"Dr. Watson's summary list of Sherlock Holmes's strengths and weaknesses:
1. Knowledge of Literature: Nil.
2. Knowledge of Philosophy: Nil.
3. Knowledge of Astronomy: Nil.
4. Knowledge of Politics: Feeble.
5. Knowledge of Botany: Variable. Well up in belladonna, opium, and poisons generally. Knows nothing of practical gardening
6. Knowledge of Geology: Practical but limited. Tells at a glance different soils from each other. After walks has shown me splashes upon his trousers, and told me by their colour and consistence in what part of London he had received them.
7: Knowledge of Chemistry: Profound
8. Knowledge of Anatomy: Accurate but unsystematic.
9. Knowledge of Sensational Literature: Immense. He appears to know every detail of every horror perpetrated in the century.
10. Plays the violin well.
11. Is an expert singlestick player, boxer, and swordsman.
12. Has a good practical knowledge of British low."
- Arthur Conan Doyle, "A Study In Scarlet"
Direct or Inderect
1 answer
The characterization demonstrated in the provided sentences is indirect characterization.
Dr. Watson provides a detailed list of Sherlock Holmes's strengths and weaknesses without explicitly stating what Holmes is like in personality or character traits. Instead, readers infer aspects of Holmes’s personality based on the specific knowledge and skills he possesses (or lacks), illustrating his unique intellect and interests.
