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Read the following extract Version 1 Holmes stood outside the police cell, seemingly lost in thought. Perhaps he was contemplating the fate of the criminal inside, but I knew he would not waste much time on the subject for his quick mind was always onto the new. He leaned towards me and said ‘Fried eggs for breakfast Watson?’ ‘How the devil did you know that?’ I exclaimed. Who is telling the narrator (the person telling the story)? What POV is it written from (1st person, 3rd person)?
Read the following extract Version 2 Inside the cell the prisoner was curled up on the narrow bed, wondering what would become of him now. Holmes stood outside, apparently lost in thought. He smiled slightly and then seemed to bring himself back to reality. Suddenly he took a keen interest in the front of Watson’s coat. ‘Fried eggs for breakfast Watson?’ he said. ‘How the devil did you know that?’ the good doctor exclaimed. Who is telling the narrator (the person telling the story)? What POV is it written from (1st person, 3rd person)?
Read the following extract Version 3 I stood outside the police cell and allowed myself a moment of self-congratulations at the thought of another cunning criminal sitting behind bars where he belonged. It was not long before my mind had leapt to another topic however, for my thoughts are always searching for a new mystery to solve. Just at that moment the mystery occupying my thoughts was the origin of that stain on Watson’s coat. I peered a little closer. It was definitely egg yolk. I leaned towards him and said, ‘Fried eggs for breakfast Watson?’ ‘How the devil did you know that?’ my good companion exclaimed. Who is telling the story? Who is the narrator? What POV is it written from?
Point Of View • The extracts we have been looking at are written from 3 different perspectives. • Extract 1 is written in the first person, from the point of view of Dr Watson, like the Sherlock Holmes stories • Extract 2 Is written as if someone from outside the story is observing it, without brining in their own feelings, opinions and personality. It is written from the third person. • Extract 3 is written from Holmes’ point of view, and it is also written in the first person, but as if he were talking to the reader.
As I put each question onto the board you must decide which extract offers you the best answer. • When you have decided go and stand next to the appropriate extract. • BE PREPARED TO EXPLAIN WHY!
Which version makes you more Sympathetic towards Holmes?
Which make Holmes seem more Realistic?
Which creates more mystery And suspense
Before you sit down think about the statement below Without Watson there Would be no Holmes What do you think this means? Do you agree with this statement?
As we read through a section from the story I want you to see how many time each character uses one of the different types of sentences. What patterns do you notice? Why do you think Conan Doyle has each character using the sentence types he does?
“No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine that you saw all I did.” “Holmes I am afraid you are wrong, I simply observed that the room was perfectly sealed in!” “You saw the window I assume?” “Of course, but I do not believe there to be anything particularly unusual about that!” I gasped. “My dear friend I am not trying to mock you” Holmes reassured me “What I meant was, did you observe the scratches around the bottom of the window?” “What?” I exclaimed “But I looked over it extensively I saw nothing!” “There was the slightest trace of a scratch mark and a burn” Holmes continued “I can only deduce that my conclusions were right” “And what is that?” “That although the murderous thief entered through the window” Holmes paused looking intently out and across the dark moors “he did not leave the same way” I gulped “And what’s more” Holmes explained “It is my belief that he never left the room”…
Read through your scripts now, and, using different coloured highlighters identify which line is an example of the sentence types we have been looking at. • Once you have done this, as a pair produce a dramatic reading, where you put different stresses and emphasis on specific lines to show you really understand it.
“No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine that you saw all I did.” “Holmes I am afraid you are wrong, I simply observed that the room was perfectly sealed in!” “You saw the window I assume?” “Of course, but I do not believe there to be anything particularly unusual about that!” I gasped. “My dear friend I am not trying to mock you” Holmes reassured me “What I meant was, did you observe the scratches around the bottom of the window?” “What?” I exclaimed “But I looked over it extensively I saw nothing!” “There was the slightest trace of a scratch mark and a burn” Holmes continued “I can only deduce that my conclusions were right” “And what is that?” “That although the murderous thief entered through the window” Holmes paused looking intently out and across the dark moors “he did not leave the same way” I gulped “And what’s more” Holmes explained “It is my belief that he never left the room”…
Conan Doyle Word Bank • Certainly Indeed Precisely • Extensively Observed Isolated • Unbelievably Intently Noticed • Deduced Incisive Exclaimed • Indubitably Leisurely Evident • Fearful Confidently Considerable • Terrified Overheard Consequently
Dialogue set up • Imitating the style of Conan Doyle I want you to try to write a revealing exchange of dialogue between Homes (who uses more…) and Watson (who uses more…), using all the sentence types we have been looking at today.
