The Hound of the Baskervilles

by Sir Arthur Conan DoyleAICE General Paper

Mrs. Cedeño South Broward High School

Why are we reading this?Holmes revolutionized forensics.

“From blood to ballistics, from fingerprints to footprints, Holmes was 120 years ahead of his time, protecting crime scenes from contamination, looking for minute traces of evidence and searching for what the eye couldn’t see” (“How Sherlock Changed the World”, PBS).

Doyle innovated Detective Fiction.

He introduced 3 devices used throughout Detective Fiction thereafter:

1. The “idiot” friend, who then informs the “idiot” reader

2. The arch criminal, who is too clever for all but the detective protagonist

Using forensic science to crack the case. (“Sherlock Holmes, the World’s Most Famous Literary Detective, Sutherland).

The power of deduction.

Similar to a diagnosis, Holmes is most famous for sifting through the red herrings and lies to arrive at the truth, using small details to catch the criminal. His powers of deduction have influenced the academic world- from history to medicine to psychology (“Symposium Studies Doyle’s Contributions to Literature”, Harvard University).

Modeling:Dialectical JournalFor The Hound of the Baskervilles, you will be given the

questions which must be answered in your journal entries. Use the model below to guide your own journaling while

reading this novel.

Direct Quotation Evaluative ConclusionList five observations Holmes makes about the

walking stick and explain the conclusions he

comes up with for each observation.

“I am afraid, my dear Watson,….yes, by

Jove, it is a curly-haired spaniel” (2-4).

1) The initials are for Charing Cross Hospital, as a hospital is more likely to present a doctor with a gift like this than a hunting group (2).

2) This gift would have been given when leaving the hospital. The doctor, then, has started his own practice (3).

3) Because he is a country doctor, he was probably not well-established, meaning his was not on staff. As a beginning surgeon, he’s probably under 30 (3).

4) The doctor has a dog who carries the stick, evidenced by bite marks (4). 5) The dog, evidenced by the spacing of his teeth, is a curly-haired spaniel (4).

What is the relationship between Holmes and

Watson and how is it demonstrated in the first

chapter?

“Really, Watson, you excel yourself,’ said

Holmes,…. ‘It may be that you are not yourself

luminous, but you are a conductor of

light…” (2)

Watson is Holmes’ bumbling sidekick. Holmes finds humor- and inspiration- in

the faulty logic of Dr. Watson. He states here that, although not very bright

(“luminous”), his bad ideas help to inspire good ones in someone smart — like

Holmes.

Chapter 2

What is the origin of the curse of the Baskervilles? Describe Holmes’ reaction to the

curse.

What information had Mortimer withheld that he now reveals to Holmes? Does this

confirm or deny the popular suspicion about Sir Charles’ death?

Chapter 3

What exactly is the baffling problem to which the title of Chapter 3 refers?

What does Holmes conclude about Sir Charles’ footprints, his state of mind, and his

reason for being on the moor?

Chapter 4&5

What threatening or mysterious things happen to Sir Henry upon his arrival in

London?

What do we learn about Sir Henry’s background and personality?

To what do the three broken threads refer in the title of Chapter 5?

Chapter 6&7

How does the appearance of the moor help establish an atmosphere of dread?

What leads Dr. Watson once again to regard Barrymore as a suspect?

What reasons might Beryl Stapleton have for urging Sir Henry to leave? How does she

attempt to explain away this warning later on in Chapter 7?

Chapter 8&9

What have we learned thus far about the backgrounds and interests of the Stapletons?

What happens between Sir Henry and the Stapletons?

Explain the purpose of Barrymore’s trips to the unfurnished room.

Summarize what happens to Sir Henry and Watson when they venture out on to the

moor.

Chapter 10&11

Who exactly is L.L. and what does this person have to do with the case?

How does Watson end up finding the mysterious man on the tor? Who is that man and

what was he doing there?

Chapter 12

What is the real relationship between the Stapletons and how did Holmes figure it out?

Who is killed in Chapter 12 and what circumstances led to this death?

What does Holmes conclude about L.L.’s relationship to Stapleton?

Give two reasons why Holmes hid his presence from Watson.

Chapter 13

Why can’t Holmes arrest the culprit right away?

How does Holmes discover the culprit’s motive?

List the first five steps Holmes takes in trapping the culprit.

Chapter 14

Summarize the last steps in Holmes’ attempt to trap the culprit.

Explain the role of the culprit’s partner in the crime.

Where was the murder weapon kept and how was it prepared for its task?