Analysing John Turner from ‘The Boscombe Valley Mystery’

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

Depiction of scary, confusing or unsettling events or characters placed in danger, including creation of a scary atmosphere through the use of music and sound.

Depiction or discussion of upsetting content

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 serious mental health issues including eating disorders, self-harm, suicide or attempted suicide, or the aftermath of such an event.

Depiction or discussion of mental health issues

a state of being worn out due to age or neglect

people who camped to harvest land that wasn't theirs

they were seen to be challenging the elite

Why did bushrangers sometimes receive public sympathy among the lower classes?

'face was of an ashen white, nostrils blue'

Which quote presents John Turner as ill and weak in 'The Boscome Valley Mystery'?

In 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery', what is true of John Turner's presentation?

'slow, limping step, bowed shoulders and an appearance of decrepitude'

Which quote matches the idea that Turner is presented as pitiable in 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery'?

Who is the perpetrator of Charles McCarthy's murder in 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery'?

he did not want his daughter to have to marry James McCarthy

he did not want Charles McCarthy to keep living on his land rent free

What was John Turner's motive in 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery'?

He is a victim but with villainous qualities

What is interesting about Charles McCarthy in 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery'?

Julia Stoner is presented as innocent whilst Charles McCarthy is not 

Charles McCarthy is presented as more sympathetic than Julia Stoner

McCarthy had more sorrow upon his death than Julia Stoner

What is the difference between Julia Stoner and Charles McCarthy from 'The Speckled Band' and 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery', respectively?

He tried to make up for the way he earned his wealth

In 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery', what does John Turner say about himself that builds sympathy for him?

What influence does Turner say McCarthy had on him in 'The Boscome Valley Mystery'?

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of upsetting content

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Depiction or discussion of mental health issues

Adult supervision required

Starter Quiz