Transcript The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
– SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
Deductive Reasoning
VOCABULARY ACTIVITY # 1– WARM UP
My mom was _______ because I refused to clean my room, so she punished me by taking
away my phone.
The directions were so _______ that I got lost; they were not very specific.
My family’s _______ Halloween Masquerade Party only happens once a year.
I am mad at you because that vase was not _______ to me; it was very special.
The detective’s mind is so _______, that he could figure out any puzzle.
The cook was so _______, that she fainted from fatigue.
My property is so large that our fence has to _______ sixty acres of land.
Do not try to _______ me today; I am not going to get irritated with you.
My red, and curly, hair is _______; it comes from my mother’s side of the family.
I cannot keep a secret, so it should not be surprising that I _______ the information to
others.
A SHORT “HISTORY” OF HOLMES
Rivers of ink have flowed since 1887, when Sherlock Holmes was first introduced to
the world, in an adventure entitled A Study in Scarlet.
Most of the great detective's fans know him so well, that they feel they have actually
met him. It would therefore be presumptuous to try and define him here, as his many
friends and admirers may each have very different views about this legendary
personage.
For those who have not made-up their minds, it might be useful if they read Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle's Autobiography, Memories and Adventures. They will undoubtedly come
away with the notion that Sherlock Holmes resembles in many ways Dr. Joseph Bell,
one of the teachers at the medical school of Edinburgh University. Arthur Doyle was
seventeen years old when he first met Dr. Joseph Bell, who was then thirty-nine. The
doctor left an indelible impression upon the young student.
A SHORT “HISTORY” OF HOLMES - CONTINUED
This is how Conan Doyle described him much later: A "thin wiry, dark" man, "with a
high-nosed acute face, penetrating gray eyes, angular shoulders." Dr. Bell "would sit
in his receiving room with a face like a Red Indian, and diagnose the people as they
came in, before they even opened their mouths. He would tell them details of their
past life; and hardly would he ever make a mistake."
We owe the improved looks of the great detective, to Sydney Paget, who took his
"strikingly handsome" brother Walter as model, when he illustrated a great number
of the Sherlock Holmes stories.
Conan Doyle dedicated The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes to Dr. Bell, who gave
credit to the author for Sherlock Holmes's genius. "You are yourself Sherlock Holmes
and well you know it," he wrote him.
(http://www.sirarthurconandoyle.com/SherlockHolmes/index.htm)
DEDUCTIVE REASONING – WHAT IS IT?
Deductive reasoning is a type of reasoning which goes from general to specific. Deductive
reasoning is based on premises and if the premises are true, then the reasoning will be valid.
Deductive Reasoning: Everyday Examples
All apples are fruits, all fruits grow on trees; therefore, all apples grow on trees.
William is a bachelor, all bachelors are single; hence William is single.
Since all humans are mortal, and I am a human, then I am mortal.
All dolphins are mammals, all mammals have kidneys; therefore all dolphins have kidneys.
Since all squares are rectangles, and all rectangles have four sides, so all squares have four
sides.
If Dennis misses work and at work there is a party, then Dennis will miss the party.
All numbers ending in 0 or 5 are divisible by 5. The number 35 ends with a 5, so it is divisible
by 5.
The Earth is a planet, and all planets orbit a sun, therefore the Earth orbits a sun.
LET’S PRACTICE DEDUCTIVE REASONING!
Sherlock Holmes uses Deductive Reasoning and his KEEN powers of observation to
solve crimes. Use your powers of deductive reasoning to solve the following
problems:
1. Joanna constantly misplaces her keys. Joanna’s keychain has a red toy ball on it.
Joanna’s cat loves to play with toys that are red. Joanna cannot fine her keys one
day. Where are they, and what causes them to constantly go missing?
