Scene 30 · Notes

Notes　Scene 30: A Map of Knowledge

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Notes on this scene

Watson recites his old assessment of Holmes’s knowledge and abilities, including his expertise in crime, chemistry, anatomy, music, boxing, swordsmanship, and law. The list also records surprising gaps in other subjects and some of Holmes’s unusual personal habits as well.

Japanese in this scene

について
について means “about; concerning.” It attaches to the topic being discussed or investigated.
そう
そう can refer back to something already stated, meaning “so” or “that way.” Its exact force depends on the surrounding sentence.
だった
だった is the plain past form of だ, meaning “was.” It links a noun or na-adjective to a past description.

Full text: original English and Japanese translation

"Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the main points of my analysis."

「そうだった」と私は笑って答えた。「あれは奇妙な文書だったね。確か、哲学、天文学、政治学はゼロと記した。植物学はまちまち、地質学は町から五十マイル以内のどの土地の泥の染みについても深遠、化学は風変わり、解剖学は体系立たず、通俗文学と犯罪記録は無類。ヴァイオリン弾き、ボクサー、剣士、法律家、それにコカインとたばこで自分を毒する者だった。主な分析結果はそんなところだったと思う」

Japanese words in this scene (with English meanings; ☆ saves a word)

  • だった — was; were
  • 私（わたし） — I; me
  • た — past-tense auxiliary
  • 奇妙（きみょう） — strange; peculiar
  • 文書（ぶんしょ） — document; writing; letter; papers
  • 哲学（てつがく） — philosophy
  • 天文学（てんもんがく） — astronomy
  • 政治（せいじ） — politics; government

Next scene: Putting Knowledge to Use

Holmes smiles at Watson’s old inventory of his knowledge. What information should a person keep in the mind, and what can remain available in books for later use? The pair return to the case, gathering the facts and knowledge they need. Holmes asks Watson for a volume from the shelf and resumes tracing the argument.

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