Introduction :
' The Sign Of Four ', is written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle . He is a British writer .
The Novel begins with the discussion of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson . Soon Mary Morstan visits Holmes' office , to seek his advice . Mary tells Holmes the story of her father's disappearance and receiving the precious Pearls . Sherlock Holmes , the detective , starts investigation along with Dr.Watson and Morstan . The trio leave the place in a search of getting the answers of various questions . Finally , they succeeds in their attempt and finds the truth.
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BRAINSTORMING
CHARACTER :
A1 (i) Read the extract again and complete the web by highlighting the qualities of the following characters
1) Dr. Watson : empathetic
intelligent
lack in observation
human
2) Sherlock Holmes:
brilliant
adventures
less emotional
Keen eye
intelligent
3)Mary Morstan :
amiable
sweet
simple
plain
firm
sensitive
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(ii) Describe the character of Mary Morstan from Dr . Watson's point of view .
Answer :
Mary Morstan is a 27 year old young lady. She is sweet and amiable . She brings the case to Holmes and Watson's attention. She has been searching unsuccessfully for her father and has received several mysterious pearls in the mail .She is a well dressed young lady . She has a pale skin .She is working as a governance . Her mother died soon after Mary's birth. She is educated in England. She is not greedy. She is not interested in the treasure .She becomes happy when she finds the chest empty . At the end of the story, Watson proposes her. She accepts her proposal .
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iii ) Sherlock Holmes is the leading character in the extract. Explain.
Answer :
Sherlock Holmes is a leading character in the extract .He is a brilliant detective . He worked as a consulting detective for 23 years and 17 of those were with his true friend Dr. Watson .He has a Keen eye for every details . He is known for his disguises, his logical deduction and his early use of forensic science . He is deeply concerned with his own mental stimulation and tries to keep his mind occupied . He shows little emotion and only really cares about the facts of the case .
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iv) Dr. Watson , the narrator, is one of the major characters in the Novel . Illustrate.
Answer :
John Watson is one of the major characters in the Novel.He is Holmes partner and roommate . He was a doctor in army and had a bullet in his leg which can occasionally impede his movement.
He is also a very good shot . He has a very strong sense of honour and discretion . On occasion, he tries to solve cases without Holmes ,with a limited degree of success .He is more empathetic and human counterparts to Holmes . He is very intelligent , but lacking in powers of observation. Watson is later married to Miss Mary Morstan.
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(v) Holmes is always one step ahead of Dr. Watson in solving cases . Elucidate .
Answer :
Sherlock Holmes is a brilliant detective with an exceptional keen eye for details .He is known for his disguises, his logical deduction and his early use of forensic science. He is deeply concerned with his own mental stimulation and tries to keep his mind occupied . Holmes shows little emotion and only really cares about the facts of the case. This separates him from a common man and makes him seem different .
Where as Watson is intelligent but lacking in powers of observation.
That's why. Holmes is always one step ahead of Dr.Watson .
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PLOT
A2 -(i) Arrange the sentences in correct sequence as per their occurrence in the extract .
Jumbled Sentences :
1) Holmes put a revolver in his pocket.
2) Holmes gave Winwood's book
' Martyrdom of man ' to Dr. Watson .
3) Mary received a large and lustrous Pearl through the post.
4) Mary's Father was an officer in an Indian regiment .
5) Mary Morstan was a well dressed young lady .
Correct sequence :
1) Mary Morstan was a well dressed young lady .
2) Mary's Father was an officer in an Indian regiment .
3) Mary received a large and lustrous Pearl through the post .
4) Holmes gave Winwood's book , ' Martyrdom of man to' Dr. Watson
5) Holmes put a revolver in his pocket.
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(ii) Discuss the importance of the following statements from the light of the extract .
a) The trio - Holmes , Dr. Watson and Mary decide to visit Lyceum Theatre .
Ans :- The trio decides to visit Lyceum Theatre for further investigation . As the letter hints that some injustice has been done to Miss Mary , and allowed for bringing two friends along with her ,the trio decide to visit Lyceum Theatre .
