Literature:
Unit 1
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES REVISION BOOKLET
Literature:
Unit 1
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES REVISION BOOKLET
Section A: Literary Heritage
The whole exam is 1 hour 45minutes and you should spend around 1 hour on this section.
For this section you will be given an extract. This will be a small selection of text from one of the chapters in
the novel.
The question is broken down into four parts. The first three parts will be on the extract. The last part asks
you to choose somewhere else in the novel for yourself.
The first thing you should do is read the extract. Then read the question, taking note of the focus characters
and theme. Then read the extract again.
Question Breakdown
This question has four parts
a) This part is usually takes one character from the extract and asks you to analyse how they are
presented. It is worth 8 marks and therefore you should only spend 8 minutes answering it. You
should aim to write 2/3 paragraphs for it.
b) This part is usually takes a second character from the extract and asks you to analyse how they are
presented. It is worth 10 marks and therefore you should only spend 10 minutes answering it. You
should aim to write 3/4 paragraphs for it.
c) This part is usually takes a theme from the extract and asks you to analyse how they are presented.
It is worth 10 marks and therefore you should only spend 10 minutes answering it. You should aim
to write 3/4 paragraphs for it.
d) This part is usually asks you to find ONE other place in the novel where the theme mentioned in c) is
and analyse it for yourself. It is worth 12 marks and therefore you should only spend 12 minutes
answering it. You should aim to write 4/5 paragraphs for it.
A Paragraph
For this exam a paragraph should consist of:
Point: A statement made about the character or theme
Evidence: A quote from the text that supports the ideas made in your point
Language: A reference to one or two key words or techniques that support your ideas made in your point
Analysis: A statement which explains what we learn about the character/theme from this and how it affects
us as an audience.
Ie:
This sense of mystery surrounding the character of Stapleton is enhanced when Doyle says he “abandoned
his chase” which earlier had been so important to him. The verb abandoned connotes a sense of wildness,
as though he was desperate to return to his sister. This again raises our suspicions.
Literature:
Unit 1
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES REVISION BOOKLET
The story starts with Holmes and Watson discussing a walking stick that had been left behind. This allows us
to see Watson fail at the art of deduction and Holmes succeed. The stick belongs to Dr Mortimer who then
arrives at the house.
Mortimer tells them about the Legend of the Baskervilles, which, in a nutshell, is that all Baskerville men are
cursed to die young hunted by the hounds of hell. He then moves on to his more modern problem, his friend
Charles Baskerville has died. Charles was found near dog paw prints and his face was contorted in fear.
Mortimer is worried now because Charles’ relative Henry is coming to live at Baskerville Hall.
When Holmes meets Henry he finds out that Henry has received a note warning him to stay away from the
moor and that someone has stolen one of his new boots. Furthermore, Holmes learns that when Henry
leaves to go back to the hotel, he is being followed by a mysterious man in a black cab. The only thing they
see of the man is his piercing blue eyes and black beard. They try to hunt down the writer of the note and
the thief of the boot and the man in the cab but they fail at every turn. Henry’s new boot turned up but an
older one was stolen. Holmes sends Watson with Henry to Devonshire saying he needed to stay in London.
In Devonshire they find out there’s an escaped criminal on the loose. Watson meets Mr and Mrs Barrymore,
who are the servants and who are also suspects. He also meets Stapleton and Miss Stapleton, the
neighbours.
Then lots of things happen quite quickly; Barrymore creeps around the house at night. Watson sees a figure
on the moor; Watson hears howling on the moors; Beryl warns Watson to go back to London (thinking he’s
Henry); Watson learns that Charles was meet Laura Lyons on the night of his death.
Watson investigates all these events, and finds that the Barrymores are helping the escaped convict, who
turns out to be Mrs Barrymore’s brother. Watson interview Laura Lyons and the then finds out that the
figure on the moor is Holmes himself.
Joining them, Holmes discovers that Stapleton is actually a Baskerville and line to inherit the fortune and is
now the prime suspect. Laura Lyons was being used by Stapleton to set up Sir Charles, lure him onto the
moor so Stapleton could set the dog on him. (Charles ended up dying of fright because of his bad heart
rather than of a dog attack.)
In the last part of the story, Holmes uses Henry as bait. He sends him to dinner with Stapleton and then they
wait for Henry to head home. When Henry does leave, Stapleton releases his hound and it chases Henry
down. Despite the bad fog, Holmes manages to kill the dog before it can kill Henry.
