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Year 7

Reading about Stoke Moran and analysing atmosphere in ‘The Speckled Band’

I can understand how Conan Doyle creates a sense of atmosphere around Stoke Moran in 'The Speckled Band'.

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Year 7

Reading about Stoke Moran and analysing atmosphere in ‘The Speckled Band’

I can understand how Conan Doyle creates a sense of atmosphere around Stoke Moran in 'The Speckled Band'.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Holmes and Watson go to Stoke Moran to investigate the rooms
  2. Conan Doyle juxtaposes the atmosphere before getting to Stoke Moran and after they have arrived to convey danger
  3. They find curious items in Helen’s room such as a dummy bell rope and ventilator
  4. They find curious items in Dr. Roylott’s room such as a saucer of milk and a dog-leash
  5. After inspecting the rooms, Holmes believes Helen is in great danger

Keywords

  • Sinister - Sinister means giving the impression something evil or harmful will happen.

  • Jutted - Jutted means to stick out.

  • Cunning - To be cunning is to be sly and conceal the truth.

  • Juxtaposition - If you juxtapose two things, you place them together for contrasting effect.

  • Idyllic - An idyllic place is extremely happy, peaceful and picturesque.

Common misconception

Conan Doyle creates a scary atmosphere all the way through 'The Speckled Band'.

If you look carefully, Conan Doyle carefully alters the atmosphere in order to build tension in the reader.


To help you plan your year 7 english lesson on: Reading about Stoke Moran and analysing atmosphere in ‘The Speckled Band’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

You could get students to make a final prediction about how the saucer, leash, ventilator and bell rope link together.
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Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

You will need a copy of 'The Speckled Band' by Arthur Conan Doyle for this lesson.

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Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
supervision-level

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In 'The Speckled Band', where does Helen live with her stepfather?
London.
Correct answer: Stoke Moran.
India.
Q2.
In 'The Speckled Band', what pets does Dr. Roylott keep?
Correct answer: A cheetah and a baboon.
A dog and a cat.
A parrot and a snake.
Q3.
Which room was Helen moved to after the death of her sister in 'The Speckled Band'?
Dr. Roylott's room.
Her mother's old room.
Correct answer: Julia's old room.
Q4.
In 'The Speckled Band', what does Sherlock Holmes think is not a likely cause of Julia’s death?
Correct answer: A sudden fright.
Animals on the grounds.
Dr. Roylott himself.
Q5.
Why is Sherlock Holmes going to Stoke Moran in 'The Speckled Band'?
To confront Roylott.
Correct answer: To investigate the rooms.
To visit Julia's doctor.
Q6.
In the story 'The Speckled Band', who came to visit Holmes just after Helen?
Julia's fiance.
Correct answer: Dr. Roylott.
Mrs. Farintosh.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What does 'cunning' mean?
Evil.
Kind.
Correct answer: Deceptive and sly.
Q2.
In 'The Speckled Band', what word describes the setting when Holmes and Watson set off for Stoke Moran?
Correct answer: Idyllic.
Gloomy.
Cold.
Q3.
How does the atmosphere in 'The Speckled Band' change when Holmes sees Stoke Moran?
Correct answer: It becomes sinister.
It becomes calmer.
It becomes lighter.
Q4.
What is it called when authors put things next to each other for contrasting effect?
Alliteration.
An anecdote.
Correct answer: Juxtaposition.
Q5.
In 'The Speckled Band', what does Holmes find in Helen's room (Julia's old room) that he finds interesting?
A saucer of milk and a leash.
A safe.
Correct answer: A dummy bell rope and a ventilator.
Q6.
In 'The Speckled Band', what does Holmes conclude after inspecting the rooms at Stoke Moran?
Correct answer: Helen is in danger.
The rooms are safe.
Julia died of fright.