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New
Year 6

Building knowledge of the historical context of 'Sherlock Holmes'

I can explain the historical context of 'Sherlock Holmes' and explore the story 'The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle'.

New
New
Year 6

Building knowledge of the historical context of 'Sherlock Holmes'

I can explain the historical context of 'Sherlock Holmes' and explore the story 'The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle'.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote the ’Sherlock Holmes’ stories starting in 1886.
  2. 'Sherlock Holmes' was written in the Victorian Era.
  3. The Victorian city of London was a city of startling contrast between rich and poor.
  4. The Holmes stories are written in the first person from Watson's perspective.

Keywords

  • Victorian era - the period of Queen Victoria’s reign (1837-1901)

  • Private detective - someone who does not work for the police but whose job is to discover information about crimes

  • First person perspective - the point of view where the speaker or narrator of the story is the 'I' character, providing a personal account of events or experiences

  • Slum - an overcrowded city area where very poor people lived

Common misconception

Pupils may struggle to understand the sequence of events in the story or certain vocabulary in the text.

As you read aloud, you can provide brief interjections to show the meaning of challenging vocabulary. You can also talk as a reader, saying what you are **realising** about the plot as an aside as you read, e.g., 'Ah, he must have ...'.

You may wish to provide additional videos or images to explore Victorian London. Children will explore the story in detail in the following lesson so they do not need to engage deeply with comprehending in this lesson - here, a first exposure is sufficient.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of serious crime

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following is the best definition of a detective?
someone who commits crimes
someone who carries out scientific tests to solve crimes
Correct answer: someone who follows clues to investigate crimes
someone who sentences people for their crimes
Q2.
Which is the best definition of a 'contrast'?
a small change
Correct answer: a noticeable difference
a problem
a colour change
Q3.
After which monarch (king or queen) is the Victorian era named?
King Victor
Queen Elizabeth I
Correct answer: Queen Victoria
Queen Victoria II
Q4.
Which of these sentences is written in the first person?
Correct answer: I couldn't believe it.
They couldn't believe it.
Alex couldn't believe it.
You couldn't believe it.
Q5.
Which of these sentences is not written in the first person?
Correct answer: You wondered what was happening.
We found ourselves in a difficult position.
I shuddered at the sight of it.
It appalled us both.
Q6.
Which word would complete the following sentence in the first person? 'Holmes handed the file to __________.'
them
him
Correct answer: me
her

6 Questions

Q1.
When was the Victorian era?
1737-1801
Correct answer: 1837-1901
1937-2001
Q2.
How is a private detective special?
They work for the police.
They work for the government.
Correct answer: They do not work for the police.
They do not tell anyone what they are doing.
Q3.
Which of the following could be found in Victorian London?
Correct answer: electric street lighting
Correct answer: museums and theatres
Correct answer: underground trains
an airport
Q4.
Which of the following best describes a slum?
one poor-quality house
an area of a city crowded with many wealthy people
Correct answer: an area of crowded houses with many poor people
a system of sewers in a city
Q5.
Which of the following were common crimes in Victorian London?
Correct answer: garrotting
Correct answer: mugging
Correct answer: pickpocketing
hacking
Q6.
Where did Peterson discover the jewel in 'The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle'?
in Holmes' study
Correct answer: inside the goose
in the hotel room
at the market

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