OBJECTIVES
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1. To use a vocabulary sheet as an introduction to the lesson to enhance vocabulary.
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2. To demonstrate how Sherlock Holmes combines the scientific method and his powers of observation.
PROCEDURE
“The Red-Headed League” is fairly easy reading for students once the new vocabulary has been introduced. The teacher may assign this as silent reading for the more proficient readers, while doing more of a directed lesson with those less able.
ACTIVITY
Sherlock Holmes has amazing powers of observation which allow him to learn many things about a person just by looking very carefully at that person. In an expository paragraph, describe how Holmes explains the following observations about Mr. Wilson:
Mr. Wilson:
had done manual labor
takes snuff
was a Freemason
had been in China
had done a great deal of writing
This information is found at the beginning of the story. Students can be directed to find similar evidence of Holmes’s powers of observation further on in the story.
Vocabulary
Use the letter clues to form the word that matches each definition
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florid
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settee
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embellish
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pompous chagrin
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snuff
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pawnbroker
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rueful
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languid
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introspect
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propagation
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askance
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hansom
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labyrinth
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contemplative
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aperture
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hoax
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conundrum
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compunction
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ennui
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bullion
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solicitor
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1. low, two-wheeled, one-horse carriage _ _ n s _ _
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2. bars of gold or silver _ u l _ _ _ _
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3. given to meditation; thoughtful _ _ _ _ _ m p _ _ _ _ _ _
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4. decorate _ _ _ _ _ _ _ s h 5. with distrust or doubt _ s k _ _ _ _
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6. trick or deception _ _ _ x 7. embarrassment _ _ _ g r _ _
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8. feeling of discontented weariness or boredom _ n _ _ _
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9. sofa big enough for two or three people _ _ t t _ _ _
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10. opening or hole _ _ _ r t _ _ _
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11. feeling of guilt or regret _ _ m p _ _ _ _ _ _ _
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12. lacking energy or spirit _ _ _ g u _ _
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13. reproduction _ _ _ _ _ g a _ _ _ _
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14. riddle whose answer depends on a pun _ _ _ _ _ d r _ _
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15. British word for lawyer _ _ _ _ _ i t _ _ 16. examine one’s own thoughts and emotions _ n t _ _ _ _ _ _ _
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17. person who lends money at interest on valuable objects left as security _ _ _ _ b r _ _ _ _ 18. maze _ _ b y _ _ _ _ _
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19. self-important _ _ _ _ _ u s 20. having a ruddy, flushed color _ _ o r _ _
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21. showing sorrow or regret _ _ _ _ u l
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22. tobacco ground into a fine powder and inhaled through the nostrils _ _ _ _ f
AGATHA CHRISTIE
Agatha Christie was born Agatha Miller on September 15, 1890, in Devon, England. Her ingenious plots made her the foremost writer of detective novels of the 20th century. Her first manuscript, “The Mysterious Affair at Styles” in 1920, introduced the world to Hercule Poirot who, after Sherlock Holmes, became one of the most famous detectives in fiction. Miss Jane Marple, her other famous detective, first appeared in “Murder at the Vicarage” (1930). Her first major recognition came with the publication of “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd” in 1926. Over the years she wrote about 75 successful novels.
Agatha Christie wrote a mystery play, “The Mousetrap” (1952). It set a world record for the longest continuous run at one theater. Several of her works such as “Witness for the Prosecution” (published 1953), “Murder on the Orient Express” (1934), and “Death on the Nile” (1937) were adapted for film.
She was married to Colonel Archibald Christie in 1914. They were divorced in 1928. She married archaeologist Sir Max Mallowan in 1930. Agatha Christie died at Wallingford in Oxfordshire on January 12, 1976.
“THE RED HERRING”
By definition, the red herring is meant to divert, or distract, attention from the main subject by introducing something irrelevant. Christie uses this literary device in “And Then There Were None.”
Initially, the reader is misled by Judge Wargrave’s mention of Lady Constance Culmington several times at the beginning of the novel making us believe that she invited him to the island. In fact, Wargrave shows the letter to the guests which was supposed to make his reason for visiting the island appear to be valid.
The second incident involves the staging of Wargrave’s death. Wargrave could not have done this without the assistance of Dr. Armstrong. He took Armstrong into his confidence, and together they planned Wargrave’s false death. They used red mud to form the head wound and dressed Wargrave in the red bathroom curtain and the grey knitting wool wig. The lighting in the room was dim and flickering so no one could really get a good look at the wound. Only Armstrong had to examine the wound closely so it was easy for them to convince the others that Wargrave was dead. Also, since the seaweed in Vera’s room was believed to be a distraction planned by the murderer so that another murder could be committed, the others were easily taken in by the scheme.
