Year 7 - English
Reading about Stoke Moran and analysing atmosphere in 'The Speckled Band'
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 understand how Conan Doyle creates a sense of atmosphere around Stoke Moran in 'The Speckled Band'.
Key Notes
- Holmes and Watson go to Stoke Moran to investigate the rooms
- Conan Doyle juxtaposes the atmosphere before getting to Stoke Moran and after they have arrived to convey danger
- They find curious items in Helen's room such as a dummy bell rope and ventilator
- They find curious items in Dr. Roylott's room such as a saucer of milk and a dog-leash
- After inspecting the rooms, Holmes believes Helen is in great danger
Vocabulary To Learn
- Sinister: Sinister means giving the impression something evil or harmful will happen.
- Jutted: Jutted means to stick out.
- Cunning: To be cunning is to be sly and conceal the truth.
- Juxtaposition: If you juxtapose two things, you place them together for contrasting effect.
- Idyllic: An idyllic place is extremely happy, peaceful and picturesque.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Conan Doyle creates a scary atmosphere all the way through 'The Speckled Band'.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Holmes and Watson go to Stoke Moran to investigate the rooms. Conan Doyle juxtaposes the atmosphere before getting to Stoke Moran and after they have arrived to convey danger.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'Sinister'
Sinister means giving the impression something evil or harmful will happen.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Conan Doyle creates a scary atmosphere all the way through 'The Speckled Band'. Correction: If you look carefully, Conan Doyle carefully alters the atmosphere in order to build tension in the reader.
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
- Comparing the victims in '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 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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