Book Anatomy · The Hound of the Baskervilles
The Hound of the Baskervilles: Character
20 lenses on character for The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle. Count lenses are exact for our text. AI lenses are our reading and cite only quotes that passed a word for word check.
Jump to: B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8 B9 B10 B11 B12 B13 B14 B15 B16 B17 B18 B19 B20
B1. Cast list with first appearance and share of mentions. Count
Lead Sherlock Holmes; 14 main characters. See the full lens on the book page.
B2. Who is on the page in each chapter (presence heat map)? Count
Lead Sherlock Holmes; 14 main characters. See the full lens on the book page.
B3. What does the lead want, and what do they truly need? AI
Holmes wants to solve the mystery of the Baskerville curse and protect Sir Henry from danger.. See the full lens on the book page.
B4. What false belief does the lead hold, and how is it tested? AI
Watson initially believes the curse may be supernatural. This is tested throughout Ch6 to 9 as he hears the hound and sees mysterious figures, but Holmes gradually reveals the rational criminal scheme beneath the legend.
Chapters: Ch 6, Ch 7, Ch 9, Ch 11, Ch 15
there stood a foul thing, a great, black beast, shaped like a hound, yet larger than any hound that ever mortal eye has rested upon. (Ch 2, para 21)
The story took a great hold upon the imagination of Sir Charles, and I have no doubt that it led to his tragic end. (Ch 7, para 31)
As the old man stood there he saw something coming across the moor, something which terrified him so that he lost his wits and ran and ran until he died of sheer horror and exhaustion. (Ch 8, para 13)
B5. Arc type: positive, flat or negative? AI
Positive arc. Holmes begins with a puzzle and ends with complete mastery and explanation. Watson begins uncertain and ends confident in Holmes's methods. Sir Henry begins in danger and ends safe.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 15
Thus I had made certain of the hound, and had guessed at the criminal before ever we went to the west country (Ch 15, para 20)
And now, my dear Watson, we have had some weeks of severe work, and for one evening, I think, we may turn our thoughts into more pleasant channels (Ch 15, para 28)
B6. Key arc moments with chapter and line. AI
Ch1: Holmes meets the case (quote 1, deduction). Ch3: Holmes commits to the case (quote 5, postpones thought). Ch9: Watson hears the hound (quote 20, supernatural fear). Ch11: Holmes emerges from hiding (quote 28, voice recognition). Ch13: Holmes reveals Stapleton's identity (quote 31, Baskerville heir). Ch15: Holmes explains the scheme (quote 34, had made certain).
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 3, Ch 9, Ch 11, Ch 13, Ch 15
It may be that you are not yourself luminous, but you are a conductor of light. (Ch 1, para 14)
and we will postpone all further thought upon this business until we have had the advantage of meeting Dr. Mortimer and Sir Henry Baskerville in the morning. (Ch 3, para 137)
They say it is the cry of the Hound of the Baskervilles. (Ch 9, para 108)
B7. The antagonist: goal, methods, and when they show their hand. AI
Stapleton. See the full lens on the book page.
B8. How is each main character first shown (first line, first act)? Both
Holmes: Ch1 deduces Mortimer's stick (quote 1). Watson: Ch1 narrator, attempts deduction. Mortimer: Ch1 arrives with manuscript. Sir Henry: Ch4 receives threatening letter. Stapleton: Ch7 warns Watson of danger. Barrymore: Ch6 greets them at Hall. Laura Lyons: Ch10 identified by Barrymore. Selden: Ch6 mentioned as escaped convict.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 4, Ch 6, Ch 7, Ch 10
It may be that you are not yourself luminous, but you are a conductor of light. (Ch 1, para 14)
B9. Who appears with whom? Network chart of shared scenes. Count
Pairs who share the most paragraphs. Counted where both names appear in one paragraph.
