1) Write a short character sketch of Jonathan Small.
Ans. – Small is an antagonist inn this novel. He had beard and lined face. He got an accident with crocodile and as a result he had one wooden leg. There are four men in the story who had discovered a cache of jewel, and he is one of them. After this as uprising took place and he was kept in a prison. There he passed the secret to Major Sholto and Morstan. Morstan takes all jewels and betrays all leaving Small in prison. No sooner Small get out of the prison he leaves of England to get his share. He thinks that he and other four are only people who are entitled for share treasure. When he is capture, he dumps the treasure in the river. In the search this quest he had taken help of Tonga. Samll is such a character who was not afraid of going to the level of violence to achieve his goal. He did not like thing when Tonga killed Bartholomew.
2) Write a short character sketch of Tonga.
Ans. – Tonga is one of the character in the novel who was belonging to island Andaman. Tonga was completely devoted to his master Jonathan Small. Small was so much close to him that he nursed him back to health when Tonga was ill. Tonga helped him to escape from the prison and break into Sholto’s house. Tonga is a character who killed Bartholomew. Here Tonga is considered as a racist character as Doyle describing him as ‘animalistic’ and ‘savage’.
3) Describe the character of Mary Morstan from Dr. Watson’s point of view.
Ans. - Dr. Watson meets Mary Morstan for the first time when she brings a case for Sherlock Holmes. He describes Mary as a woman with a firm step and calmness of manner. He continues his description of her as a young, graceful, well-gloved lady, who is impeccably dressed in a sober, greyish beige, untrimmed and unbraided dress with a dull turban that has a white feather on the side. He finds her costume to be plain and simple, which suggests that she is a woman of limited means. Her features are not regular and her complexion is not bright, but her expression is sweet and friendly and her large blue eyes are remarkably spiritual and sympathetic. Dr. Watson, who happens to know women from various nations across three different continents, finds Mary’s face to be indicative of her refined and sensitive nature. He even describes her emotional state of mind as agitated, because he witnesses her lip tremble and her hand quiver as she takes her seat. Dr. Watson finds Mary to be a very attractive woman with a deep, rich-toned voice and a beauty that has aged well with time. When Dr. Watson meets Mary Morstan for the second time, he describes her as wrapped in a dark cloak with her pale, composed and sensitive face. He says that she would have looked exceptional had she not been feeling uneasy about her strange situation. However, despite her discomfort, she displays perfect self-control. Watson also observes that as they drove to the Lyceum Theatre, the combination of the dull evening and the mysterious nature of their mission left her nervous and depressed. Finally, he notes that even while they are escorted to an unknown place, Mary demeanour is as resolute and collected as ever. Of most importance is Mary’s disinterest in the inheritance of riches and her relief and happiness at finding out the treasure has been lost and her subsequent acceptance of Watson’s proposal, proving once again that she is a virtuous woman.
4) Sherlock Holmes is the leading character in the extract. Explain.
Ans. - At the beginning of the extract, we see that Miss Mary Morstan comes to meet Sherlock Holmes with a case. Through her conversation with Holmes, we come to know that in the past he had solved a case for Miss Morstan’s employer, Mrs. Cecil Forrester. This is the first time we are introduced to Sherlock Holmes as a detective. Dr. Watson describes him as having clear-cut, hawk-like features. Upon listening to Miss Morstan’s story, he is the one who questions her further. This helps the reader understand Holmes’ importance in the extract, thus adding weight to his character. After Miss Morstan leaves, Holmes swings into action by going out to gain more information about the case. Upon his return, he shares his findings with Dr. Watson, which are quite commendable considering he was able to gain so much information in one afternoon. This further strengthens his character as the main lead in the story. An important point of observation is Holmes’ stark refusal to let emotions come in the way of solving a case. This lack of emotion not only sets him apart from Watson, but also from the average reader, making him an extraordinary character. It is perhaps this complete focus on rationality and logic that enables Holmes to make quick advances in the case. On the carriage ride, Holmes deciphers the contents of the page that Miss Morstan shares with him, thus highlighting his intellectual prowess. On the second carriage ride, as the trio are being taken away to an unknown destination, Dr. Watson feels lost, but Holmes is able to clearly identify the places through which the carriage passes. Holmes is, therefore, depicted as the leading character in the extract through the qualities exhibited by him over the course of the story.
