Sign of Four Pre-reading Vocabulary in Pairs Work - Chapter Meanings
Explore the pre-reading vocabulary for "Sign of Four" divided into chapters, deciphering the meanings of words like prosaic, inscrutable, sagacity, and more. Enhance your understanding by dissecting the complex vocabulary encountered throughout the book.
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Sign of Four: Pre-reading Vocabulary In pairs work on the meanings of the words divided by chapters: Chapter 5 Rifts Peculiar Regulations Obstacle Perplexed Prosaic Ill at ease Premises Straining Reiterated Rejoicings Muffled Monotone Wondrous Subtle Prospectors Sorely Devilish Inscrutable Coarse Insoluble Companion s Presence Half-stupefied Chapter 6 Ejaculated Expounding Demonstration Ally Accessible Improbable Precept Garrett Individuality Startled Scarce Sagacity Distortion Rigor mortis Gingerly Auxiliary Curiosities Pompously Proclaiming Theorist Sneering Pithy Chapter 4 Sordid sanctum Callous Offhand Refrained Suspicions Athwart Aortic Inquiringly Discretion Ventured Remark Sensation Canvassing Besought Cursed Pondering Restitution Malevolence Conjured Peculiar Earnestly Computes Shilling Downcast Acquaintance Hypochondriac Chapter 7 Escorted Conventionalities vulgar Retired Honoured Remarkable Cranny Solemn Slumbers Immense Creosote Conscious Eaves Mounted Palpable Memorandum Inscription Sequel Emerging Metropolis Simultaneously Chapter 1 Superfluous Impertinent Inherited Abstract Descended Prosperity Prosperity Commonplace Companion Chapter 2 Composure Sombre Quivered Inexplicable Glistened Extraordinary Correspondent Occurred Intuition irrepressible In vain Undoubtably Treatise Differentiate Legible Exclaimed Resemblance Chapter 3 Alternated Suggestive Deprivation Compensation Muffled Expedition Numerous Impenetrable Feeble Vaporous Reminiscences Errand Dogged Rendezvous Fleeting Labyrinth Incongruous Chapter 1 Hypodermic Sinewy Reconciled Nonchalant Diffident Exasperation Languidly Brusquely Transcendentally Stagnation Dispense Abhor Embodied Unravelling Jezail Ardent Deduction Enumerate Minutiae Luxuriously
Sign of Four: Pre-reading Vocabulary In pairs work on the meanings of the words divided by chapters: Chapter 12 Condemned Commuted Cannibal Natives Dispense Villain Vengeance Rum crowd Exhibiting Remarkable Confederate Chapter 12 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Ill-doings Mahogany Aggressive Frankly Cursed Malice Breakwater Condemning Inventory Obliging Peril Ungracious Thrust Disloyal Chapter 9 Provoking Atrocious Sentiment Weary Contrary Consequence Infernal Malodorous Chapter 10 Chapter 8 Infallibility Placard Preconcerted Rascal Prodigy Enthusiasm Fatigued Influenced Masterful Vigorous Discipline Tumultuous Pattering Superiority Constitution Hazarded Intractable Exaltation Patient Hideous Expedition Lounged Distorted Awaiting Listless Baulked Savage Justice Cunning Stoicism Anchored Finesse Destined Stagnant Probability Coolies Decaying Peculiar Shanty Loathe Conceal Vegetation Mullah Despondent Trifling Shrugged Rebel Prosecuted Probable Oath Stereotyped Evidently Binding Radical Enigma Hearken Flaw Tremendous Devised Trivial Hailed Subdued Brusque Thundered Merchant Obliged Pursuing Renewed Irregular Melancholy Conceal Respectable Unhallowed Loot Methodical
Chapter & Title Summary Vocabulary Definition THE SIGN OF FOUR KO Ch1 The Science of deduction Introduction to Holmes & Watson Holmes as a drug addict, deep thinker & detective whose mind is never still, he is established as an intelligent thinker, who will look at obscure clues & make a deduction. Watson introduced as his sidekick/sounding board. Deduction /deduces The power of making a suggestion / makes an educated suggestion Terminology Definition Imagery visually descriptive or figurative language Ch2 The Statement of the Case Miss Morstan arrives distressed & upset. She explains the disappearance of her father, mysterious pearls being sent to her & a summons without police to a mysterious meeting. Opulently Bright/over the top Protagonist Main character who drives the action forward Pontificates Thinks carefully a comparison as if a thing is something else Ch3 In Quest of a Solution Holmes takes the case, Dr. Watson assists. Holmes investigates the pearl & connections to Major Sholto (now deceased). The 3 Holmes, Watson & Morston go to the meeting place & take a mystery tour of London to a secretive meeting place. Metaphor Starts Ensues Symbolism the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities Deceased Dead Noun the name of something Ch4 The Story of the Bald-Headed Man In a rundown house, furnished opulently with Indian furnishings, juxtaposing the drab setting, the son (Thaddeus) of Major Sholto introduces himself & explains he & his twin