Saturday, January 18, 2014

Study Guide for Sherlock Holmes Stories

Study Guide for Sherlock Holmes Stories

Study Questions for “The Speckled Band”

1.      Describe the woman who has come to consult Holmes and Watson early one morning. How is she dressed? What makes Holmes think he should offer her coffee? What is odd about her hair?

2.      Describe what Helen Stoner tells Holmes about her stepfather. Why did he go to India? What forced him to leave?

3.      What happened to Helen Stoner’s mother and how did her stepfather change after her mother’s death? 

4.      Describe what Helen Stoner hears just before her sister dies. What are her sister’s last words to her? 

5.      Describe Dr. Roylott as he appears in Holmes’ room.  Describe Dr. Roylott’s behavior also. What does he do to try to frighten Holmes? What does he want Holmes to do?

6.      Holmes obtains a copy of Helen Stoner’s mother’s will, and it provides a motive for Dr. Roylott’s not wishing his stepdaughter ever to marry.  Explain.

7.      Holmes and Watson see Dr. Roylott return home from their window at the Crown Inn. What do they witness that is another example of his terrible temper? 

8.      Give details about exactly what happens after Holmes and Watson hear the whistle.

9.      Describe what they find when they enter Dr. Roylott’s room after the dreadful shriek.  What is the speckled band? How did the doctor die? 

10.  Earlier in the story Holmes warned Miss Stoner that if Dr. Roylott suspected he was nearby, his journey would be in vain. What did he mean by that? How do you think the doctor might have altered his plan if he had known Holmes was nearby


Study Questions for “The Red-Headed League”

1.      Watson finds Holmes with a visitor, Mr. Jabez Wilson. Give details about his appearance.

2.      Holmes lists the “obvious facts” that he deduces from Mr. Wilson’s appearance. What are they and how did Homes know?

3.      What is the only requirement needed to apply for a vacancy in the Red-Headed League? What are the benefits?

4.      Mr. Wilson is a pawnbroker, one who lends money at interest to people who give him items of personal property in exchange. What is unusual about his assistant, Vincent Spaulding? Why does he spend a lot of time in the cellar?

5.      Describe the work Mr. Wilson must do for the League. What exactly is it? When must he do it? What is supposedly the purpose? What happens if he leaves the office during working hours?

6.      9. Holmes begins to question Mr. Wilson about his assistant. List here some of the things that he learns.

7.      What detail suggests that Holmes already knows who this man is?
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8.      Why does Holmes pretend to be lost and ask the way of Mr. Wilson’s assistant? What other odd thing does he do in front of Mr. Wilson’s place of business?

9.      Who are Mr. Jones and Mr. Merryweather? (Note: Scotland Yard is the home of the London police force.) Who is John Clay?

10.  Describe the two people who enter the room from the hole in the floor.






Study Questions for “The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb”

1.      Paddington Station is a train station in London. Two men from Paddington appear Dr. Watson’s consulting room, a guard and Mr. Victor Hatherley. What brings them there in?

2.      Describe Colonel Stark, the man who comes to see Mr. Hatherley about the job.

3.      What is the one condition of employment that Colonel Stark insists on over and over?

4.      What is the job he offers Mr. Hatherley? At what time of the day will he perform this job?

5.      According to Colonel Stark, what has he been doing with his hydraulic press, and why does he wish to keep his actions a secret? Is there anything suspicious about his explanation?

6.      What is wrong with the machine?

7.      Explain how Colonel Stark tries to kill the engineer. How does he escape? Explain how he loses his thumb.
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8.      Explain what Holmes guesses about the fresh, glossy horse that helps him locate the house.

9.      What was the real use of the machine? What has happened to the house? How did it happen?

10.  How did the unconscious engineer end up near the train station? What evidence tells Holmes and Watson who helped him?


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