holmes and Watson to the empty house where they hide while waiting for the criminals to attack! Holmes had left a dummy in the window of Holmes office in the shape of himself to attract them. Then a man, described to have a high, bald forehead, and a huge grizzled moustache. His eyes shone like stars as he was staring out of the window aiming his gun at the dummy. When the glass was broken by a shot, Holmes sprang like a tiger and grabbed the man and threw him on the floor where, quite unbelievably, the man got an upper hand on Holmes and Watson hit him over the head with his rifle. I think Doyle has staged this outcome of the attack purposely to put Watson in the limelight to remind the reader of Holmes and Watsons companionship. and once again Mr Sherlock Holmes is free to devote his life to examining those interesting little problems which complex the life of London so plentifully present. This quotation from the end paragraph, in my opinion, leaves a great relief for the reader because it states that Holmes is carrying on his career. It would have probably appealed more so to the readers in Victorian England because they didnt have much entertainment at all and showed a great fascination in the Sherlock Holmes stories. I think another way Conan Doyle keeps the audience interested is by using great techniques to sustain the tension, which may keep the reader anxious while relieving them at the same time such as when he starts to explain the setting in great detail, which also intrigued me because it gives a good idea of what is happening around the characters, as you may see in the following extract: I found the latch and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the forecastle of an emigrant ship. I think the simile he has used in this quotation is very imaginative and he gives me a good understanding of what the room is like. I also found in each of these stories, that Watson seems to be narrating them, which I found quite strange because I thought that Holmes would more than likely be telling the story, but then I thought Doyle may be using Watson to give the reader a full view of Holmes himself from another persons perspective. Conan Doyle always wrote crime stories. This was probably because they were so popular and caught the publics attention so vividly. I think that some of the reasons why these stories are so popular are because they are short stories so they are more accessible to the reader and dont make them feel as though they have to read a whole book. Also the language doesnt seem difficult, so the reader would probably not have any problems understanding it. In Victorian England the art of conversation was somewhat different to our modern day society. People of that time in history would not have used slang or colloquialism, so the form of these stories is Standard English. These stories are also very descriptive and have strong characters, which I think, help to intrigue and sustain the readers attention, even in modern day society people still enjoy a good crime drama, which is shown because of all the different movies and programs such as, Columbo and Inspector Morse. I found these stories quite easy to read. I have personally enjoyed reading these stories and I can see why they are so popular and I think they will probably be very enjoyable in years to come. All of these stories have a little mystery in them and I think that is one of the main qualities that are needed for a good crime drama because it makes them interesting and I personally love mystery in a story.

Major General John Sullivan in the American Revolution

Major General John Sullivan in the American Revolution A native of New Hampshire, Major General John Sullivan rose to become one of the Continental Armys most tenacious fighters during the American Revolution (1775-1783). When the war began in 1775, he departed his role as a delegate to the Second Continental Congress to accept as commission as a brigadier general. The next five years would see Sullivan briefly serve in Canada before joining  General George Washingtons army. A veteran of the fighting around New York and Philadelphia in 1776 and 1777, he later held independent commands in Rhode Island and western New York. Leaving the army in 1780, Sullivan returned to Congress and advocated for additional support from France. In his later years he served as Governor of New Hampshire and a federal judge. Early Life Career Born February 17, 1740 in Somersworth, NH, John Sullivan was the third son of the local schoolmaster.   Receiving a thorough education, he elected to pursue a legal career and read law with Samuel Livermore in Portsmouth between 1758 and 1760. Completing his studies, Sullivan married Lydia Worster in 1760 and three years later opened his own practice in Durham. The towns first lawyer, his ambition angered Durhams residents as he frequently foreclose on debts and sued his neighbors. This led the inhabitants of the town to file a petition with the New Hampshire General Court in 1766 calling for relief from his oppressive extortive behavior. Gathering favorable statements from a few friends, Sullivan succeeded in having the petition dismissed and then attempted to sue his attackers for libel. In the wake of this incident, Sullivan did begin to improve his relations with the people of Durham and in 1767 befriended Governor John Wentworth. Increasingly wealthy from his legal practice and other business endeavors, he used his connection to Wentworth to secure a majors commission in the New Hampshire militia in 1772. Over the next two years, Sullivans relationship with the governor soured as he moved increasingly into the Patriot camp. Angered by the Intolerable Acts and Wentworths habit of dissolving the colonys assembly, he represented Durham at the First Provincial Congress of New Hampshire in July 1774. Patriot Chosen as a delegate to the First Continental Congress, Sullivan traveled to Philadelphia that September.   While there he supported the Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress which outlined colonial grievances against Britain. Sullivan returned to New Hampshire in November and worked to built local support for the document. Alerted to British intentions to secure weapons and powder from the colonials, he took part in a raid on Fort William Mary in December which saw the militia capture a large quantity of cannon and muskets. A month later, Sullivan was selected to serve in the Second Continental Congress.   