brother were privy to a deathbed confession of murder by their father (Miss Morstan s father). During the confession a wild looking man was spying through the window & Major Sholto was a suspicious character afraid of a one-legged man! They travel to see the twin (Bartholomew) at Pondicherry Lane it is now late at night. The story of the treasure unfolds & the sending of the pearls. Mystery Events that need solving Personification Giving human qualities to inanimate objects Irrepressible Not able to be controlled Adjective a word used to describe Verb a word used to describe an action Ally Supporter Ch5 The Tragedy of Pondicherry Lane The quartet (Holmes, Watson, Morstan & T. Sholto) arrive at B. Sholto s house & are refused entry by McMurdo (employee of B. Sholto). McMurdo recognises Holmes & concedes entry. Bartholomew has not been out of his rooms all day, A female scream occurs (Mrs Bernstone- the housekeeper), Thaddeus investigates & calls on Holmes/Watson s help, they break into B. rooms & discover his death. A puncture wound in the head with no sign of breaking & entering. Thaddeus fears being arrested but reports to the police the events. Adverb often ly words which describes how things are done Detective An investigator Pronoun Pronouns are used instead of names Quest Search Connotations implied or suggested meanings of words or phrases Ch6 Sherlock Holmes gives a Demonstration Holmes pontificates on the murder, explores the room for clues, makes an assumption that their were two men, investigate the trapdoor in the roof, discover the missing treasure & orders Holmes to collect a sniffer dog. Inspector Athelney Jones arrives & casts doubts on Holmes detective work. Juxtaposition placing contrasting ideas close together in a text Synonyms for intelligent Oxymoron using two terms together, that normally contradict each other Clever, astute, intuitive, quick-witted, sharp, insightful, perceptive, canny, alert, discerning, penetrating, smart, bright. Ch7 The episode of the Barrel Watson escorts Miss Morstan home to Mrs Forrester & begins to fall in love. Watson leaves, retrieves the sniffer-dog & returns to Pondicherry Lane. Holmes has deduced the murderer is Jonathon Small (a convict) with an unusual accomplice. They begin to search. Repetition when words or phrases are used more than once in texts EXAM REQUIREMENTS FOR AQA Ch8 The Baker Street Irregulars Holmes deduces Small has taken a steam launch & moored/hid on the river upon talking to the bargemaster s wife, enlists a ragtag bunch of children (Baker Street Irregulars) to seek the boat on the Thames, they wait, Holmes discovers identity of the accomplice & Holmes dreams of Miss Morstan. Foreshadowing a hint or suggestion of what might happen later in the story You will have an extract in front of you and will need to explore the whole text as well as the extract and include your knowledge of context 45 mins (including planning time) Intro link to question. Explain the text briefly. Mention time period/context. Throughout the essay choose relevant quotes from the whole text and analyse the language, structure and effect of these quotes. Place the extract analysis where is suits chronologically in the essay. Refer to the question and link to the context regularly. SKILLS: Analysis Points to consider/use Ch9 A Break in the Chain Holmes visits Miss Morstan to update her, returns Toby (sniffer-dog), Holmes is despondent & goes out dressed as a sailor, Jones (Inspector) arrives at Baker Street, Holmes arrives in disguise, fools Watson & Jones & explains the plan. Jones has let his suspects go (McMurdo & Thaddeus Sholto). Link to the question Link to the terminology (Lang/Structure evaluating choice) Short Quote(s) Explain meaning and effect both obvious and hidden (explicit and implicit) Zoom in on words/explore connotations and effect Suggest what other readers might think/feel (offering an alternative opinion) Link to the writer s intentions (step out from close analysis & give overview of meaning) Explore a linking quote/supporting idea Explore the context relevant to section of text that you are studying Ch10 The End of the Islander (Holmes, Watson & Jones) have a bonding dinner & set out to find the criminals on an unmarked police boat, a chase ensues, accomplice is killed & in the river, Small tries to escape & is captured. Ch11 The Great Agra Treasure Small is captured, the death of B. Sholto is uncovered, the accomplice did it, Holmes takes the treasure to Miss Morstan, discovers it is gone & professes his love for her. Ch12 The Strange Story of Jonathan Small Small explains the mystery of the Agra treasure, the pact made, the double crossing regarding the treasure, how the accomplice (Tonga) came to be with Small, the death of Major Morstan & the mystery is solved.
