A Scandal in Bohemia

In the 19th century, letters were a chief means of communication, and letters frequently feature in Sherlock Holmes stories. Letters fundamentally allow readers access to outside perspectives of Holmes through characters other than the first-person narrator, Watson. “A Scandal in Bohemia” incorporates letters at two key moments in the narrative: the King of Bohemia’s letter requesting a meeting with Holmes and the letter that Adler leaves for Holmes to find in her home. Doyle does not paraphrase the letters within the text. Instead, Doyle allows readers to see the entire letter, which lends authenticity and believability to their provenance. The inclusion of letters also allows readers to adopt the role of the detective by searching for clues in the letter like Holmes would do himself.

Foreshadowing is a literary technique in which a writer offers clues or hints at what will happen later in the story. Doyle often resorts to foreshadowing in his Sherlock Holmes stories as a way to build suspense and engage readers. The opening paragraph of “A Scandal in Bohemia” is a prime example of this literary technique. Watson describes how important “the woman” (61) is to Holmes and how Adler’s intellect and wit enthrall the detective. At the end of the story, it is “the woman” (75) who bests Holmes. Thus, the opening paragraph’s emphasis on Adler’s mental acuity hints at the role she will play in besting Holmes. Watson also foreshadows Adler’s triumph over Holmes when he remarks that “the very possibility of [Holmes] failing” (67) had never occurred to him.

Unlike a rhetorical question—in which a question is asked and does not require an answer—hypophora refers to a question posed and answered by the speaker. Throughout the short story, Holmes frequently resorts to posing questions that he himself answers. This is in line with the genre of the text, detective fiction, where problems are presented and then resolved using logic and reason. For example, Holmes asks a series of questions when he recounts to Watson his recent reconnaissance mission to the Adler residence: “This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the matter […] What was the relation between them, and what the object of his repeated visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress?” (68). These questions have a double function in that they serve to quiz Watson on his intuiting prowess, but they also remind readers of what clues and signs they should pay attention to. In addition, Doyle has Holmes ask and answer questions to reveal the inner workings of the sleuth and how his mind works.