New
New
Year 7

Analysing Helen Stoner’s presentation in ‘The Speckled Band’

I can analyse Helen Stoner’s presentation in ‘The Speckled Band’.

New
New
Year 7

Analysing Helen Stoner’s presentation in ‘The Speckled Band’

I can analyse Helen Stoner’s presentation in ‘The Speckled Band’.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The Victorian era saw the police force take an interest in solving previous crimes
  2. The popularity of detective fiction grew at this time, in particular the Sherlock Holmes stories
  3. In The Speckled Band, Helen Stoner, who is frightened and distressed, comes to visit Sherlock Holmes
  4. Helen may have visited Holmes to help her solve a crime

Common misconception

The police force we have today is the one society has always had.

Explain that the police force was a new concept to Victorians and thus civilians had a lot of anxiety around crime.

Keywords

  • Prevent - If you prevent something, you stop it from happening.

  • Detective - A detective is someone who investigates and solves crimes.

  • Agitation - Agitation is a state of anxiety or panic.

  • Analysis - If you analyse something, you explore it in great detail.

You could show Victorian illustrations that depict attitudes towards police.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

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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6 Questions

Q1.
What is a protagonist?
The villain in a story
Correct answer: The main character in a story
The victim in a story
Q2.
Who is the protagonist of 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes'?
Arthur Conan Doyle
John Watson
Correct answer: Sherlock Holmes
Q3.
What is Sherlock Holmes' likely occupation based on evidence?
baker
musician
Correct answer: detective
Q4.
Which adjective best describes Sherlock Holmes?
hopeless
greedy
Correct answer: attentive
Q5.
What is a prediction?
An exact definition
An analysis
Correct answer: An educated guess
Q6.
What is tentative language?
Correct answer: Language that is not definite or certain
Language that is certain
A group of words related in meaning

6 Questions

Q1.
What did the police force start focusing on in 1842?
prevention of crimes
Correct answer: solving of previous crimes
working in remote areas
Q2.
Why was Sherlock Holmes so popular?
Conan Doyle promoted him well
Correct answer: He was excellent at solving crimes
He was excellent at crime prevention
Q3.
Which adjective best describes Helen Stoner in 'The Speckled Band'?
elderly
amused
Correct answer: stressed
Q4.
What does agitation mean?
in a state of anger
Correct answer: in a state of panic or anxiety
in a state of confusion
Q5.
Which quote proves Helen Stoner is in danger?
''Pray draw up to the fire''
''She raised her veil as she spoke''
Correct answer: ''Eyes like those of a hunted animal''
Q6.
Why might Helen Stoner have come to Sherlock Holmes?
To interview him about his adventures
To get his advice on a neighbourhood crime
Correct answer: To get his help in solving a brutal crime

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