| Pair | Paragraphs together |
|---|---|
| Dr. Watson and Sherlock Holmes | 15 |
| Sherlock Holmes and Sir Henry Baskerville | 14 |
| Dr. Watson and Sir Henry Baskerville | 14 |
| Dr. James Mortimer and Sherlock Holmes | 12 |
| Dr. James Mortimer and Dr. Watson | 12 |
| Sherlock Holmes and Sir Charles Baskerville | 12 |
| Sherlock Holmes and Stapleton | 12 |
| Sir Charles Baskerville and Sir Henry Baskerville | 12 |
| Dr. Watson and Sir Charles Baskerville | 12 |
| Dr. Watson and Stapleton | 12 |
B10. Which relationships change most over the book? AI
Watson and Holmes: deepens from student-teacher to full partnership (Watson acts independently in Devon). Watson and Sir Henry: grows from stranger to ally and protector. Watson and Barrymore: shifts from suspicion to understanding. Stapleton and Sir Henry: moves from friendly neighbour to revealed murderer. Most change occurs in Watson's perception.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 6, Ch 7, Ch 9, Ch 14
B11. Foils and mirrors: who reflects the lead? AI
Watson mirrors Holmes as observer and deducer, though less skilled. Stapleton mirrors Holmes in intellect and planning but inverts his morality. The hound mirrors the curse legend, embodying both supernatural fear and rational weapon. Selden mirrors Sir Henry in wearing his clothes, creating false identity.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 7, Ch 12, Ch 14
there stood a foul thing, a great, black beast, shaped like a hound, yet larger than any hound that ever mortal eye has rested upon. (Ch 2, para 21)
The face of Stapleton had sprung out of the canvas. (Ch 13, para 40)
B12. Backstory wound: how and when is it revealed? AI
No explicit backstory wound for Holmes or Watson. Stapleton's wound is revealed gradually: Ch7 (mysterious naturalist), Ch13 (Baskerville heir seeking inheritance), Ch15 (full history of his crimes and family claim). Sir Henry's wound is the family curse, revealed in Ch1 to 2.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 2, Ch 13, Ch 15
The fellow is a Baskerville—that is evident. (Ch 13, para 43)
B13. Agency: how often does the lead act rather than react? AI
Holmes acts decisively: sends Watson to Devon (Ch5), hides on moor (Ch11), sets trap (Ch13), kills hound (Ch14). Watson acts: investigates Barrymore (Ch7), pursues convict (Ch9), interrogates Laura Lyons (Ch11). Both lead rather than react in crucial moments. Agency is high.
Chapters: Ch 5, Ch 7, Ch 9, Ch 11, Ch 13, Ch 14
We have him, Watson, we have him, and I dare swear that before tomorrow night he will be fluttering in our net as helpless as one of his own butterflies. (Ch 13, para 45)
B14. Physical description: how much, when, which traits repeat. Both
Looks words (eyes, hair, face and so on) in paragraphs that name each character. A rough guide to who gets described most. (rough estimate from word lists)
| Character | Looks words nearby |
|---|---|
| Sherlock Holmes | 64 |
| Sir Henry Baskerville | 41 |
| Stapleton | 35 |
| Barrymore | 27 |
| Sir Charles Baskerville | 16 |
| Dr. Watson | 14 |
| Dr. James Mortimer | 13 |
| Mrs. Laura Lyons | 6 |
Holmes: described as cold, incisive, ironical (Ch12, quote 28). Watson: practical, observant, loyal. Sir Henry: young, brave, vulnerable. Stapleton: described through portrait resemblance (Ch13, quote 30). Miss Stapleton: tropical, exotic, emotional (Ch8, quote 15). Physical traits are sparse; character is revealed through action and speech.
Chapters: Ch 8, Ch 12, Ch 13, Ch 15
There is something tropical and exotic about her which forms a singular contrast to her cool and unemotional brother. (Ch 8, para 10)
That cold, incisive, ironical voice could belong to but one man in all the world. (Ch 12, para 2)
The face of Stapleton had sprung out of the canvas. (Ch 13, para 40)
B15. Names, nicknames and titles, and how their use shifts. Count
The forms of each name used most, and how often the name comes up in each third of the book.
