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Year 10
AQA

Identifying and analysing Anthony Horowitz's use of resolution in 'Moriarty'

I can identify and analyse Horowitz's use of symbolism and setting to create resolution in 'Moriarty'.

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Year 10
AQA

Identifying and analysing Anthony Horowitz's use of resolution in 'Moriarty'

I can identify and analyse Horowitz's use of symbolism and setting to create resolution in 'Moriarty'.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Potentially, crime fiction is a popular genre because people want to explore the darkness without experiencing it.
  2. Stereotypically, crime fiction is resolved by the crime being solved and the criminal facing justice.
  3. While the criminal is apprehended in his story, Horowitz subverts the genre by having another criminal capture him.
  4. Arguably, Horowitz creates a reassuring resolution through the use of setting, light imagery and symbolism.

Keywords

  • Resolution - the conclusion of the story's plot where all unanswered questions are solved

  • Idyllic - a place or experience that is extremely pleasant, beautiful or peaceful

  • Crime fiction - a fictional narrative where a crime is committed and investigated by a professional or amateur

  • Stereotype - a set idea that people have about what someone or something is like

  • Symbolism - the idea that things (images, people etc.) represent other things

Common misconception

Some people think that crime fiction is a trivial genre.

Crime fiction explores the dark side of human psychology and reading crime fiction where the crime is solved can help reassure us that society is a safe place and criminals are punished.

To extend the lesson, you may wish to consider why Horowitz chose to subvert the crime fiction genre by having another criminal apprehend Devereux - what might he be suggesting about society?
Teacher tip

Equipment

You need a copy of the 2014 Orion Books edition of 'Moriarty' by Anthony Horowitz for this lesson (not provided).

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of serious crime
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

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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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
'A fictional narrative where a crime is committed and investigated by a professional or amateur' is the definition of fiction.
Correct Answer: crime
Q2.
'A set idea that people have about what someone or something is like' is the definition of which word beginning with 's'?
Correct Answer: stereotype
Q3.
In crime fiction, who do we stereotypically expect to solve the crime?
the victim
a criminal
Correct answer: a detective
Q4.
To subvert something means to ...
follow the conventions.
Correct answer: not follow the conventions.
meet someone's expectations.
Q5.
To call somewhere idyllic suggests that it is somewhere ...
Correct answer: pleasant and peaceful.
unpleasant and terrifying.
mundane and uninteresting.
Q6.
Place these settings in order from most to least idyllic.
1 - A lush, green field with beautiful flowers and sunshine.
2 - A lush, green field with beautiful flowers and cloudy skies.
3 - A lush, green field with brambles and weeds.
4 - A dry, barren field with brambles and weeds.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
'The idea that things (images, people, etc.) represent other things' is the definition of which word beginning with 's'?
Correct Answer: symbolism, symbol, symbolic
Q2.
'The conclusion of the story's plot where all unanswered questions are solved' is the definition of which word beginning with 'r'?
Correct Answer: resolution
Q3.
Horowitz uses an idyllic setting at the end of 'Moriarty' and the image of sunlight. How do you think he wanted the reader to feel at the end of the story?
unsettled
Correct answer: reassured
ambivalent
Q4.
In Horowitz's 'Moriarty', who brings the criminal, Charles Devereux, to justice?
Sherlock Holmes
Athelney Jones
Correct answer: Moriarty
Devereux hands himself in
Q5.
At the end of 'Moriarty', Horowitz describes Devereux as ...
indignant
fiery
Correct answer: paralysed
meek
Q6.
In Horowitz's 'Moriarty', our final image of the criminal, Devereux, is of him ...
in a prison.
Correct answer: in a trunk.
laughing.
shouting.