The Return of Sherlock Holmes Study Guide

Summary

The Return of Sherlock Holmes marks the celebrated detective’s dramatic comeback after his presumed death at Reichenbach Falls, re‑establishing his partnership with Dr. Watson and confronting lingering threats from his archenemy Moriarty. Across thirteen short stories, Holmes showcases his unrivaled powers of observation, deduction, and disguise, solving baffling cases ranging from the eerie “Adventure of the Empty House” and the cryptic “Adventure of the Dancing Men” to the macabre “The Adventure of the Norwood Builder” and the cunning “Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton.” The collection blends classic Victorian intrigue with emerging modern anxieties, illustrating Holmes’s adaptability in a world reshaped by war, social change, and the lingering shadows of his past adversaries.

Main Characters

Sherlock Holmes

Consulting detective who returns to London and solves the cases

Dr. John Watson

Narrator, loyal friend, and chronicler of Holmes’s investigations

Professor James Moriarty

Criminal mastermind whose death looms over the stories, motivating Holmes’s return

Colonel Sebastian Moran

Moriarty’s chief henchman, pursued by Holmes in "The Adventure of the Empty House"

Inspector Lestrade

Metropolitan Police officer who frequently seeks Holmes’s assistance

Themes

Discussion Questions

1. How does Holmes’s return after the Reichenbach incident reshape his relationship with Watson and the world around them?
2. In what ways do the stories reflect the social and political anxieties of early‑20th‑century Britain?
3. Compare and contrast Holmes’s methods of deduction with the police’s investigative approaches. What does this say about authority and expertise?
4. How does the motif of hidden messages (e.g., the dancing men, the coded notes) explore themes of communication and misinterpretation?
5. What role does morality play in cases like "Charles Augustus Milverton" where Holmes aids a criminal to achieve a greater good?
6. How do the various villains embody different facets of evil, and what does Holmes’s handling of each reveal about his own character?
7. Discuss the significance of the recurring setting of London’s foggy streets. How does atmosphere contribute to the narrative tension?
8. In "The Adventure of the Empty House," how does Holmes’s use of disguise challenge notions of identity and perception?
9. What does the resolution of "The Adventure of the Norwood Builder" suggest about the limits of rational explanation?
10. How might the themes and investigative techniques in these stories be applied to contemporary problem‑solving contexts?