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Year 6

Understanding 'The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle'

I can retell the plot of 'The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle' and consider it from different characters' perspectives.

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New
New
Year 6

Understanding 'The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle'

I can retell the plot of 'The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle' and consider it from different characters' perspectives.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. 'The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle' is a Sherlock Holmes short story first published in 1892.
  2. The story is told in the first person from the perspective of Dr John Watson.
  3. When you deduce something, you are arriving at a conclusion by logical reasoning.
  4. One of Holmes' key character traits is his ability to deduce information from small clues.

Common misconception

Pupils may find the plot confusing, particularly the idea that Ryder 'framed' Horner.

Model your own 'reader talk', talking through the process of how you connected up information to work out what has happened in the story.

Keywords

  • Deduce - work out by logical reasoning or thinking based on evidence

  • Perspective - point of view

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

This lesson offers the chance for a second, in-depth read of the narrative after the pupils had it read to them in the previous lesson. Have pupils read aloud in mixed-ability pairs for each section of the story, swapping at every sentence. If pupils finish 'early', train them to re-read again.
Teacher tip

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).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In which era are the 'Sherlock Holmes' stories set?
the Elizabethan era
the Georgian era
Correct answer: the Victorian era
the Edwardian era
Q2.
What role does Sherlock Holmes have in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories?
police detective
journalist
Correct answer: private detective
doctor
Q3.
Which of these were new innovations in the Victorian era?
Correct answer: electric street lights
Correct answer: the London Underground
horse and cart
Correct answer: tunnels under the River Thames
Q4.
Which of the following are features of slums?
Correct answer: lots of houses crowded together
many wealthy people
Correct answer: many poor people
very large houses
Q5.
Which of these crimes were common in Victorian London?
mugging
Correct answer: pickpocketing
murder
Correct answer: garrotting
Q6.
From whose perspective is 'The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle' told?
Peterson's
Sherlock Holmes'
Correct answer: Dr Watson's
James Ryder's

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which is the best definition of 'deduce'?
Correct answer: work out based on evidence
guess
do scientific experiments
ponder
Q2.
Match the words to their definitions.
Correct Answer:carbuncle,jewel

jewel

Correct Answer:ruckus,fight

fight

Correct Answer:slight,slim

slim

Correct Answer:vendor,seller

seller

Q3.
Match the words to their definitions.
Correct Answer:tremulous,trembling

trembling

Correct Answer:distinctive,unique

unique

Correct Answer:inscrutable,impossible to read

impossible to read

Correct Answer:evident,clear or obvious

clear or obvious

Q4.
Put these events from 'The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle' in order.
1 - Mr Baker is attacked in the street.
2 - Peterson ends up with the hat and the goose.
3 - Peterson brings the hat to Holmes.
4 - Peterson finds the carbuncle inside the goose.
Q5.
Put these events from 'The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle' in order.
1 - Mr Baker visits Baker Street.
2 - Holmes realises Mr Baker did not know about the carbuncle.
3 - Holmes and Watson visit the market.
4 - Holmes and Watson confront James Ryder.
Q6.
From whose perspective is the following account written? 'I couldn't believe it when the police came to my house. I was innocent! I'd never even seen the jewel before!'
James Ryder
Correct answer: John Horner
Sherlock Holmes
Dr Watson

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