5) Dr. Watson, the narrator, is one of the major characters in the novel. Illustrate
Ans. - Dr. John Watson is the narrator of the story. From his admiring description of Miss Mary Morstan and his appreciative expression of Holmes’ abilities to his detailed account of the evening scene in London and his depiction of each emotion felt by the characters, Dr. Watson’s insightful narration helps the readers experience the story through his eyes. However, Dr. Watson is not merely the narrator of the story; he is also Holmes’ closest friend as well as his assistant. A doctor by profession, Watson is an empathetic man, who understands emotions and situations on a level that Holmes fails to understand. He is the second-most important character in the story, after Holmes. This is because he helps Holmes comprehend the sensitive aspects of situations, which is not Holmes’ strong suit. Though Holmes is extraordinarily gifted, this does not stop Watson from arguing with him, making him the only one capable of tolerating Holmes and proving that he is the perfect companion for the eccentric detective. His admiration for Miss Morstan shows us his romantic side and his hesitation to feel worthy of Miss Morstan’s affection portrays him as a true gentleman. All the qualities attributed to Dr. Watson, along with his relationship to the protagonist, Sherlock Holmes, and his narrative viewpoint, make him one of the major characters in the novel.
6) Holmes is always one step ahead of Dr. Watson in solving cases. Elucidate.
Ans. - Holmes possesses exceptional powers of observation and deduction. His rational thinking and logical approach help him analyze cases in a way that no one else can comprehend. The extent of Holmes’ intellectual skills can be witnessed when he deciphers the piece of paper that Miss Morstan gives him in the carriage and also when he is able to name every place the carriage passes through, despite not knowing the intended destination. Moreover, Sherlock’s approach to his cases is devoid of emotion. He simply takes interest in the facts and does not leave room for personal bias to impair his judgment. His ability to rise above the fear and anxiety felt by an ordinary person in a tense situation sets him apart and gives him the power to look at the situation from a unique perspective. In Dr. Watson’s opinion, Holmes is an automaton − a calculating machine − which makes him positively inhuman. On the other hand, though Dr. Watson is a keen observer, he is no match for Sherlock Holmes. His analytical skills are not as refined as Sherlock’s. Unlike Holmes, Dr. Watson does not treat the clients as mere units or factors. His emotional side leads him to sympathise and at times empathise with the clients. He excels in sensing a person’s state of mind, a quality lacking in Holmes, which makes him more sensitive and humane. However, his personal opinion about everyone may be clouding his judgment, thus causing him to miss out on the subtle clues that Holmes never fails to pick. For instance, it takes Holmes a mere afternoon to make the important connection between Major Sholto and the anonymous sender of pearls, which Watson does not make even when Holmes presents him with the facts that he had obtained. This proves that Holmes is a master of deduction who thrives on mysteries and lives to resolve them. This is why Holmes is always one step ahead of Dr. Watson in solving cases.
7) Discuss the importance of the following statement in light of the extract.
The trio − Holmes, Dr. Watson, and Mary decide to visit Lyceum Theatre.
Ans. - Mary comes to meet Sherlock with a case. For the past six years, an anonymous person has been sending a pearl to Mary on the same day each year. However, this year, she has received a letter from the anonymous sender requesting her to go to the third pillar from the left, outside the Lyceum Theatre. The letter suggested that Mary had been wronged in some way and that she shall have justice. Though the sender warned Mary not to inform the police, he did tell her that she could have two friends accompany her. At this point, Mary is curious about the meeting but at the same time, the prospect of meeting a stranger alone is obviously unsettling. Thus, as a compromise, she decides to not call the police but enlists the help of a detective, Holmes, to accompany her. They both agree and the trio decides to visit Lyceum Theatre. This statement is important because Mary’s decision to approach Holmes and his subsequent approval to accompany her lead to the unveiling of the mystery of the anonymous sender and of the bigger, main plot of the novel.
8) Discuss the importance of the following statement in light of the extract.
Mary received Pearls every year on the same day.
Ans. - Mary’s father had disappeared ten years ago and a few years after his disappearance, she saw an anonymous advertisement in the newspaper asking her for her address. Upon her employer’s advice, she gave her address and began receiving a large pearl in the mail each year. These pearls that Mary receives are central to Mary’s mysterious case. The reason this statement is important is because it hints that someone is trying to make amends for some wrongful action that has somehow harmed Mary.
9) Discuss the importance of the following statement in light of the extract.
Holmes carefully examined the paper given by Mary.
