GCSE AQA English literature- The Sign of Four

The statement of the case

Chapter 2 title

Sherlock Holmes gives a demonstration

Chapter 6 title

The Baker street irregulars

Chapter 8 title

Baker street irregulars

Characters: A group of poor, homeless boys that are employed by Holmes to search places that he couldn't

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Author of the Sherlock Holmes series

When Gregson, or Lestrade or Athlney Jones are out of their depths, which by the way is their normal state.

Chapter 1 Sherlock Holmes The police are always bad Themes of incompetent police, Holmes' superiority

The science of deduction

Chapter 1 title

His bright humour marked the reaction from the black depression of the previous days

Chapter 10 John Watson Holmes is happier when he has work Themes of duality

Unhallowed dwarf with his hideous face and strong yellow teeth gnashing at us

Chapter 10 John Watson Description of Tonga Themes of racism, victorian fear, attitude to foreign

The end of the islander

Chapter 10 title

It was amazing to see how the consequential Jones was already beginning to give himself airs on the capture

Chapter 11 John Watson Jones is taking credit for Holmes' work Themes of incompetent police, arrogance

Her sweet, grave face and tinting with a dull metallic sparkle the rich coils of her luxuriant hair

Chapter 11 John Watson Mary has a pretty face and nice hair Themes of love, beauty

I abhor the dull routine of existence

Chapter 1 Sherlock Holmes Sherlock hates life Themes of restlessness

In quest of a solution

Chapter 3 title

Emotion vs rationality

Theme: Sherlock doesn't approve of Watson's marriage. Sherlock claims to only deal with reason

Duality

Theme: Sherlock is a useless drug addict without a case. He is very energetic when he wants to be

Love

Theme: Sherlock loves his work. John and Mary love each other. John describes Mary;s beauty a lot

Justice

Theme: Small believes he has a right to the treasure. Thaddeus wants Mary to have his share of the treasure. Both Sholto and Morstan die

Imperialism

Theme: The AGRA treasure began in India. The Sepoy Mutiny was a real event. The Andaman islands are converted into a prison

Police

Theme: The police weren't trusted at the time and Doyle lays along with his and the police are represented as incompetent and inferior to Holmes

Race

Theme: Tonga is described as non-human and a vicious threat. The Indians are referenced as 'black devils'

Crime

Theme: Tonga is killed by Holmes and Watson Small is imprisoned in the Andamans and then Dartmoor.

The great Agra treasure

Chapter 11 title

In what in other man I should call laziness, alternates with you fits of splendid energy and vigour

Chapter 12 John Watson Holmes is either very energetic or lazy Themes of duality

A petty justice. Twenty long years in that fever ridden swamp. That is how I earned the Agra treasure

Chapter 12 Jonathan Small Small's skewed view of 'justice' Themes of justice

The reaction is already upon me

Chapter 12 Sherlock Holmes Holmes is already back to his usual self after the case is finished Themes of duality

The strange story of Jonathan Small

Chapter 12 title

Blonde young lady, small dainty, well dressed in the most perfect taste

Chapter 2 John Watson Mary dresses well Themes of love, wealth

Her smiles, the deep rich tones of her voice, the strange mystery which over hung her life

Chapter 2 John Watson Mary has a nice mouth and hair Themes of love

You are a wronged woman and shall have justice

Chapter 2 Thaddeus Sholto (letter) Women are vulnerable Themes of justice and women

We had indeed reached a questionable and forbidding neighborhood. Long lines of dull brick houses were only relieved by the glare of public houses

Chapter 3 John Watson Description of road Themes of class

The story of the bald headed man

Chapter 4 title

The instinct to turn to me for love and protection

Chapter 5 John Watson Mary and John hold hands Theme of love

There is a young lady too, she can not wait on the public road at this hour

Chapter 5 Thaddeus Sholto Women need protecting from lower classes Themes of women and class

The tragedy of Pondicherry lodge

Chapter 5 title

I would rather have Toby's help than the entire police force of London

Chapter 6 Sherlock Holmes A dog is better than the police Themes of incompetent police

Eliminate the impossible and whatever remains however improbable must be the truth

Chapter 6 Sherlock Holmes Holmes methods of deduction Themes of rationality, Holmes' superiority

Leave this little fellow Jones to exult over any mare's nest which he may choose to construct

Chapter 6 Sherlock Holmes Jones' is making up horse poo Themes of incompetent police

I shall study the great Jones' methods and listen to his not to delicate sarcasms

Chapter 6 Sherlock Holmes Making fun of Jones for his bad techniques Themes of incompetent police, Holmes' superiority

The episode of the barrel

Chapter 7 title

There came a swift pattering of naked feet upon the stairs, a clatter of high voices, and in rushed a dozen dirty little street Arabs

Chapter 8 John Watson Description of homeless children Themes of class

He handed them a shilling each, and away they buzzed down the stairs

Chapter 8 John Watson Holmes gives money to children Themes of class, poverty

Air of superiority which was vey funny in such a disreputable little scarecrow

Chapter 8 John Watson Wiggins is arrogant about his position Themes of class, arrogance

The main thing with people of that sort, is never let them think their information is of any importance

Chapter 8 Sherlock Holmes How to manipulate poor people Themes of class, Holmes' superiority

