Animal Quote by Arthur Conan Doyle
“A hound it was, an enormous coal-black hound, but not such a hound as mortal eyes have ever seen. Fire burst from its open mouth, its eyes glowed with a smouldering glare, its muzzle and hackles and dewlap were outlined in flickering flame. Never in the delirious dream of a disordered brain could anything more savage, more appalling, more hellish be conceived than that dark form and savage face which broke upon us out of the wall of fog.”
About This Quote
Source Story: Short fiction, likely from a Sherlock Holmes adventure, early 20th century
The passage describes a terrifying, supernatural hound of fire, embodying primal fear and the horror of confronting an unknowable, monstrous force.
In simple terms: A fiery, monstrous hound embodies deep fear.
Key Takeaway
Confront and understand primal fears.
Themes
fear
supernatural
monsters
psychology
Mood
eerie
intense
dramatic
Type
literary
mythic
psychological
When to use this quote
- horror literature analysis
- psychotherapy for trauma
- creative storytelling
- film monster design
Key Concepts
mythic symbolism
human imagination
nightmare imagery
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the hound represent in human psyche?
- How can confronting imagined monsters aid real‑world courage?
A Different Perspective
Such vivid horror may be exaggerated, reducing practical relevance.