Through this , Holmes gets a chance to understand the further story from Thaddus about the pearls and hidden treasure deeply . To the other hand , Dr. Watson got an opportunity to accompany Miss. Mary . In the end Watson falls in love with Mary .
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(b) Mary received Pearls every year on the same day .
Ans :-
It shows that someone among the culprits ,is loyal to Miss Mary's Father . He used to send lustrous Pearls to Miss Mary as a kind of apology .
c) Holmes carefully examined the paper given by Mary .
Ans:- For further investigation it was necessary to find out the address and name of the mysterious person.
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SETTING
A3 (i)
Cite various references ( lines )
from the extract that tell us about the time and period of the events .
Ans:-
Lines from the extract :
1) In the year 1878 my father , who was senior Captain of his regiment,
obtained twelve months leave and came home .
Time : 1878
Period : 12 months
2) ' He disappeared upon the 3rd of December ,1878. - nearly 10 year ago .
Time : 1878
Period : 10 years
3) " I have not yet described to you the most singular part . About six years ago - to be exact , upon the 4th of May ,1882 an advertisement appeared in the Times asking for the address of Miss Mary .........
Time : 4th of May ,1882 .
Period : six years ago .
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(ii) How does the series of actions go from London to India ? Explain by citing references from the extract .
Answer :
Holmes and Dr. Watson are whiling away the time at their residence in Baker Street , when a visitor arrives . It is miss Mary Morstan and she asks them to help her in unfolding the mystery of receiving pearls and disappearance of her father from the last 10 years.
During the investigation , Holmes and Watson seems to be rushing from one London location to another. They start from Baker Street at number 221b. From Baker Street
they travel to Lyceum Theatre. From Lyceum Theatre they are taken on a cab ride to various unknown part of London.The journey ends in Brixton .
In India the story takes place with indian rebellion of 1857 . Mary's Father was an officer along with Major Shalto in an Indian regiment.
They were in command on troops at the Andaman Islands . Small was a soldier in India and lost his right leg to crocodile while bathing in the Ganges. The Indian rebellions forced to flee for his life to Agra Fortress . Small become an accomplice in the Agra treasure and got penal servitude on the Andaman Islands.
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(iii) The extract begins when Mary Morstan meets Sherlock Holmes at his house . After that Holmes , Dr. Watson and Mary visits some places in London . Explain in details the various places mentioned in the extract .
Answer :
The places are ----- London ------
Baker Street ---- Lyceum Theatre ----Vincent Square ---- Vauxhall Bridge Road --------Surrey side ---------------
Wordsworth Road -----Priory Road------Robert Street ---Cold Harbour -----
Edinburgh --------- Brixton ----- The Thames river side , etc .
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(iv) Basically the setting of the extract is in London but it has some references of India ,too . Explain how the settings of the extract contribute to the theme of the novel .
Answer :
The Novel has a complex Plot - the Indian Rebellion of 1857 , a stolen treasure and a secret pact among four convicts ( ' the four ' of the title ) and two corrupt prison guards .
The theme of the novel revolves around the Agra treasure . Small is one of the accomplice .He was a soldier in India . Mary's Father was an Officer in an Indian regiment.
Major Sholto and Mary's Father were friends .Both of them were in Command of the troops at the Andaman Islands .
The whole story moves around Agra , Andaman islands and The Ganges . Thus the Indian Setting contributes the theme of the novel .
------------------------------------------------------(v) Describe in brief the importance of the following places in the extract.
a) London :
A city , where Sherlock Holmes , Dr. Watson , Mary Morstan ,and Sholto family lives .
The whole story moves in and around the city .
b) Lyceum Theatre :
A meeting place , where Sherlock Holmes , Watson and Miss Mary go to meet the unknown person who has called Mary to give her justice.
c) Edinburgh : a place in London
d) Agra :
The theme of the novel revolves around the Agra treasure .It directly and adversely affects every character of the novel . The conspiracy take place here and the whole story moves around it .
e) Andaman Islands :
It is the place where Small got penal servitude .
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vi) Which places /cities in India and England are mentioned / have appeared in the extract ?
Answer -
Cities /places appeared from India are ;
Agra = Where the Indian Rebellion gave Small a choice of being killed or being an accomplice in the robbery .