| Character | Most used forms | Mentions by third |
|---|---|---|
| Sherlock Holmes | Holmes (131), Sherlock Holmes (33), Mr. Holmes (27) | 89 / 31 / 71 |
| Sir Henry Baskerville | Sir Henry (130), Sir Henry Baskerville (22), Henry (4) | 32 / 78 / 46 |
| Dr. Watson | Watson (85), Dr. Watson (29) | 36 / 37 / 41 |
| Dr. James Mortimer | Dr. Mortimer (74), Mortimer (12), Dr. James Mortimer (4) | 55 / 26 / 9 |
| Sir Charles Baskerville | Charles (79), Sir Charles Baskerville (15) | 41 / 25 / 28 |
| Stapleton | Stapleton (87), Mr. Stapleton (6) | 3 / 36 / 54 |
| Barrymore | Barrymore (67), Mr. Barrymore (6) | 15 / 51 / 7 |
| Mrs. Laura Lyons | Mrs. Laura Lyons (10), Mrs. Lyons (10), Laura Lyons (1) | 0 / 5 / 16 |
B16. Mentors and sidekicks: their role and how they exit. AI
Holmes is Watson's mentor, guiding him from London (Ch1 to 5) and revealing himself on the moor (Ch11). He exits the narrative only in explanation (Ch15). Dr. Mortimer is ally and exposition source (Ch1 to 2, Ch6). Lestrade is ally in final confrontation (Ch14). All mentors and allies remain present through resolution.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 5, Ch 11, Ch 14, Ch 15
It may be that you are not yourself luminous, but you are a conductor of light. (Ch 1, para 14)
That cold, incisive, ironical voice could belong to but one man in all the world. (Ch 12, para 2)
B17. Repeated tags, gestures and tics per character. Both
Gestures that come in the same sentence as each name. (rough estimate from word lists)
| Character | Top gestures |
|---|---|
| Sherlock Holmes | shrugged 3, laughed 1, groaned 1 |
| Sir Henry Baskerville | smiled 1 |
| Dr. Watson | none |
| Dr. James Mortimer | none |
| Sir Charles Baskerville | none |
| Stapleton | laughed 1 |
| Barrymore | none |
| Mrs. Laura Lyons | none |
Holmes: cold, incisive voice (Ch12, quote 28); deduction from small details (repeated Ch1, 3, 4, 11, 13, 15). Watson: careful observation and reporting (repeated throughout). Stapleton: lies and deception (Ch7, quote 12). Barrymore: signals with candle (Ch8 to 9). Miss Stapleton: warnings and emotional outbursts (Ch7, quote 15).
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 7, Ch 8, Ch 9, Ch 12, Ch 15
And yet he lied as he said it, for it chanced that after breakfast I met Mrs. Barrymore in the long corridor with the sun full upon her face. (Ch 7, para 9)
There is something tropical and exotic about her which forms a singular contrast to her cool and unemotional brother. (Ch 8, para 10)
That cold, incisive, ironical voice could belong to but one man in all the world. (Ch 12, para 2)
B18. Moral choices that define the lead. AI
Holmes chooses to pursue truth over comfort (Ch1, takes the case). Watson chooses loyalty over safety (Ch5, goes to Devon). Watson chooses to investigate rather than accept surface explanations (Ch7 to 11). Holmes chooses to use Sir Henry as bait to catch a murderer (Ch13). All choices prioritise justice and truth.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 5, Ch 7, Ch 13
It’s an ugly business, Watson, an ugly dangerous business, and the more I see of it the less I like it. (Ch 5, para 142)
B19. Balance of speaking parts by gender. Count
Of attributed speech, women have 0% and men 100%. (rough estimate from word lists)
| Group | Words spoken |
|---|---|
| Women | 0 |
| Men | 3136 |
| Unclear | 0 |
B20. Who changes and who stays fixed? AI
Holmes changes from puzzled to masterful (Ch1 to Ch15). Watson changes from uncertain to confident (Ch1 to Ch15). Sir Henry changes from threatened to safe (Ch4 to Ch14). Stapleton does not change; he remains fixed in his criminal intent from hidden past to death. Barrymore changes from suspect to ally (Ch6 to Ch9).
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 4, Ch 6, Ch 9, Ch 14, Ch 15
Thus I had made certain of the hound, and had guessed at the criminal before ever we went to the west country (Ch 15, para 20)
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