Year 7 - English
Solving '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 comprehend the events and ending of 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery'.
Key Notes
- Sherlock Holmes reveals James McCarthy's innocence.
- John Turner is the perpetrator in the death of Charles McCarthy.
- Charles McCarthy is revealed to have manipulated and threatened John Turner his whole life.
- John Turner kills Charles McCarthy because he did not want James McCarthy to marry his daughter.
Vocabulary To Learn
- coroner: A coroner is someone who holds investigations into sudden or suspicious deaths.
- deserts: If you get your deserts, you get what you deserve.
- filial: A filial duty refers to the respect that a son or daughter is expected to give their parent.
- benefactor: A benefactor is someone who gives money to another person.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Students may be confused about Turner's fate at the end of the story.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Sherlock Holmes reveals James McCarthy's innocence. John Turner is the perpetrator in the death of Charles McCarthy.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'coroner'
A coroner is someone who holds investigations into sudden or suspicious deaths.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Students may be confused about Turner's fate at the end of the story. Correction: Explain that no two Sherlock Holmes mysteries are the same. Two perpetrators can face different fates.
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 about Stoke Moran and analysing atmosphere in 'The Speckled Band' Study Guide
- Reading and summarising the conclusion of 'The Speckled Band' 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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