He has some small matter upon the mind which makes him restless

Chapter 9 John Watson Holmes gets worked up over small problems Themes of duality, emotion vs rationality

This infernal problem is consuming me

Chapter 9 John Watson Holmes is constantly thinking about the case Themes of restlessness, duality

With the twinkle of a smile in his eyes

Chapter 9 John Watson Holmes teases Watson for his crush on Mary Themes of friendship, love

It seems to be a stereotyped form whenever the police made a blunder

Chapter 9 John Watson The police cover up their mistakes Themes of police incompetence

No, no I ain't going to lose a whole day to please no one

Chapter 9 Sherlock Holmes (disguised) Have to go to work Themes of class, poverty

A break in the chain

Chapter 9 title

Chapter 10

Chapter: After dinner the set off to capture the Aurora. After a high-speed chase down the Thames Tonga is killed and Small is arrested

Chapter 1

Chapter: Holmes and Watson are introduced.Holmes does cocaine and deduces Watson's watch as an example of his skills.

Chapter 3

Chapter: Holmes and Watson meet with Mary at the theatre that evening. The three of them are then taken to a mysterious location in a poor part of London. During this trip Mary shows Holmes several of her father's belongings and Watson attempts to make conservation but gets flustered

Chapter 2

Chapter: Mary Morstan arrives and explains everything she knows about the case, which includes her father's disappearance and receiving a pearl each year. It is clear that Watson is romantically interested in Mary.

Chapter 6

Chapter: Sherlock examines Bartholomew's room and finds a thorn in his neck and deduces that 2 people were involved. Athelney Jones turns up and proves himself incompetent. Holmes asks Watson to collect Toby

Chapter 12

Chapter: Small explains his life story in a draw out way to maximise his time outside jail. Watson tells Holmes that he will marry Mary. Holmes reaches for the cocaine bottle

Chapter 5

Chapter: The four of them travel to Pondicherry Lodge to confront Bartholomew Sholto, but find him dead, with the treasure missing.

Chapter 4

Chapter: They meet Thaddeus Sholto, who explains his part of the story including his and Mary's father's death, the treasure, as well as the pearls.

Chapter 8

Chapter: They pick up the trial and led to the riverside where they meet Mrs Smith, who tells that two people are on aboard the boat Aurora. The return to Baker street and employ the Baker Street Irregulars to find the Aurora.

Chapter 11

Chapter: Watson and Mary declare their love for each other. Watson finds the treasure chest empty

Chapter 9

Chapter: Watson returns Toby and Mrs Hudson tells Watson that the is concerned about Holmes health. While Holmes is out trying to find the boat Athlney Jones arrives and admits that Holmes is a good detective, Holmes returns and reveals that he has found the Aurora

Chapter 7

Chapter: Watson takes Toby back to Pondicherry lodge. Holmes and Watson use the dog to try and track the criminals, who had stepped in creosote, but scents cross and Toby leads to a creosote distribution centre.

Mary Morstan

Character: 'Rightful' owner to half the Agra treasure and love interest to John Watson. Calm and intelligent, she embodies the typical depiction of a middle class lady

Jonathon Small

Character: A former private in the army and member of the Sign of Four. A wooden legged man who was consumed by wanting revenge on Major Sholto for stealing the treasure.

John Watson

Character: An ex-army medic and narrator of the story. The 'dumb sidekick' to Holmes despite being a trained medical professional. Love interest to Mary Morstan

Athleney Jones

Character: An incompetent and over weight detective of Scotland Yard. Serves as the anti-thesis for Holmes as he disregards facts in favour of simpler theories.

Major Sholto

Character: Commanding of officer of the prison barracks at the Andaman islands. Selfish and greedy, he steals the Agra and hoards it.

Captain Morstan

Character: Commanding officer of the prison barracks at the Andaman islands. Father of Mary, he dies of a weak heart after demanding his fair share of the Agra treasure from Sholto

Tonga

Character: Native of the Andaman islands, and accomplice to Jonathan Small after he saved his life. Violent and fierce. The descriptions of him show the racism of the time.

Sherlock Holmes

Character: The main protagonist and the Unofficial consulting detective. Two sided, becoming a drug active and inactive when without work, however an amazing and efficient detective when he has a case. Admired by many characters, but most prominently Watson

Thaddeus Sholto

Character: The ugly and nervous son and heir to Major Sholto, and therefore half of the Agra treasure. A strong moral compass as he wants Mary to have her half. However he cares more that the treasure is missing than his twins death

Locked room mystery

Method: A scenario where a seemingly impossible crime is committed, usually in a room with no possible entrances/exits. Eg. Bartholomew's murder

Climax

Method: An exciting end to the story with the chase dow the Thames to provide action and high stakes

First person narrative

Method: The narrator is a character that is involved in the story. Allowing for a unique interpretation of the vents that occur. E.g. John Watson

Romance

Method: Watson and Mary develop feelings for each other as a way of interesting a different audience in the story. More logical people like Holmes' mystery, while more emotional people like the romantic sub-plot

Cyclical structure

Method: When a piece media starts and ends on the same point. E.g. Holmes reaching for the cocaine bottle

Wealth/class

Theme: John worries that Mary is out of his league. The Smith family and the Baker Street Irregulars are talked about as though they are inferior

Friendship

Theme: Sherlock and Watson are very close friends. Sherlock teases John for his crush on Mary