New
New
Year 7

Analysing Dr. Roylott in ‘The Speckled Band’

I can explain how Conan Doyle presents Dr Roylott in ‘The Speckled Band’.

New
New
Year 7

Analysing Dr. Roylott in ‘The Speckled Band’

I can explain how Conan Doyle presents Dr Roylott in ‘The Speckled Band’.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Dr. Roylott is presented as aggressive in 'The Speckled Band'.
  2. We can use the connotations of words to help us analyse a character’s presentation.
  3. We should always use tentative language when suggesting why an author has presented a character in a certain way.

Keywords

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

  • Hurl - To hurl is to throw something with great force.

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

  • Tentative - If something is tentative then it is not fixed or certain.

Common misconception

Connotation is the definition of a word.

Connotation is a feeling that a word gives .

You can ask students to compare how Roylott is presented as an antithesis to Helen.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

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).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
In the story 'The Speckled Band', who is Dr. Roylott?
Helen's fiancee
Julia and Helen's brother
Correct answer: Helen and Julia's stepfather
Q2.
In 'The Speckled Band', what is true regarding the wealth of Roylott's family?
They are extremely wealthy
Correct answer: They lost their wealth
They have never had great wealth
Q3.
In 'The Speckled Band', what does Holmes find interesting about Roylott's lifestyle at Stoke Moran?
he has huge parties every night
he never looked for a new partner
Correct answer: he barely has friends and keeps exotic pets
Q4.
In 'The Speckled Band', what does Roylott accuse Holmes of when they meet?
courting Helen
Correct answer: meddling in his affairs
sneaking into Stoke Moran
Q5.
In 'The Speckled Band', in which tone does Holmes call Roylott an 'amiable person'?
genuine
Correct answer: sarcastic
jealous
Q6.
A is a feeling that a word evokes in the reader.
Correct Answer: connotation

6 Questions

Q1.
Which word means to throw something with great force?
snarl
Correct answer: hurl
growl
Q2.
In 'The Speckled Band', what word best describes Roylott based on the quote: "fierce old bird of prey"?
innocent
weak
Correct answer: dangerous
Q3.
What is a connotation?
definition of a word
writer's intentions for using a word
Correct answer: the feeling a word evokes
Q4.
In 'The Speckled Band', which two words does Holmes feel towards Roylott based on meeting him?
fondness
Correct answer: suspicious
Correct answer: weary
Q5.
Why use tentative language when writing about author's intentions?
Correct answer: you can never be sure of the writer's intentions
it is polite
it impresses the reader
Q6.
Thinking about 'The Speckled Band', what can you get from the single word analysis of the word: 'snarl'?
Roylott is evil
Roylott is sad
Correct answer: Roylott is angry