XXXXX The Sign Of Four - P1

Question 1

What are characteristics of Sherlock Holmes?

Answer 1

• Intellectual- “Are you well up in your Jean Paul?”(referencing a German writer shows he’s well read)
• Restless-“I crave for mental exaltation.”(needs mental challenges)
• Observant- “extraordinary genius for minutiae,”(Watson)”I appreciate their importance.”(Holmes has almost inhuman qualities of genius)
• Egotistical- “for I am the only one in the world.”(believes he’s great)
• Dedicated- “shooting keen glances”(thriving on this detective work)

Question 2

What are characteristics of Doctor John Watson?

Answer 2

• Admiring- “I marvel at the means by which you obtain your results in this case.”(he’s in awe of Holmes’ abilities)
• Honourable- “Worse still, she was rich.” He doesn’t want to seem like a “fortune hunter”
• Romantic- “You have attempted to tinge it with romanticism.”
• Loyal- “Sherlock Holmes was never at fault…“(never doubted him)

Question 3

What are the characteristics of Johnathon Small?

Answer 3

• Frightening- “ugly face and outlandish talk.”
• Calculating- “The major was raving about his losses.”(he forges a plan of escape just from this fact)
• Ruthless- “When I found that he was devoted to me and would do anything to serve me, I saw my chance of escape.”(he didn’t think about Tongas needs just thought about himself)

Question 4

What are the characteristics of Miss Mary Morstan?

Answer 4

• Innocent- “have no friends whom I could appeal to.”(pure)
• Modest- “She wore a small turban of the same dull hue”(not extravagant just tasteful)
• Calm- “Miss Morstan appeared to have a soothing effect upon her.”(she managed to help the housekeeper just with her presence)

Question 5

What are the characteristics of Thaddeus Sholto?

Answer 5

• Nervous- “He writhed his hands together as he stood”
• Self-obsessed- “He was clearly a confirmed hypochondriac” (worries the most about himself and his own health)
• Eccentric- “The richest and glossiest of curtains and tapestries draped the walls”

Question 6

What are the characteristics of Athelney Jones?

Answer 6

• Pompous-“Confirms it in every respect,” said the fat detective, pompously.(thinks highly of himself, makes the wrong arrest)
• Comic- “When he ‘discovers’ the trapdoor to the roof at Pondicherry Lodge”(he’s almost mocked for his slow deductions)
• Apologetic- “His expression was downcast, and his bearing meek and even apologetic.”
• Common- “There is nothing more unaesthetic than a policeman.”

Question 7

What are the main themes in the sign of four?

Answer 7

evil and justice
Victorian fear
empire and imperialism

Question 8

How is evil and justice presented in The Sign Of Four?

Answer 8

• Mary-“You are a wronged woman, and shall have justice.”
• Tonga-“Never have I seen features so deeply marked with all bestiality and cruelty.”
• Major John Sholto-“The cursed greed which has been my besetting sin through life has withheld from her the treasure.”
• Holmes won’t wrongly accuse Small of murder-“I can prove that the poison acts so quickly that the man was dead before you ever reached the rooms.”

Question 9

How is Victorian fear presented in the book?

Answer 9

• fear of difference- “This savage, distorted creature.”
• fear of underclass-“I have a natural shrinking from all forms of rough materialism. I seldom come in contact with the rough crowd.”
• Major Sholto lives in fear of the truth-“He was very fearful of going out along, and he always employed two prize-fighters”
• fear of social inequality-“Thank God!” I ejaculated from my very heart.

Question 10

How is empire and imperialism presented in the book?

Answer 10

• exoticness-“Two great tiger-skins thrown athwart it increased the suggestion of Eastern luxury.”
• people in imperialised countries are savages-“The savage instincts of his companion had broken out.”
• Small is patronising towards him-“He was staunch and true, was little Tonga.”
• imperialist attitudes-“We earned a living at this time by exhibiting poor Tonga at fairs and other such places as the black cannibal.”