Departing later that spring, he learned of the Battles of Lexington and Concord and the start of the American Revolution upon arriving in Philadelphia.   Brigadier General With the formation of the Continental Army and selection of General George Washington its commander, Congress moved forward with appointing other general officers. Receiving a commission as a brigadier general, Sullivan departed the city in late June to joined the army at the Siege of Boston. Following the liberation of Boston in March 1776, he received orders to lead men north to reinforce the American troops which had invaded Canada the previous fall.   Not reaching Sorel on the St. Lawrence River until June, Sullivan quickly found that the invasion effort was collapsing. Following a series of reverses in the region, he began withdrawing south and was later joined by troops led by Brigadier General Benedict Arnold. Returning to friendly territory, attempts were made to scapegoat Sullivan for the invasions failure.   These allegations were soon shown to be false and he was promoted to major general on August 9. Captured Rejoining Washingtons army at New York, Sullivan assumed command of those forces positioned on Long Island as Major General Nathanael Greene had fallen ill. On August 24, Washington replaced Sullivan with Major General Israel Putnam and assigned him to command a division. On the American right at the Battle of Long Island three days later, Sullivans men mounted a tenacious defense against the British and Hessians. Personally engaging the enemy as his men were pushed back, Sullivan fought the Hessians with pistols before being captured. Taken to the British commanders, General Sir William Howe and Vice Admiral Lord Richard Howe, he was employed to travel to Philadelphia to offer a peace conference to Congress in exchange for his parole. Though a conference later occurred on Staten Island, it accomplished nothing. Return to Action Formally exchanged for Brigadier General Richard Prescott in September, Sullivan returned to the army as it retreated across New Jersey. Leading a division that December, his men moved along the river road and played a key role in the American victory at the Battle of Trenton. A week later, his men saw action at the Battle of Princeton before moving into winter quarters at Morristown. Remaining in New Jersey, Sullivan oversaw an abortive raid against Staten Island on August 22 before Washington moved south to defend Philadelphia. On September 11, Sullivans division initially occupied a position behind the Brandywine River as the Battle of Brandywine commenced. As the action progressed, Howe turned Washingtons right flank and Sullivans division raced north to face the enemy. Attempting to mount a defense, Sullivan succeeded in slowing the enemy and was able to withdraw in good order after being reinforced by Greene. Leading the American attack at the Battle of Germantown the following month, Sullivans division performed well and gained ground until a series of command and control issues led to an American defeat. After entering winter quarters at Valley Forge in mid-December, Sullivan departed the army in March of the following year when he received orders to assume command of American troops in Rhode Island. Battle of Rhode Island Tasked with expelling the British garrison from Newport, Sullivan spent the spring stockpiling supplies and making preparations. In July, word arrived from Washington that he could expect aid from French naval forces led by Vice Admiral Charles Hector, comte dEstaing. Arriving late that month, dEstaing met with Sullivan and devised an attack plan. This was soon thwarted by the arrival of a British squadron led by Lord Howe. Quickly re-embarking his men, the French admiral departed to pursue Howes ships. Expecting dEstaing to return, Sullivan crossed to Aquidneck Island and began moving against Newport. On August 15, the French returned but dEstaings captains refused to stay as their ships had been damaged by a storm.   As a result, they immediately left for Boston leaving an incensed Sullivan to continue the campaign. Unable to conduct a protracted siege due to British reinforcements moving north and lacking the strength for a direct assault, Sullivan withdrew to a defensive position at the northern end of the island in the hopes that the British might pursue him. On August 29, British forces attacked the American position in the inconclusive Battle of Rhode Island. Though Sullivans men inflicted greater casualties in the fighting the failure to take Newport marked the campaign as a failure. Sullivan Expedition In early 1779, following a series of attacks and massacres on the Pennsylvania-New York frontier by British rangers and their Iroquois allies, Congress directed Washington to dispatch forces to the region to eliminate the threat. After command of the expedition was turned down by Major General Horatio Gates, Washington selected Sullivan to lead the effort. Gathering forces, Sullivans Expedition moved through northeast Pennsylvania and into New York conducting a scorched earth campaign against the Iroquois. Inflicting major damage on the region, Sullivan swept aside the British and Iroquois at the Battle of Newtown on August 29.   By the time the operation ended in September, over forty villages had been destroyed and the threat greatly reduced. Congress Later Life In increasingly ill health and frustrated by Congress, Sullivan resigned from the army in November and returned to New Hampshire. Hailed as a hero at home, he rebuffed the approaches of British agents who sought to turn him and accepted election to Congress in 1780. Returning to Philadelphia, Sullivan worked to resolve the status of Vermont, deal with financial crises, and obtain additional financial support from France. Completing his term in August 1781, he became New Hampshires attorney general the following year. Holding this position until 1786, Sullivan later served in the New Hampshire Assembly and as President (Governor) of New Hampshire. During this period, he advocated for ratification of the US Constitution. With the formation of the new federal government, Washington, now president, appointed Sullivan as the first federal judge for the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire. Taking the bench in 1789, he actively ruled on cases until 1792 when ill health began to limit his activities. Sullivan died at Durham on January 23, 1795 and was interred his family cemetery.