Starter quiz
- What did the police force initially focus on in the Victorian era?
- Solving crimes.
- Preventing crimes. ✓
- Supervising children.
-
- Why was the character of Sherlock Holmes admired by many?
- He was a member of the police for many years.
- He was meticulous in his approach to solving crimes. ✓
- He prevented more crimes in a skilful way.
-
- In the story 'The Speckled Band', what state is Helen in when she comes to Holmes?
- Excitement.
- Amusement.
- Agitation. ✓
-
- Why is Helen shivering when she goes to see Holmes in 'The Speckled Band'?
- It is cold in Sherlock's home.
- She has no coat.
- She is frightened. ✓
-
- In the story 'The Speckled Band', what does the simile "her eyes like those of a hunted animal" suggest about Helen?
- She is not acting like a human.
- She is dangerous.
- She is in vulnerable and in danger. ✓
-
- What can we predict about the reason Helen has approached Holmes in 'The Speckled Band'?
- She may want some advice about crime rates in her area.
- She may need his help in solving a serious crime. ✓
- She wants to catch up after many years of not seeing each other.
-
Exit quiz
- In the story 'The Speckled Band', why has Helen Stoner come to Sherlock Holmes?
- To seek advice about her marriage to Percy Armitage.
- To seek help solving the mysterious case around the death of her sister. ✓
- To report her stepfather's violence towards her.
-
- What is true of the Roylott family who appear in the story 'The Speckled Band'?
- They are related to royals.
- They lost all of their wealth. ✓
- They remain the richest family in England.
-
- What does ferocious mean?
- Violent and cruel. ✓
- Supernatural.
- Unkind.
-
- In the story 'The Speckled Band', which character is described as engaging in "ferocious quarrels"?
- John Watson.
- Sherlock Holmes.
- Julia Stoner.
- Dr Roylott. ✓
-
- What is interesting about the place where Helen is currently sleeping in 'The Speckled Band'?
- It is the room in which her mother slept.
- It is the room in which her sister died. ✓
- It is the room in which Dr Roylott used to sleep in.
-
- In the story 'The Speckled Band', what is similar about the circumstances of Helen and Julia upon hearing the whistle?
- They both heard it on their engagement day.
- They both heard it on the day they moved into Stoke Moran.
- They both had marriages planned when they started hearing it. ✓
-
Worksheet
Presentation
Video
Loading video...
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Julia Stoner has died in a suspicious manner
- There does not seem to be an obvious way in which Julia Stoner died
- There are a range of peculiar events and clues which Holmes must piece together to solve the case
- Based on recent events, Helen may now face the same danger as her sister
Common misconception
Julia Stoner's death was accidental.
Explain that the point of a mystery story is for the detective to use clues to solve it and usually find a perpetrator.
Keywords
Ferocious - A ferocious act is one that is violent and cruel.
Speckled - To have speckles is to have many small spots or patches of colour.
Casefile - A casefile is a document kept with all the details of an investigation.
Mystery - A mystery is something that is difficult to understand or explain.
Suspicious - If an incident is suspicious, then there is reason to mistrust or feel doubt towards it.
+