Characters Characteristics Quotes Context Sherlock Holmes Main protagonist, intelligent, detective, pragmatic, ponderous nature, drug taker, deep thinker CH1 long, white, nervous fingers , detection is, or ought to be, an exact Science To the trained eye Don t go, Doctor. CH2 A singular case Holmes shook his head CH3 native Indian manufacture. he remarked, CH5 treasure hunters six years looking for it slow and methodical manner Victorian Society were suspicious of Police & felt they were unintelligent & not able to effectively solve crimes. London Metropolitan Police established 1828. Dr. Watson Holmes partner/sidekick/ally, reflective, thoughtful, emotional, war veteran, CH1 Afghan campaign yet CH2 I shall be proud and happy my mind ran upon our late visitor. CH3 bright, eager and in excellent spirits alternated with fits of the blackest depression took his revolver and slipped it into his pocket I endeavoured to cheer and amuse her Sherlock Holmes was never at fault and he rattled the names Ch5 a wonderous subtle thing is love CH6 How then? I persisted Ch8 play some low, dreamy, melodious air CH8 unofficial force pattering of naked feet Newspapers of the day sensationalised the criminal news meaning there became an appetite for a move away from the criminal to a new genre detective fiction Penny dreadful or shilling shockers were books published with little care or attention to the literary merit of the writing, instead to appeal to the shock factor Miss Morstan Damsel in distress, young, beautiful, astute CH2 a clearer promise of a refined and sensitive nature to find some peace, some comfort, and instead choking sob correct intuition CH3 muffled in a dark cloak I give you my word on that Class system was prevalent Upper, Middle & Working and this is evident throughout the novel. Mrs Forrester Employee & friend to Miss Morstan (minor) how tenderly how motherly an honoured friend Major Morstan Deceased father of Miss Morstan, disappeared in mysterious circumstances CH3 full of allusions to the major CH4 paroxysm of anger East India Company: after colonisation (British ruling over colonies in far away places) this company established trade and were important in export/import and the establishing of British customs in these colonies. Major Sholto Friend of Major Morstan, died recently, suspicious & fearful CH4 a considerable sum of money, a large collection of valuable curiosities and a staff of native servants. fired his revolver at a wooden-legged man, I found, to my horror he was dead Locations: foreign locations add to a sense of intrigue about the characters, India and the Andaman Islands would have seemed exotic and far away to Victorians. Thaddeus Sholto Moral, son of Major Sholto, kind, fair, twin CH4 small man, with a very high head, a bristle of red hair and a bald shining scalp still palpitating Thaddeus Sholto Bartholomew Sholto Twin, immoral, fearful, greedy, treasure hunter, deceased Ch4 B is a clever fellow. he computes the value of the jewels at not less than half a million sterling CH5 murder set, however, in a horrible smile, a fixed and unnatural grin Indian Wars with the British meant the crushing of freedom fighters violently, the forcing of British education onto the Indians and the fall of the Indian economy in contrast to the rise of the British (alluded to in the riches taken by Sholti, the fighting Small was involved in and the English speaking servants taken back to Britain). McMurdo Lal Roa Porter/gatekeeper to B. Sholto & Butler CH5 cried a gruff voice McM Mrs Bernstone Housekeeper to Bartholomew Sholto, CH5 the shrill broken whimpering of a frightened woman sway with pleasure at the sight of him Jonathon Small Convict, treasure hunter, wild, wooden legged, vengeful CH4 It was a bearded, hairy face, with wild cruel eyes The sign of four scrawled over it CH12 cursed him as a hairy faced chimp manage the thing easily through Tonga how innocent I am of the death of his son Freak shows or exhibiting of freaks was prevalent in Victorian society. Physical differences or deformities were particularly interesting. (Seen when Small talks of exhibiting Tonga) Tonga Black, feared, murderer, Small s sidekick/ally, deceased CH5 scarce half the size of an ordinary man CH8 from a blow pipe savage Ch10 huddled bundle on the deck great, misshapen head and a shock of tangled, dishevelled hair venomous, menacing eyes stuck one of those murderous darts we knew so well CH12 bloodthirsty little imp Patriarchy: women considered blue stockings were seen to be too intellectual, instead the pursuit of grace, knowledge of music/arts etc. was seen as more feminine and becoming a lady (continual references to the demur nature of Miss M) Athelnay Jones The Police Inspector, suspicious, methodical Ch6 wheezed by good luck that good guidance. can t deny you hit the nail on the head sometimes the fat detective Ah, you rogue Ch9 Well, you are the master of the situation Where to asked Jones CH12 Well Holmes, you are a man to be humoured Toby, Mr Sherman The sniffer dog, owner CH7 & 8 Toby has lost his character for infallibility the scent appeared much stronger than before We took the wrong one Cannibalism: Shows Victorian suspicion of otherness (Tonga is described as a cannibal) which is a human eating creature. Victorians seemed fascinated by this type of horror. The Smith Family Family that own the boat, Mordecai the father), the mother, and son Jim Ch8 I am sorry Mrs Smith, I wanted a steam launch Poverty & Child Labour: people lived longer, had more children and were living in urban areas more, meaning that children had to work to help their families or they would be turned out in the streets to fend for themselves (the Baker street irregulars) Dost Akbhar, Mohomet Singh, Abdullah Khan, Dr Somerton, First three characters were members of The Sign of Four. Dr Somerton was Dr. on the convict island. CH3 rough and coarse characters, The sign of Four Jonathon Small, Mohomet Singh, Abdullah Khan, Dost Akbhar. My Sikh friends