The Sign of the Four

14 important questions on The Sign of the Four

Give a quote that presents Mary as innocent

"I have led a retired life"

Give a quote that presents Mary as modest

"white feather in the side"

Give a quote that presents Holmes as a teacher

"the air of a clinical professor expounding to his class"
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Give a quote that creates tension

"gloom and deathly silence"

Give a quote that shows the theme of evil and justice through Mary

"You are a wronged woman, and shall have justice"

Give a quote that shows the theme of evil and justice through Tonga

"bestiality and cruelty"

How does Conan Doyle use the theme of evil and justice?

To show how evil stems from greed
To show how justice prevails
To explore human nature

Give a quote that shows the theme of Victorian fear through the fear of others

"This savage, distorted creature"

Give a quote that shows the theme of Victorian fear through the fear of social inequality

"Thank God! I ejaculated from my very heart"

What elements of empire and imperialism does Conan Doyle highlight in this novel?

Indian uprising of 1857
Tonga's character
Attitude to imperialised people

What are the conventions of the detective genre?

A rational and intelligent detective
A companion
A mystery
Clues
Build-up of tension
A satisfactory resolution

Why is the narrative voice of Watson used?

The mystery is just as much for the audience as it is for Watson, we know what he knows not what Holmes knows. We feel drawn to his character and like we're part of the action

Why is dialogue used so heavily in the novel?

By not having the narrator explain everything, we get a sense that Holmes is superior in a way. It gives a sense of realism to the story and makes the reader believe this story actually happened

Why is complex vocabulary used?

So that the reader feels distanced from Holmes but drawn towards Watson's character

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