Andaman Islands = Small got penal servitude .
Ganges = Small lost his leg to crocodile while swimming .
Places of London :
Baker Street = residence of Holmes;.
Lyceum Theatre = meeting place , where Holmes and his company went to see the unknown person .
Edinburgh ,Rochester Row , Vincent Square , Vauxhall Bridge Road , Wordsworth Road ,Lark Hall Lane , Stock well place
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.... THEME...
A4 (i) Write in brief the theme of the extract .
Answer-
The theme of the extract revolves around the Agra treasure.
Throughout the story ,the appearance of the treasure leads to a direct change in the lives of characters .The shallowness of wealth and the destruction is also seen throughout the novel . Agra treasure brought nothing but bad luck to anyone who came in touch with it . The only exception to this is Miss Mary . She receives some pearls from the Agra treasure , but nothing happens to her .
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ii) Write 4-5 sentences about the meeting of Miss Morstan with Holmes .
Answer -
Dr. Watson and Sherlock Holmes were discussing on general issues . Miss Mary Morstan interrupts them . She has a case for Sherlock Holmes to solve .She tells him about her father's disappearance under a mysterious circumstances some ten years ago.
She informs him of receiving a lustrous pearls and a letter instructing her to meet the unknown person to Lyceum Theatre . Sherlock Holmes promise to help her in solving her father's case .
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(iv) Give reasons. :
(a) Miss Morstan plans to meet Sherlock Holmes .--------------------
Reason ----
In order to take his advice , in the case of , her father's disappearance , receiving pearls through mails , and visiting to Lyceum Theatre.
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(b) Miss Morstan gives the reference of Mrs. Cecil Foster .
Reason -----
It is because , Mrs. Cecil had some domestic complications . Holmes helped her to unravel it . She was much impressed by his kindness and skill .
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(c) It's a singular case ...............
Reason ---
Miss Mary told Holmes that her mother is died and her father is disappeared from the last 1o years .
After this , Holmes asked Mary if her father had been any friends in town . She told him about Major Sholto .To this , Holmes remarked "a singular case ".
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(d) Holmes needed some references............
Reason --- because the characters in handwriting were confusing to reach to any judgement .
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(e) Miss Morstan received a pearl every year .....................
Reason -
John Sholto and Mary Morstan's father were friends . Both of them were in command of troops at the Andaman islands . They were partners in stolen treasure of Agra. Sholton returned England with the stolen treasure . After some days Mary's Father returned England .
He went to Sholto to demand his share of the stolen treasure .Sholto refused to do so .They argued. Mary Morstan's father suffered a heart attack . Sholton felt sorry for it .He decides to send some valuables from the stolen treasure to Mr. Morstan's daughter .
Since that date he had been sending Mary the pearls as a kind of apology .
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(f) The coachman confirmed that neither of Miss Morstan's companion was a police officer ......
Reason -----
It is because it was a matter of stolen treasure . The unknown person wanted to distribute it among them.
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LANGUAGE
ii) Following are some dialogues of the major characters in the extract.
Find out who the speaker is , his / her tone , style , significance, etc .of the dialogue .
Dialogue :
".... You have once enabled my employer , Mrs .Cecil Forrester , to unravel a little domestic complication. She was much impressed by your kindness and skill ".
Answer :
Speaker :
Miss Mary Morstan
To whom it is said ........
It is said to Holmes
Tone :
Requesting
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Dialogue :
" You will I am sure , excuse me "
Speaker :
Sherlock Holmes
To whom it is said :
Miss Mary Morstan
Tone : embracing
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Dialogue :
" Your statement is more interesting .Has anything else occurred to you ?"
Speaker : Sherlock Holmes
To whom it is said :
Miss Mary Morstan
Tone : Persuasive
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Dialogue :
" Are you the parties who come with Miss Morstan ? "
Speaker :
Coachman
To whom it is said :
Miss Mary Morstan
Tone :
Questionable
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Dialogue :
" The sahib awaits you ".
Speaker :.
Cab man
To whom it is said :
Miss Mary Morstan
Tone :
Modest
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--------------Thank You -----------------------
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