They go into Stapleton’s house and find his wife tied up, and she sends them after her husband, but it’s too
foggy. In the day following they find his marshy hideout but no sign of him. It is believed he drowned, sunk
into the boggy marshland.
Back in London, Holmes ties up the loose ends, telling us that the stolen shoe was used to give the hound
Henry's scent, and that mysterious warning note came from Beryl Stapleton, whose husband had denied
their marriage so as to seduce and use Laura Lyons. Watson files the case closed.
Literature:
Unit 1
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES REVISION BOOKLET
Sherlock Holmes – Sherlock Holmes is a decetive famous for being very clever and having a supremely logical
mind. Normally he is the main character in the adventures but this time he lets Watson seem to take the
reins. However at the end he takes over as always and solves the case.
Dr Watson – He is the narrator and best friend to Holmes. He acts as his assistant and also as the person who
records all the events. This is his first major case and he is eager to impress Holmes.
Sir Hugo Baskerville – He was the guy who stole the girl and brought the curse of the hellhound down on the
whole Baskerville family.
Sir Charles Baskerville – He died before the book began and it was his death that brought Mortimer to see
Holmes. He seems to have died of fear, running away from something. Near his corpse were giant dog pawprints. He was a good guy who spent his money on the area and wanted whoever inherited to do the same.
Sir Henry Baskerville – He is the one who inherits Baskerville Hall and seemingly, its curse. He is described as
a “small, alert, dark-eyed man about thirty years of age, very sturdily built."This would seem to say he can
survive the curse. He does however come close to death near the end of the story.
Dr James Mortimer – He is the doctor for the area around Baskerville Hall. He is a good guy, even if he can
be odd at times. He tries to assist Holmes and especially Watson where he can.
Jack Stapleton – He appears to be a geeky school teacher who chases butterflies. He seems like a real
gentleman, but at the same time seems to have a bad temper. The truth is that he is related to Charles
Baskerville, and he is actually a scheming, manipulative and money-hungry criminal.
Miss Beryl Stapleton – At first we are told she is Stapleton's sister, and that she is beautiful. However she
turns out to be Stapleton’s wife. At the end she refuses to help him with his plans and tries to help Henry
instead.
John and Eliza Barrymore – They are Baskerville Hall’s servants who have a dark secret. This ends up being a
red herring that nearly leads Watson totally in the wrong direction.
Laura Lyons – She is the daughter of the local weirdo (crank) who disowned her when he married a man who
her dad disapproved of. She asked Charles for help and he was going to help her but she also asked
Stapleton who ended up using her in his evil plans.
Selden – He is a dangerous criminal hiding out from the police on the moors. He is the brother of Mrs
Barrymore, who risks her job to feed and clothe him. He is accidentally killed by the hound because he is
given clothes from Sir Henry.
Literature:
Unit 1
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES REVISION BOOKLET
Summary
The book opens with Holmes and Watson in their home with Watson examining a mysterious cane left in the
office by an unknown visitor. Holmes sits facing away from Watson listening to him examine it. Watson
offers up the theory that the walking stick belonged to an elderly doctor who was given it on his retirement
saying that the stick was worn showing it must be a country doctor who used it a lot and that the CCH on it
was from a local hunt. He is very proud of his work.
Holmes congratulates him but when he examines the stick himself points out that Watson was entirely
wrong. Holmes says the owner is clearly a country doctor but that CCH meant Charing Cross Hospital and
that the cane was given when the man retired from the hospital and that only a young man would have
retired from a city practice to move to a rural one. Holmes further suggests that the bite mark on the cane is
from a spaniel but he’s not really clever here since the dog is at the door, accompanied by Mortimer.
Mortimer arrives and introduces himself. He admires Holmes and tells him he’s here for their help.
Why This Chapter is Important
This chapter is called “Mr Sherlock Holmes” and this is because it introduces us (or reintroduces if you had
read the earlier books) to the famous detective. It does this by showing us his great deductive reasoning (the
way he can get information just by looking at things) and by comparing him to Dr. Watson (who is intelligent,
just not as intelligent as Holmes.) Watson is the narrator of the novel, and he sees it as his job to chronicle
(write down) Holmes’ genius.
Doyle also uses Watson to create a bridge, to allow the reader to connect with Holmes who can be quite
arrogant and cold and therefore make it hard for us to care about him. He does this through his narration,
and the fact he just uses common sense (something most of us have.)
Often Doyle just gives the detective more information than anyone else, like when he sees Watson’s
reflection so knows he’s inspecting the stick, or when he sees the dog ourside the window, so he can
accurately “guess” the breed. Holmes is able to play these common observations off as the most brilliant of
insights or even as part of a supernatural ability, showing that he is also conceited and egotistical.
