The Sign of Four Chapter 5 The Tragedy

‘The Sign of Four’ Chapter 5 The Tragedy of Pondicherry Lodge Learning Objective • Should: Read and understand chapter 5 of ‘The Sign of Four’ – The Tragedy of Pondicherry Lodge • Could: Understand the intricacies of the plot so far • Might: Continue to interrogate Conan Doyle’s narrative style

This lesson you will need…

Which adjectives describe Thaddeus Sholto? Write a sentence for each of your choices explaining why. Use a dictionary to help if you don’t know what the words mean. Language Alert! exc t n a r o n ig dramatic g n i d n rsta unde itab le nervou kind s courag eous eager y d e e n hypoch ondria ic r t n e ecc self-ob sessed c sensiti ve

LO: Begin to understand Conan Doyle’s narrative s ’ style and his reasons for usingyit. e Langua l ge o D. n a u “Conan Doyle employs a first-person narrator, but instead n o y o C o of seeing the story from Sherlock Holmes’ pointn of view, t s first person narrator t o d x r y we read the mystery from the perspective of his devotedne a narrator who o r is usually one ofy a w x n m o e follower, Watson. This was done to sustain the suspense in o the characters in the novel and r s h m p r t u e d writes about evens from a single s the stories, as Holmes’rthoughts are not always revealed se p n u a e u perspective, using the pronoun h t o o t to us as they occur. If the reader arrived at solutions as s y i w h t e ‘I’n t r o i n a quickly as the protagonist Holmes does, then the novel ag protagonist w o h s t S e r o v e r i would lack mystery and end veryp abruptly. However, with t the central character in the novel p a , – r r Watsona asrour narrator, awe trace the plot t ino the same was proxy p n a r w a person who represents r a reasonably intelligent and sensible person might, but s a n n someone else e n without. T Holmes’ rapid genius. Many critics believe that h o s r e Watson serves as p a proxy for the reader and we are able t s talents in a similar way to him. ” to marvelfat ir. Holmes’ Alert!

Chapter 5 The Tragedy at Pondicherry Lodge As we continue to read make sure you: • Listen carefully • Use your glossary to check any key words as we go along • Put your hand up and ask if there any extra words we need to add to our glossary • Read to: “No wonder that the grounds look like a gravel-pit. ”

LO: Understand the intricacies of the plot so far Key term – sub-plot A second plot, which runs alongside the main plot • Think – pair – share – What is the sub-plot of ‘The Sign of Four’? – What evidence have we seen of this sub-plot so far? – Why has Conan Doyle employed this sub-plot

What do these quotations tell us about the sub-plot? Ch 2 The Statement of the Case “I sat and mused, until such dangerous thoughts came into my head… What was I… that I should dare to think of such things? ” During their journey to Thaddeus Sholto’s home Ch 3 In Quest of a Solution “To this day she declares that I told her one moving anecdote as to how a musket looked into my tent at the dead of night…” Mrs Morstan has just discovered that she is worth a small forture. Ch 4 The Story of the Bald-Headed Man Watson: “Surely it was the place of a loyal friend to rejoice at such news; yet I am ashamed to say that selfishness took me by the soul, and that my heart turned as heavy as lead within me. ” Ch 5 The Tragedy of Pondicherry Lodge “now in an hour of trouble our hands instinctively sought for each other… there was in her also the instinct to turn to me for comfort and protection. ”

Chapter 5 The Tragedy of Pondicherry Lodge As we continue to read make sure you: • Listen carefully • Use your glossary to check any key words as we go along • Put your hand up and ask if there any extra words we need to add to our glossary • Read to: “No wonder that the grounds look like a gravel-pit. ”

LO: Understand the intricacies of the plot so far • ‘The Sign of Four’ is a detective novel. How many mysteries have there been so far? • Note down all the mysteries that have been solved or are still on going. • Another mysterious crime is about to be revealed. While we read, use the Detective Case Report to make a note of the crime and the clues as they are revealed.

Chapter 5 The Tragedy of Pondicherry Lodge As we continue to read make sure you: • Listen carefully • Use your glossary to check any key words as we go along • Put your hand up and ask if there any extra words we need to add to our glossary • Read to: the end of the chapter

LO: Continue to interrogate Conan Doyle’s narrative style Think – pair – share What narrative techniques has Conan Doyle used in the first five chapters of ‘The Sign of Four’? Pick one and think of as many reasons as you can as to why he has used it.

Homework Go on! Challenge yourself. • Should – Complete a chapter 5 summary • Could – Repeat the plenary activity – with another narrative technique • Might – Write a prediction for what you think happened to Bartholomew Sholto

‘The Sign of Four’ Chapter 5 The Tragedy of Pondicherry Lodge Learning Objective • Should: Read and understand chapter 5 of ‘The Sign of Four’ – The Tragedy of Pondicherry Lodge • Could: Understand the intricacies of the plot so far • Might: Continue to interrogate Conan Doyle’s narrative style