Year 7 - English
Comparing the victims in 'The Speckled Band' and 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery'
Sherlock Holmes: short stories
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils read and explore two famous Sherlock Holmes stories. They start by reading and analysing 'The Speckled Band' before using it as inspiration to write a newspaper article. They then read and analyse 'The Boscombe Valley Murder' before writing a comparison of the two stories.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to compare the victims of 'The Speckled Band' and 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery'.
Key Notes
- Julia Stoner and Charles McCarthy are presented as very different victims.
- Stoner is presented more sympathetically than McCarthy.
- Contrasting connectives are important for comparative responses.
- Comparisons should always be justified by quotes and analysis.
- You should include a summary at the end of a comparative response.
Vocabulary To Learn
- Compare: To compare is to estimate the similarities or differences between two things
- Victim: A victim is a person harmed, injured or killed as a result of a crime.
- Sympathetic: A sympathetic character is one that you feel pity or sorrow for.
- Comparative connective: A comparative connective (e.g. however, but, similarly) expresses similarity or difference between two ideas.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- All victim profiles are similar.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Julia Stoner and Charles McCarthy are presented as very different victims. Stoner is presented more sympathetically than McCarthy.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'Compare'
To compare is to estimate the similarities or differences between two things.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: All victim profiles are similar. Correction: Conan Doyle manipulates his presentation of victims depending on how he wants the reader to view them.
More Lessons In This Unit
- 'The Speckled Band' and 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery': a written comparison Study Guide
- 'The Speckled Band' case: concluding newspaper articles Study Guide
- 'The Speckled Band' case: writing a newspaper article body Study Guide
- Analysing atmosphere and character in 'The Speckled Band' Study Guide
- Analysing Dr. Roylott in 'The Speckled Band' Study Guide
- Analysing Helen Stoner's presentation in 'The Speckled Band' Study Guide
- Analysing John Turner from 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery' Study Guide
- Comparing 'The Speckled Band' and 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery' Study Guide
- Creating newspaper headlines and subheadings Study Guide
- Investigating Julia's death in 'The Speckled Band' Study Guide
- Making predictions about 'The Speckled Band' mystery Study Guide
- Making predictions about Sherlock Holmes Study Guide
- Planning a newspaper article about the solved case of 'The Speckled Band' Study Guide
- Reading 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery' Study Guide
- Reading about Stoke Moran and analysing atmosphere in 'The Speckled Band' Study Guide
- Reading and summarising the conclusion of 'The Speckled Band' mystery Study Guide
- Solving 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery' Study Guide
- Using rhetorical devices in newspaper articles Study Guide
- Writing an argument about Dr. Roylott from 'The Speckled Band' Study Guide
- Writing the opening of an article on 'The Speckled Band' case Study Guide
- Writing your own newspaper article about Sherlock Holmes Study Guide
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