Ans. - The paper that Mary gave to Holmes was found in her father’s desk. Mary told Holmes that no one had been able to understand the contents of the paper. Though she didn’t think it was relevant to the case, she thought Holmes would like to see it and that’s why she had brought it with her. Holmes, too, did not think that the paper was relevant to the case at hand. However, he told Mary that it was an important document and that she should preserve it carefully as it may prove to be of use later. After examining the paper, Holmes also declared that the matter was deeper and more complicated than he had initially thought and that he might have to reconsider his approach to the case. The paper, in fact, contained the location of the treasure that Jonathan Small and his three conspirators had hidden in the Agra Fort. This statement is important because this is the first time the location of the treasure surfaces in the story. Though at this point, the characters are unaware of even the existence of such a treasure, the paper is proof that the story narrated by Jonathan Small, upon his arrest, is actually true. It is also important because it is the first moment when the titular ‘the sign of four’ is introduced to the story. Finally, Sherlock makes many quick deductions from the paper which serves to demonstrate his intellectual abilities, yet again.
10) Describe in brief the importance of the following place in the extract.
London
Ans. - Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson, Miss Mary Morstan, and the anonymous sender of the letter − all live in London. Though there are references about India in the extract, it is in London where the majority of the action occurs. In this particular extract, two different sides of London have been shown − the fashionable north and west London with the Langham Hotel, the Strand, and Lyceum Theatre frequented by the wealthy crowd and the unfashionable south London suburbs, lined with dull brick houses and third rate two-storied villas. Over the course of the story, all the characters in the story eventually end up in London as this is where the climax of the story takes place.
11) Describe in brief the importance of the following place in the extract.
Lyceum Theatre
Ans. - The Lyceum Theatre is important in the extract because the anonymous sender of the pearls requests Miss Mary Morstan to meet with him at the third pillar from the left outside the Lyceum Theatre. This is the place that promises to unfold the mystery of the anonymous sender and reveal the story of how Mary is a “wronged woman”. The writer has also used the sophisticated upper class of London that arrives in cabs and horse drawn carriages outside the Lyceum Theatre as a symbol of wealth, to hint at the riches that the treasure has the potential to bestow upon Mary Morstan, about which she has no idea.
12) Describe in brief the importance of the following place in the extract.
Edinburgh
Ans. - Mary Morstan’s father was an officer in an Indian regiment. He sent Mary to England when she was still a child. As a motherless child who had no relatives in England, Mary was placed in a comfortable boarding establishment in Edinburgh, where she lived till she was seventeen. This place is important because Mary Morstan, one of the major characters in the story, spent her childhood there.
13) Describe in brief the importance of the following place in the extract.
Agra
Ans. - Though there is no direct mention of Agra in this particular extract, the place is central to all the drama that unfolds in the novel. The treasure, which drives the actions of the characters in the story, comes from Agra. The chain of events that alters the lives of all the major characters in the story sets off in Agra. Even in the extract, the pearls that Mary receives are from a chaplet that was a part of the Agra treasure and the piece of paper that Mary shares with Holmes contains the blueprint of the Agra Fort, the original hiding place of the treasure.
14) Describe in brief the importance of the following place in the extract.
Andaman Islands
Ans. - The Andaman Islands are referred twice in the given extract − once when Mary reveals that her father, Captain Morstan, was one of the officers in charge of the convict-guard in Andaman Islands; and the second time when she discloses that Major Sholto, her father’s friend, was also in charge of the convict-guard in the Andaman Islands. In the context of the novel, the Andaman Islands are vital to the story as this is where the lives of Captain Morstan and Major Sholto get entangled in the Agra treasure crime, thus setting off a disastrous chain of events.
15) Write in brief the theme of the extract.
Ans. -
I) Wealth : When Mary Morstan visits Holmes and Watson to enlist their help, Watson describes her as one “dressed in the most perfect taste” while also appearing to be of “limited means”. Her simple, but beautiful appearance is set up in contrast to the potential riches of the Agra treasure that she might receive. Morstan then outlines the details of her case, wherein she receives a mysterious letter from an anonymous person asking her to meet him. This anonymous sender has been sending her pearls for the last six years. These precious pearls represent the theme of wealth. Finally, the meeting point suggested by the sender of the letter is the Lyceum theatre, which is located in the upper-class neighborhood of London’s West End. This adds to the theme of prosperity and hints at the existence of the treasure, of which the characters have no idea.
