The Hound of the Baskervilles · Chapter
I: Mr. Sherlock Holmes explained
Sherlock Holmes and Dr.
What happens
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson examine a walking stick left by a visitor, Dr. James Mortimer. Through deductive reasoning, Holmes corrects Watson's initial conclusions and reveals details about Mortimer's profession and background. Mortimer arrives and, after some preliminary conversation about his scientific interests, hints at a serious problem that requires Holmes's expertise.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This excerpt marks the dramatic climax because Dr. Watson reaches his psychological breaking point, openly adm…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Reason vs. Superstition
Holmes applies logical deduction to the walking stick, contrasting with Mortimer's later hint of a supernatural problem.
- The Role of Science
Mortimer is introduced as a man of science, and Holmes's methods are presented as a scientific approach to crime.
Characters to notice
- Sherlock Holmes
Engages in deductive analysis of Dr. Mortimer's stick and receives Mortimer as a client.
- Dr. Watson
Present at breakfast, attempts his own deductions on the stick, and is praised by Holmes as a 'conductor of light'.
- Dr. James Mortimer
Visits Holmes to consult on a serious problem; described as tall, thin, with a beaked nose and gold-rimmed glasses; a man of science with an interest in skulls.
Key passages
“It may be that you are not yourself luminous, but you are a conductor of light.”
You may not be a genius yourself, but you help bring out genius in others.
Holmes compliments Watson's role in stimulating his own deductive process.
“I am myself an unpractical man and because I am suddenly confronted with a most serious and extraordinary problem.”
I am not a practical person, and I face a grave and unusual issue.
Mortimer explains why he seeks Holmes's help.