2. Samuel is a strong swimmer. Samuel’s best friend, Paul, wants to be on the swim
team more than anything. There is only one spot left on the team. Samuel and Paul
both tryout for the team. Paul is only second to Samuel in swim speed, BUT somehow
Paul wins EVERY race at the tryouts. Why was Samuel ALWAYS second at the tryouts?
20 QUESTIONS OR “MYSTERY BOX”
Directions: use your powers of observation (your five senses), deductive reasoning,
and ONLY 20 questions, to figure out the mystery item.
Students – You may only ask “yes” or “no” questions.
Teacher – You may ONLY answer “yes” or “no”; don’t confuse the students with
sometimes or maybe…
Both – have fun, but don’t ruin the game by yelling out answers until you have a
“good” idea of what the item is, or you have run out of questions.
THE SIX RULES OF A “GOOD” DETECTIVE STORY
These are the six standards that most detective stories follow. As you read the
different adventures and cases of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, identify
which of the six rules are present in the stories, and which specific detail from the
story matches each rule.
1. The Crime Must Be Significant
2. The Detective Must Be Memorable
3. The Criminal Must Be A Worthy Adversary/Opponent
4. The Clues Must Be Made Available To The Reader
5. The Suspects Must Appear Early In The Story
6. The Solution, To The Crime, Must Be Reasonable and Possible
“THE SPECKLED BAND” RFQ’S
1. How does the narrator’s relationship to the protagonist affect his perspective?
2. State the observations that Holmes makes to know that Miss Stoner is agitated?
Why does Holmes then offer Miss Stoner coffee?
3. During Miss Stoner’s recounting of the night her sister died, what evidence supports
her fear that her sister was murdered?
4. Choose the best word to describe Dr. Roylott’s behavior when he came to visit
Sherlock Holmes at 221B Baker Street.
bullish [boo l-ish] adj. – 1. like a bull to obstinate
furious [fyoo r-ee-uh s] adj. – 1. extremely angry
taciturn [tas-i-turn] adj. – 1. dour, stern to silent in expression
throttle [throt-l] v. – 1. to choke or suffocate in any way 2. to silence
“THE SPECKLED BAND” RFQ’S - CONTINUED
5. Why does Sherlock Holmes obtain a copy of Helen Stoner’s mother’s will?
6. List clues that Holmes and Watson find at Stoke Moran to support Miss Stoner’s
claim that her sister’s death was not accidental.
7. Give details about exactly what happens after Holmes and Watson hear the
whistle.
8. What is the “Speckled Band,” and how does it resolve the crime?
SPELLING WORDS #9
Spelling Words – Lesson #9
1. niece 2. noticeable 3. occasion 4. occurred 5. opposite
6. particular 7. physical 8. possess 9. practically
10. preferred
Bonus
1. expunge
5. wattage
2. duplicity
3. cacophonous
4. qualms
VOCABULARY LESSON #5
Livid: furious, very angry
Keen: finely tuned and able to sense minor differences, distinctions, or details
Agitate: make somebody anxious, to make somebody feel anxious, nervous, or disturbed
Weary: tired, especially in having run out of strength, patience, or endurance
Vague: not explicit, not clear in meaning or intention
Trivial: lacking in seriousness, importance, or value
Hereditary: transmitted genetically, passed genetically, or capable of being passed
genetically, from one generation to the next
Disclose: tell something previously secret, to reveal something that has been kept a secret
Encompass: encircle something: to surround, envelop, or encircle something
Annual: once a year, happening once a year
IDIOMS LESSON #5
Out of the frying pan and into the fire
Figurative meaning: from a bad situation into one that is worse
Literal meaning: to jump out of a frying pan into a fire
A penny saved is a penny earned
Figurative meaning: What you do not spend, you will have.
SPELLING WORDS LESSON #10
1. realize
2. receive
5. rhythm
6. similar
3. recommend
7. straight
4. restaurant
8. studying
9. schedule
3. lanai
4. Pulitzer
10. summarize
Bonus 1. correlation
5. Equinox
2. vivacious