Book Anatomy · The Hound of the Baskervilles
The Hound of the Baskervilles: Pace
16 lenses on pace 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: D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11 D12 D13 D14 D15 D16
D1. Chapter length in words, as a chart. Count
15 chapters, median 3,868 words. See the full lens on the book page.
D2. Mean sentence length per chapter. Count
Mean 14.7 words. See the full lens on the book page.
D3. Paragraph length per chapter. Count
Paragraphs average 40 words.
Mean paragraph words, chapter by chapter
D4. Scene against summary: how much is shown live? AI
Most of the book is shown live in scenes with dialogue and action. Chapters 1 to 5, 6 to 9, 11 to 14 are primarily in scene. Chapter 10 and 15 use summary and reflection, but even these contain some live dialogue.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 2, Ch 3, Ch 4, Ch 5, Ch 6
D5. Action against reflection, per chapter. AI
Early chapters (1 to 5) balance action with reflection as Watson and Holmes analyse clues. Middle chapters (6 to 11) shift toward action and observation on the moor. Final chapters (12 to 15) return to action climax then reflection and explanation.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 2, Ch 3, Ch 4, Ch 5, Ch 6
D6. Tension score per chapter (1 to 5) as a curve. AI
Peak 5 of 5, mean 3.5. See the full lens on the book page.
D7. Emotional arc of the whole book, matched to the six shapes. Count
Riches to rags (fall). See the full lens on the book page.
D8. Chapter endings: cliffhanger, question, reveal or quiet close. AI
12 of 15 chapters end on a hook. See the full lens on the book page.
D9. Chapter openings: in scene, in summary, or after a time jump. AI
Chapter 1 opens in scene with Holmes and Watson. Chapters 2 to 5 continue in scene. Chapter 6 uses a time jump to Devonshire. Chapters 7 to 11 open in scene or with Watson's observations. Chapter 12 opens in scene. Chapters 13 to 15 open in scene or with brief summary.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 2, Ch 3, Ch 4, Ch 5, Ch 6
D10. Do chapters and sentences get shorter near the climax? Count
In the last fifth, chapters run at 0.99 times the length of earlier ones, and sentences at 1.13 times. So the end does not speed up by these measures.
D11. Dialogue density against pace. Count
Link between dialogue share and chapter length: -0.29 (1 is a perfect match, 0 none). Between dialogue share and tension: -0.31.
Dialogue % per chapter, chapter by chapter
D12. Time jumps and how they are signalled. Both
7 time jump phrases in the narration, such as 'next morning' or 'years later'.
| Where | Phrase |
|---|---|
| c2p33 | next day |
| c7p2 | the following morning |
| c8p11 | next morning |
| c8p12 | next week |
| c9p45 | next night |
| c13p80 | next day |
| c15p2 | six months later |
Time jump phrases, chapter by chapter
Ch 2, para 33: “The facts of the case are simple. Sir Charles Baskerville was in the habit every night before going to bed of walking down the famous yew alley of …
Ch 7, para 2: The fresh beauty of the following morning did something to efface from our minds the grim and grey impression which had been left upon both of us by …
Ch 8, para 11: He came over to call upon Baskerville on that first day, and the very next morning he took us both to show us the spot where the legend …
Ch 8, para 12: On our way back we stayed for lunch at Merripit House, and it was there that Sir Henry made the acquaintance of Miss Stapleton. From the first moment …
Ch 9, para 45: I have said “by one night’s work,” but, in truth, it was by two nights’ work, for on the first we drew entirely blank. I sat up with …
Ch 13, para 80: I was much astounded by this programme, though I remembered that Holmes had said to Stapleton on the night before that his visit would terminate next day. It …
Time jumps are signalled by chapter breaks and Watson's narrative transitions. Chapter 6 jumps to Devonshire with 'Watson, Sir Henry, and Dr. Mortimer travel to Devonshire.' Chapter 10 uses diary entries to mark passage of time. Chapter 13 uses Holmes's explanation to signal the gap.
Chapters: Ch 6, Ch 10, Ch 13
D13. Info dump spots: long runs with no action or speech. Both
4 stretches of 900 words or more with no speech at all. These are where description, summary or backstory pile up.
| Starts at | Words | Paragraphs |
|---|---|---|
| c8p1 | 2063 | 16 |
| c8p24 | 1061 | 11 |
| c15p11 | 993 | 5 |
| c2p30 | 928 | 4 |
Chapter 3 contains extended deduction with little action as Holmes theorises about the case. Chapter 10 is mostly diary entries and Watson's reflection. Chapter 15 is Holmes's full explanation of the scheme with minimal action.
Chapters: Ch 3, Ch 10, 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)
D14. Reading time per chapter. Count
About 4.0 hours to read at 250 words a minute. The longest chapter takes 26.7 minutes.
Minutes per chapter, chapter by chapter
D15. Micro tension in quiet scenes. AI
Quiet scenes maintain tension through Watson's uncertainty and observation. Chapter 7 creates tension as Watson questions Barrymore's honesty. Chapter 8 builds suspense through Watson's discovery of the signalling. Chapter 11 creates tension as Watson searches for the mysterious hut.
Chapters: Ch 7, Ch 8, Ch 11
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)
What it all means I cannot guess, but there is some secret business going on in this house of gloom which sooner or later we shall get to the bottom of. (Ch 8, para 28)
There, in that hut upon the moor, seems to lie the very centre of that problem which has vexed me so sorely. (Ch 10, para 90)
D16. Section breaks per chapter. Count
0 section breaks marked in the text, in 0 of 15 chapters.
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