Formula Analysis of The Female Detective in Enola Holmes (2020)

Abstract

Detective fiction is a popular literary genre characterized by recurring narrative conventions while remaining adaptable to contemporary contexts. This study analyzes the detective fiction formula in Enola Holmes (2020) based on Scaggs’ (2005) framework and identifies how the film follows or modifies conventional detective fiction through its female detective protagonist. This study employed a descriptive qualitative design. The data consisted of scenes, dialogues, and screenshots from Enola Holmes (2020), supported by relevant books and journal articles, collected through documentation and repeated observation, and analyzed using a framework-based qualitative analysis grounded in Scaggs’ (2005) discussion of detective fiction conventions. The findings reveal that the film constructs the detective fiction formula through the presence of mystery, a detective figure, investigation, clues, and resolution. At the same time, it modifies conventional detective fiction by portraying Enola Holmes as an independent female detective whose investigation is driven by both logical reasoning and emotional motivation. The study concludes that Enola Holmes (2020) maintains the essential conventions of detective fiction while adapting them to contemporary perspectives, demonstrating the flexibility of the genre in representing modern female detectives.