In this way, chapter 1 establishes the relationship between the two men and as the novel progresses we see
more of this, through the eyes of Watson.
Task
Pick out five quotes which show us the relationship between Holmes and Watson
From those quotes, pick out the key words that highlight their relationship
Say how the words do this
What do we feel about this relationship as an audience?
Literature:
Unit 1
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES REVISION BOOKLET
Summary
Dr Mortimer shows Holmes and Watson a manuscript dated 1742, which is all about the curse of the
Baskervilles. Mortimer reads the legend out to Holmes and Watson and it basically goes like this: Hugo
Baskerville was lord of the Baskerville mansion in Devonshire and a little bit power mad. He was lecherous
(which means he liked sex a lot) and wanted to have lots of women. One woman in particular caught his eye.
She was the daughter of a local man but she rejected him. He decided he wanted her anyway so he
kidnapped her, took her home and locked her in a tower. Then he went downstairs to party with his boys.
She was really scared up there in a tower and she knew what Hugo wanted so she decided to escape by
climbing down the ivy on the wall. Then she ran, heading for home.
Finally Hugo has enough partying and goes to get his girl – only she’s gone! He goes absolutely mad with rage
and decides to send his dogs to chase her and then go after her himself. But first he sells his soul to the devil
to help him catch her. (Silly guy didn’t word that one properly did he?) Anyway, he goes off and his friends
follow a little later. They eventually find him and the girl – they are both dead. The girl has died from
exhaustion and fear – she did run a long way and was really scared (so would you be if there were dogs
hunting you down.) Hugo, however, had died because his throat had been ripped out and his friends saw the
dog that did it. It was no ordinary dog but "a foul thing, a great, black beast."
Since then, reckons Mortimer, the family has been haunted by the hound and he thinks it just recently killed
his friend Charles Baskerville. To prove this he shows Holmes an article from the local paper in Devon all
about Charles, his good deeds and, of course, his death. It tells us that Charles went for a walk every night
down a tree lined alley at the edge of his property in order to smoke a cigar; this is where the body was
found. However it seems like Charles was running from something because his footprints left only toe marks.
The paper also tells us about Charles bad heart and the fact the coroner thinks he died of a heart attack.
Finally we learn that Henry Baskerville, his only next of kin really, is coming to take over the hall.
Mortimer, however, prodded by Holmes, tells us there’s more to this than there seems. He tells Holmes how
Charles was planning on going back to London because of his nerves and bad health and that the nerves and
health were because of the legend of the hound. The chapter ends with the fact Mortimer reckons there
were footprints found near the body, "the footprints of a gigantic hound."
Why This Chapter is Important
Well, the curse establishes many of the themes that will feature in the main book. First of all you have the
natural versus the supernatural, myth versus reality. Then you have the Gothic traditions, all the horror,
creepiness and supernatural stuff. Of course we have violence and death, and of course crime.
This chapter is also really good for giving us lots of information about the case, such as the legend, the
newspaper article and Mortimer’s take on both of them, as well as the things he didn’t tell anyone else.
Tasks
Pick one of the themes included in this chapter and prepare an exam question for it.
Then think about what the examiner might be looking for. In other words bullet points all the
different ways you could discuss the theme in this section
Literature:
Unit 1
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES REVISION BOOKLET
Summary
When he breaks the case down, Holmes realises that he’s really interested in it because there’s so much
that’s hard to explain. For example, the paw prints show the dog didn’t actually approach the body and the
fact that the alley has high hedges and two locked gates means that’s it’s not easy to get in there. This means
it would be harder to kill him.
Mortimer believes that Charles’ death was caused by some supernatural evil and he says the locals have
seen a hound (a really big dog) roaming the moors (the hills near Baskerville hall.) The reason Mortimer
came wasn’t to solve the death of Charles (since he thinks the hell hound did it) but to see how he can
protect Henry, who is on his way to London before heading to Devonshire. He does mention, at this point,
that there might be another heir, Sir Roger, but that everyone thinks Roger died in South America.
Holmes promises to give him advice, but only when he’s picked Henry up and brought him to see Holmes the
next day. Holmes then smokes lots and thinks things over. Watson leaves him to it and when he comes back
Holmes has a lot of questions he thinks needs answering. He wonders who Charles was waiting for that night
(ash from the cigar was piled at the gate so he was clearly waiting for someone) and he wonders what
Charles was running from and why, if he was running scared, did he run away from the house, where he
might find help.
