1.1.3

Historical Context

Test yourself on Historical Context

Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

Historical Context: Victorian Police and Jack the Ripper

Arthur Conan Doyle had introduced Sherlock Holmes in 1887. This time coincided with the creation of the police force in England and the time of Jack the Ripper.

Holmes vs police

Holmes vs police

  • As Arthur Conan Doyle had introduced Sherlock Holmes (in 1887) as the perfect detective, readers may have felt that Holmes was able to do something the London police force was not.
    • Holmes explored all evidence and all possibilities to draw clear conclusions, supported by solid evidence.
Jack the Ripper

Jack the Ripper

  • As the number of murders by Jack the Ripper grew, Victorian readers may have become angrier and angrier with the police force.
    • They appeared to be useless and unable to protect the people of London.
Evolution of the police

Evolution of the police

  • But the police force began to grow and develop its skills.
    • They started to utilise new technologies.
      • E.g. photography and the birth of forensic analysis of crime scenes.
  • The Victorian public became more interested in detective fiction and in the work of the police force.
Athelney vs Holmes

Athelney vs Holmes

  • In Sign of the Four, Inspector Athelney Jones fails to pay close attention to key details of the crimes or the crime scene.
    • Conan Doyle uses him to show the idiocy and incompetence of the Victorian police force.
  • Conan Doyle uses Holmes to suggest that detectives could be successful if they did their jobs correctly and paid attention to evidence.
Jump to other topics
1

Context

1.1

Victorian England & British Empire

1.1.1Author Background1.1.2Victorian Crime & Police1.1.3Historical Context1.1.4Victorian London1.1.5Women1.1.6The British Empire1.1.7End of Topic Test - Author & Victorian Police1.1.8End of Topic Test - Victorian London & Empire
2

Plot Summary

2.1

Chapter Summaries

2.1.1Chapter 12.1.2Chapter 22.1.3Chapter 32.1.4Chapter 42.1.5Chapter 52.1.6Chapter 62.1.7Chapter 72.1.8Chapter 82.1.9Chapter 92.1.10Chapter 102.1.11Chapter 112.1.12Chapter 122.1.13Chapter 12: Jonathan Small's Stories2.1.14End of Topic Test - Chapters 1-62.1.15End of Topic Test - Chapters 7-12
3

Characters

3.1

Key Characters

3.1.1Sherlock Holmes3.1.2Sherlock Holmes: Quotations3.1.3Dr John Watson3.1.4Mary Morstan3.1.5End of Topic Test - Key Characters3.1.6Exam-Style Questions - Mary & Dr Watson
3.2

Other Characters

3.2.1Thaddeus Sholto3.2.2Jonathan Small3.2.3End of Topic Test - Thaddeus and Jonathan Small
3.3

Grade 9 - Key Characters

3.3.1Grade 9 - Key Characters3.3.2Extract Analysis - Tonga
4

Key Themes

4.1

Key Themes

4.1.1Corruption4.1.2Criminals & Victims4.1.3Victorian Fear4.1.4British Empire & Imperialism4.1.5Duality4.1.6End of Topic Test - Key Themes
5

Writing Techniques

5.1

Writing Techniques

5.1.1Narrative Voice5.1.2Dialogue5.1.3Structure5.1.4Structure & Characters5.1.5Pathetic Fallacy5.1.6End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques
6

Recap: Main Quotes

6.1

Characters Quotes

6.1.1Sherlock Holmes - Quotations6.1.2Dr John Watson - Quotations6.1.3Mary Morstan - Quotations6.1.4Thaddeus Sholto - Quotations6.1.5Jonathan Small - Quotations
6.2

Text Structure - Quotes

6.2.1Chapter 1 - Quotations6.2.2Chapter 2 - Quotations6.2.3Chapter 3 - Quotations6.2.4Chapter 4 - Quotations6.2.5Chapter 5 - Quotations6.2.6Chapter 6 - Quotations6.2.7Chapter 7 - Quotations6.2.8Chapter 8 - Quotations6.2.9Chapter 9 - Quotations6.2.10Chapter 10 - Quotations6.2.11Chapter 11 - Quotations6.2.12Chapter 12 - Quotations

Practice questions on Historical Context

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    What new technologies did the Victorian police begin using?Fill in the list
Answer all questions on Historical Context

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

  • Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions

  • Mini-mock exams based on your study history

  • Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium

Victorian Crime & Police

Victorian London