A SHERLOCK HOLMES A SHERLOCK HOLMES COLLECTION COLLECTION

By José Martín Alcaraz SalinasBy José Martín Alcaraz Salinas

1. Write a short biography 1. Write a short biography about the author.about the author.

SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE:

Arthur Conan Doyle was born the third of ten siblings on 22 May 1859 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was a Scottish physician and writer, most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, which are generally considered a major innovation in the field of crime fiction, and for the adventures of Professor Challenger. He died of a heart attack at age 71 on 7 July in 1930.

2. The characters. Write a 2. The characters. Write a short description of the main short description of the main

characters in each story:characters in each story:

- Sherlock Holmes: he is an inspector. He can solves mysteries that the police cannot solve.

- Dr.Watson: he is a friend of the great detective, Sherlock Holmes.

A Scandal in Bohemia

- Irene Adler: she is a very beautiful woman . She lives quietly and sings at concerts.

- Grodfrey Norton: he is Miss Adler’s boyfriend.

...... The Speckled Band

- Helen Stoner: she was about thirty years old, but she was about thirty years old, but she already had some grey hair.she already had some grey hair.

- Dr Grimesby Roylott: he gets along very badly with everybody, because he is violent.

The Five Orange Pips

- John Openshaw: he is a young man. He is about twenty-two years old. He wore a raincoat and his face was pale.

3. Plot, summary. Write the plot or summary of each story.

A Scandal in Bohemia::

The future king of Bohemia, The future king of Bohemia, Wilhelm Gottsreich Wilhelm Gottsreich Sigismond von Ormstein, Sigismond von Ormstein, is about to get married and he is about to get married and he is afraid that Irene Adler, his former girlfriend, can is afraid that Irene Adler, his former girlfriend, can sabotage his wedding with a photo of the king and her. sabotage his wedding with a photo of the king and her. She asked help from Sherlock Holmes. She asked help from Sherlock Holmes. He saw that the He saw that the photo is in Irene Adler’s house and the next day, he went photo is in Irene Adler’s house and the next day, he went into the house. Being in Irene's house, she makes the into the house. Being in Irene's house, she makes the plan and runs away with the photo, but decides not to plan and runs away with the photo, but decides not to show it in public, because she is loved by a better man show it in public, because she is loved by a better man than the king. than the king.

...... The Speckled Band:

Mrs. Stoner visits Holmes to talk about the death of her only sister. Mrs. Stoner visits Holmes to talk about the death of her only sister. They had a very violent stepfather and did not get along with They had a very violent stepfather and did not get along with anyone.anyone. A few nights before her sister’s wedding she heard a A few nights before her sister’s wedding she heard a whistle and her sister got up suddenly saying it had been the whistle and her sister got up suddenly saying it had been the speckled band. speckled band. After that she died. Mrs. Stoner thought that it was After that she died. Mrs. Stoner thought that it was the gypsies who lived in her garden. Holmes knew that her father’s the gypsies who lived in her garden. Holmes knew that her father’s had something to do with the subject, so that night he slept in the had something to do with the subject, so that night he slept in the room of the deceased and made several tests, Holmes raised the room of the deceased and made several tests, Holmes raised the suspicion that the murderer was the father. suspicion that the murderer was the father. Demonstrated when at Demonstrated when at night, they heard a whistle, turned on the light and a snake with night, they heard a whistle, turned on the light and a snake with polka dots started beating. polka dots started beating. Upon entering the room Roylott, mole Upon entering the room Roylott, mole snake had killed his trainer. That showed that the safe had a bowl of snake had killed his trainer. That showed that the safe had a bowl of milk which was always closed. milk which was always closed.

…… The Five Orange Pips:The Five Orange Pips:

During the storm that hit London's Baker Street, During the storm that hit London's Baker Street, came when John Openshaw five orange seeds came when John Openshaw five orange seeds in an envelope with the initials KKK . Also his in an envelope with the initials KKK . Also his father, Joseph Openshaw, and his uncle Elijah father, Joseph Openshaw, and his uncle Elijah had received a similar shipment. All these, had received a similar shipment. All these, including John, were killed. Holmes suspects including John, were killed. Holmes suspects that behind the initials KKK is the Ku Klux Klan. that behind the initials KKK is the Ku Klux Klan. They had been on the boat They had been on the boat Lone StarLone Star. They . They could never know who were the murderers could never know who were the murderers because they died in the sinking of because they died in the sinking of Lone StarLone Star. .

4. Historical background:4. Historical background:

- Bohemia: during the nineteenth century in Bohemia, there was a nationalist and anti-autonomy Rebelion in the Czech Republic.

- Transport: during the 19th century, in the transport highlighted the steamboats, the railroad and the discovery of the fuel.

- - The ku klux klan: is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically expressed through terrorism.

5. Answer the following 5. Answer the following questions:questions:

a.a. What qualities do you think make a good detective? Which What qualities do you think make a good detective? Which of these qualities does Sherlock Holmes have?of these qualities does Sherlock Holmes have?

--He can solve all mysteries and help people. He can solve all mysteries and help people. -Sherlock Holmes -Sherlock Holmes solves all the mysteries.solves all the mysteries.

b. b. What is Dr Watson’s role in the investigations?What is Dr Watson’s role in the investigations?

    - He helps Sherlock Holmes- He helps Sherlock Holmes..c. Describe Sherlock Holmes. What habits does he have? Why c. Describe Sherlock Holmes. What habits does he have? Why

do you think he is good at what he does? do you think he is good at what he does?

- Helping people and solving all the crimes- Helping people and solving all the crimes - I think it is good at what he does because he likes the - I think it is good at what he does because he likes the

investigation.investigation.

……d. What methods does Sherlock Holmes use to d. What methods does Sherlock Holmes use to

analyse his clients when he first meets them? analyse his clients when he first meets them? - - Demonstrating that he is a good detective Demonstrating that he is a good detective

and keeps his word.and keeps his word.

e. Describe Dr John Watson. In what ways is he e. Describe Dr John Watson. In what ways is he a good friend and how is he useful to a good friend and how is he useful to Sherlock Holmes?Sherlock Holmes?

- He's a good friend because he helps - He's a good friend because he helps

Sherlock Holmes to resolve the crimes.Sherlock Holmes to resolve the crimes.

6. Many actors have played Sherlock Holmes. Find out about some of them. - William Gillette - John Barrymore

- Basil Rathbone - Ronald Howard

- Peter Hushing - Christopher Plummer - Jeremy Brett - Michael Caine

- Nicholas Rowe -Robert Downey Jr.

THE END