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Texts›The Sign of Four›Quotes

The Sign of Four — Quotes

6 quotes with full 6-part analysis

1
PROGRESS

“When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, m…”

LOGICAL SYLLOGISM / CONDITIONAL STRUCTUREEPISTEMOLOGICAL APHORISM

Sherlock Holmes · Chapter 6

2
STAGNATE

“My mind rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work”

PERSONIFICATION OF THE MIND / IMPERATIVE DEMANDSEMANTIC FIELD OF CONFLICT

Sherlock Holmes · Chapter 1

3
STAGNATE

“It is the unofficial force — the Baker Street irregulars”

OXYMORON / MILITARY METAPHORIRONIC NAMING — INSTITUTIONALISING THE MARGINALISED

Sherlock Holmes · Chapter 8

4
STAGNATE

“I never guess. It is a shocking habit — destructive to the logical faculty”

ABSOLUTE NEGATION / HYPERBOLIC CONDEMNATIONSCIENTIFIC REGISTER — THE MIND AS LABORATORY

Sherlock Holmes · Chapter 1

5
PROGRESS

“Miss Morstan has done me the honour to accept me as a husband in prospective”

FORMAL REGISTER / PASSIVE CONSTRUCTIONFOIL — WATSON AS EMOTIONAL COUNTERPART

Dr Watson · Chapter 12

6
REGRESS

“It is my curse to see everything in terms of a problem”

SELF-AWARENESS / TRAGIC REGISTERPRONOUN SHIFT — 'MY' CURSE

Sherlock Holmes · Chapter 6

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