To snarl is to make an aggressive growl or to say something in an angry voice.

To hurl is to throw something with great force.

A connotation is a feeling that a word evokes in the reader.

If something is tentative then it is not fixed or certain.

Analysing Dr. Roylott in ‘The Speckled Band’

English

in 'Sherlock Holmes: Short Stories', pupils practise using analytical writing sentence structures, to formulate their arguments. In 'Myths and Legends Re-Told', pupils develop these skills further, applying them to a range of pre- 20th Century texts. 

in 'When the Sky Falls' pupils read fiction texts for fluency and comprehension. In 'Sherlock Holmes: Short Stories' pupils start to analyse the language choices of an author.

In this unit, pupils read and explore two famous Sherlock Holmes stories. They start by reading and analysing 'The Speckled Band' before using it as inspiration to write a newspaper article. They then read and analyse 'The Boscombe Valley Murder' before writing a comparison of the two stories.

Sherlock Holmes: short stories

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce, poverty, deprivation.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Depiction or discussion of violence or fighting, including threats of violence or the aftermath of violence.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Which word means to throw something with great force?

In 'The Speckled Band', what word best describes Roylott based on the quote: "fierce old bird of prey"?

In 'The Speckled Band', which *two* words does Holmes feel towards Roylott based on meeting him?

you can never be sure of the writer's intentions

Why use tentative language when writing about author's intentions?

Thinking about 'The Speckled Band', what can you get from the single word analysis of the word: 'snarl'?

In the story 'The Speckled Band', who is Dr. Roylott?

In 'The Speckled Band', what is true regarding the wealth of Roylott's family?

he barely has friends and keeps exotic pets

In 'The Speckled Band', what does Holmes find interesting about Roylott's lifestyle at Stoke Moran?

In 'The Speckled Band', what does Roylott accuse Holmes of when they meet?

In 'The Speckled Band', in which tone does Holmes call Roylott an 'amiable person'?

A {{}} is a feeling that a word evokes in the reader.

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Adult supervision recommended

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Analysing Dr. Roylott in ‘The Speckled Band’

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.