Why This Chapter is Important
Here we learn less about facts and more about puzzles. Basically Doyle poses a lot of questions for us as
readers to try to answer as we continue through the book. However it is important that a second heir is
mentioned here, if only briefly; we are meant to almost ignore it, but it does turn out to be the main reason
everything happened: Stapleton was Roger’s son, after all.
We also learn about the hound being sighted on the moor. This is important because we can start trying to
work out if all the locals are suddenly involved in the curse or if, in fact, the hound is actually a real dog.
We are also introduced to the next victim, Henry and it gives us someone to worry about and therefore
makes the story more interesting for us as readers.
Tasks
This chapter is full of mystery. Find an extract you think shows this and brainstorm all the different
ways it appears.
Find quotes to support your ideas and pick out key words in them
Finally decide what effect those words have on us as readers
Literature:
Unit 1
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES REVISION BOOKLET
Summary
This chapter brings us Henry himself. He appears to be a sturdy man, unlike his uncle, and someone who is
more likely to survive the plot. Already, despite only being in London for twenty four hours, he has become
part of the whole mystery. He has received a note, with letters cut from newspapers (like a ransom note)
which tells him not to go to the moor. It said “As you value your life, or your reason, keep away from the
moor.” In other words, head to Devonshire and go insane or die. A bit scary when you have just arrived in
the country.
The note itself is a little odd. It’s on plain paper and the address is in bad handwriting, like someone was
trying to disguise their own. Also, the letters (so Holmes works out because he’s so smart) are all cut from
The Times, yesterday’s paper, and done using nail scissors which means it wasn’t all pre-planned. Holmes
also says that the writer was an educated man, based on the newspaper used and that they were in a hurry
because the letter was basically a messy job. Again, it all suggests that this was a spur of the moment, quick
decision, rather than a long planned one. Also since no one could know where Henry was staying, and
because yesterday’s paper was used, the person must be in London and following Henry.
Holmes points out that the ink used is splotchy and says it is most likely from a hotel and so decides that they
might find out where the writer is staying if they search all the paper rubbish from the hotels and find the
newspaper the words were cut from.
This is not the only way Henry has become involved in the plot though, he has lost one of the new boots he
bought. At this point, though, Holmes doesn’t think this is important. So Henry and Mortimer leave, saying
they will meet them for lunch. Once they are gone Holmes quickly follows them and finds out that they are
already being followed, by a man in a black cab. They try to follow the cab but other than seeing the man has
a big bushy black beard, they don’t find anything as he gets away from them. Holmes takes down the
number of the cab and decides they might get more information by tracking down the cab driver.
Why this Chapter is Important
This chapter has lots of clues in it: the note, the boot, the bearded man, the cab driver. This leads us to a
series of key themes in the book, deduction, disguises, mystery, and tension.
It is also the beginning of the action segement of the book, which will really get underway once they reach
Devonshire.
Tasks
Henry appears for the first time. Pick two sections of this chapter that he features in and brainstorm
the ways in which he is presented.
Remember to support your ideas with quotes, pick out key words and analyse their impact
Literature:
Unit 1
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES REVISION BOOKLET
Summary
Holmes and Watson head over to Henry’s hotel to see him. There Holmes tries to see if anyone has booked
into Henry’s hotel after him, thinking that might show him who is following Henry. He tricks the clerk guy
into talking about the two guests who booked in after Henry, but neither of them could be involved and so
Holmes knows that Henry’s follower isn’t staying in the same hotel as him.
When they finally get to see Sir Henry he is throwing a fit! Apparently another boot has been stolen from
him, this time one of his old ones. Suddenly Holmes is interested and decides this does have something to do
with the case after all.
They go to lunch. There Holmes asks if there is anyone in Devonshire with a big, black beard and we get our
first named suspect: Barrymore. Holmes comes up with a dead clever way of checking to see if Barrymore is
at home. He sends Barrymore a telegram, (like an old instant letter) but says it must be put into Barrymore’s
hands or counted as not delivered. This way they can see if he’s home.
We also learn about inheritance. Apparently the Barrymores each would get £500 from Charles’ death (a
massive amount back then, meaning they could stop working) while Mortimer got £1000. Sir Henry got the
most though getting £740,000. This would basically be like getting millions now. We also learn that the only
known living relatives are some nice people call Desmond.
They make plans to return to Devonshire, but Holmes said he has too much on to go and so sends Watson in
his place, meaning Watson gets his first outing as the main man. Before they leave they go to Henry’s room
where the first boot that went missing turns up! But no one, not even the waiter, can say where it came
from. It’s a mystery!