II) Logic versus Emotion: Another evident theme in the extract is that of logic versus emotion. On the one hand, the narrator of the story, Dr. Watson, admires Miss Morstan’s beauty and is attracted to her; and on the other, Holmes views Miss Morstan as a mere unit or factor in a problem. Dr. Watson represents the sensitive, emotional, and empathetic side of man, while Holmes embodies the analytical, rational, and intellectual side.
III) Imperialism: Miss Morstan’s revelation of her father and Major Sholto being officers in the 34th Bombay Infantry, represents the theme of imperialism. The story has been written during a time when the Victorian Empire was flourishing. India was under British rule and a lot of British officers were stationed in the Indian colony. In addition, the suspicious nature of the main characters towards India and those associated with it (the male servant) highlights the imperialist attitude of the British, which was common at the time.
IV) Justice: Sherlock deduces that Major Sholto’s heir knows something about Captain Morstan’s disappearance and is trying to compensate for the loss suffered by Mary all those years ago. This represents the theme of justice in the extract.
VI)Victorian Gothic and mystery: The gothic theme has also been woven into the extract by the writer’s description of London as being enveloped in a “dense drizzly fog”, with the street lamps throwing “splotches of diffused light” and the glare from the shop windows creating a “murky shifting radiance” across the crowded street. This kind of dark and gloomy setting also adds to the theme of mystery that is central to this novel. The “monster tentacles” also refer to the gothic style, which was associated with evil and monstrosity.
16) Write 4-5 sentences about the meeting of Miss Morstan with Holmes.
Ans. - Miss Mary Morstan comes to meet Sherlock Holmes with a case. She narrates the story of her father’s disappearance under mysterious circumstances ten years ago. She then shares the intriguing case of the pearls that she has been receiving for the past six years by an anonymous sender, who now wants to meet with her. She requests Holmes and Watson to accompany her to the meeting. They both agree and decide to meet Mary at six in the evening to head to the place of the meeting together.
17) Write the central idea of the given extract of the novel, “The Sign of Four”.
Ans. - Various themes/central ideas are highlighted in the given extract of the novel. However, the central idea that dominates the extract is that of justice. All the events in the given extract are the result of the anonymous letter requesting a meeting with Miss Mary Morstan. This letter has been sent by the same person who has been sending the pearls to Miss Morstan for the past six years. As deduced by Holmes, the act can be viewed as compensation being given for the loss suffered by Miss Morstan, because the letter mentions her as a “wronged woman”. Miss Morstan’s decision to seek Holmes’ assistance and the decision to go to the meeting place are the outcomes of the letter sent by the anonymous person.
18) Elaborate the following line in the light of the novel/extract, “The Sign of Four” –
“You really are an automaton − a calculating machine.
Ans. - This line is spoken by Dr. Watson when Holmes tells him that he didn’t really observe Miss Mary Morstan’s attractiveness. Though Dr. Watson knows Holmes really well, he finds it astonishing that he can be so inhuman as to not notice beauty. Holmes' character is known for having razor-sharp intelligence, a keen eye, and extraordinary powers of deduction. However, the character is also emotionally detached and views his clients as mere units or factors in a problem. Holmes believes that emotional qualities get in the way of logical reasoning and he does not want his judgment to be biased by the personal qualities of his clients. Since humans are, by their very nature, emotional beings, Watson compares Holmes to a machine because of his ability to remain unaffected by emotion.
19) Elaborate the following line in the light of the novel/extract, “The Sign of Four” -
“The letter speaks of giving her justice. What justice can she have?”
Ans. - This line is spoken by Dr. Watson when Holmes shares his findings with Watson. Upon hearing that Miss Morstan has been receiving the pearls as compensation for the deprivation of her father, Watson is surprised. He is curious to know what justice the letter sent by the anonymous person could be referring to because the only injustice that Miss Morstan could have suffered is the loss of her father.
20) Elaborate the following line in the light of the novel/extract, “The Sign of Four” -
“Our quest does not appear to take us to very fashionable regions.”
Ans. - This line was spoken by Sherlock Holmes as the trio was being taken towards south London. Holmes could pin-point the exact streets through which the carriage passed. From Wordsworth Road, to Lark Hall Lane, to Stockwell Place, to Robert Street and then to Cold Harbour Lane, they were being taken to a rundown, working-class neighborhood of London.
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