Holmes and Watson go home and there they learn that the telegram was handed to Barrymore, so he
couldn’t possibly be in London and that the guy they got to search for the newspaper didn’t find it so they
can’t work out where the message sender is staying.
Finally the cab driver turns up and they think they will find out loads from him, but the man in the cab is very
clever. The black bearded man called himself Sherlock Holmes and was picked up and dropped off in public
places so Holmes can’t even trace him. This is the final clue trail that has dried up and Holmes says the man
they are looking for is the cleverest they have gone up against so far.
Why This Chapter is Important
In this chapter we see Holmes lying to the people at the hotel, which is the first time we see him lie, but it is
important because we learn later that he also lied to Watson when he sent him on his own to Devonshire.
This also shows the relationship between Holmes and Watson and how much Watson feels proud that his
friend trusts him enough to send him on his own. This trust surprises Watson as much as us (remember how
Holmes mocked his theories in chapter 1?) but it means that now Watson has the upper hand, seeing things
first and since Watson is the narrator, we get a chance to solve the crime with him.
Literature:
Unit 1
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES REVISION BOOKLET
Tasks
Brainstorm all the themes that come up in this chapter
Pick one
Find the best section for it and answer a 10 point exam question on it
Remember to follow:
o Point: what we learn about that theme
o Evidence: quotes to support our point
o Language: key words or devices
o Analysis: what it tells us about the theme
OR
Look at the relationship between Holmes and Watson at the end of the chapter
How is Holmes presented?
How is Watson presented?
What do we learn of their friendship?
Literature:
Unit 1
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES REVISION BOOKLET
Summary
Before Watson leaves Holmes tells him that he has ruled out the Desmonds (who are related to the
Baskervilles) as suspects, and then tells him to just tell Holmes all the facts when reporting and not any of his
theories. Holmes then lists all the people he thinks might be suspects. This includes: Barrymores, Sir Henry's
groom, the local farmers, Mrs. Stapleton and Mrs. Stapleton, and Mr. Frankland of Lafter Hall.
This chapter is mostly about the scenery on the way to the Hall. There’s lots of it and therefore lots to
analyse.
When they get to Devonshire they find out that there is a manhunt on for an escaped convict. Then we get
even more description of setting! Yay! And finally we get the description of the Hall itself and they arrive.
We meet the Barrymores (take note of Mr Barrymore’s bushy beard) and the first they say pretty much is
that they are leaving. A tad suspicious don’t you think? They say they won’t be comfortable there now and
they are sad about Charles’ death so they are taking their money and starting a business.
Later that night, while in bed, Watson hears a woman sobbing.
Why This Chapter is Important
We are given a lot of description of setting. It is to set the tone, the mood for the place and it’s all about
death. It makes the idea of a hell hound seem more real and the idea of death seems definite.
We are also told about the convict but that’s possibly the most obvious red herring in the book. There’s no
way he was involved with Charles’ death.
We also get more information about the Barrymores and it makes them seem even more suspicious –
definitely ones to keep an eye on.
Finally there’s the crying in the night – lots of mystery here. Is it guilt? Regret? Are we hearing the tears of a
killer?
Tasks
There are lots of things you can look at in detail here:
Setting, tension, supernatural, death, mystery
Why not plan a few exam responses for them
Literature:
Unit 1
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES REVISION BOOKLET
Summary
The next morning Henry admits hearing the crying too. They ask Barrymore about it but he just stutters and
stuff and says this must be mistaken and that is definitely wasn’t his wife. However when they see Mrs
Barrymore she has clearly been crying – so why lie? It just makes Barrymore seem like he WAS the man in
London. He investigates this and finds out that Mrs Barrymore actually received the telegram so there’s no
actual proof Mr Barrymore was at the Hall. This just confuses Watson who wishes Holmes was with him.
On his way back he meets Mr Stapleton who knows exactly who Watson is (a little suspicious really.) He also
talks about the hound and how people believe it and how it was that that scared Charles to death. (He also
knows about Charles’ weak heart which is strange.) Not only does Stapleton know who Watson is but also
that he is friends with Sherlock Holmes, which makes Watson suspicious. Because he is suspicious he doesn’t
really tell Stapleton anything specific about the case.
Stapleton walks him home and points out all the dangers of the moor, but reckons he knows how to cross
even the most dangerous places. They hear the hound howl but dismiss it as sounds from the moor, natural
ones. Stapleton also points out the stone houses on the moor which become important later in the novel.
Stapleton goes off chasing a butterfly and suddenly Miss Stapleton appears. She is beautiful and looks
nothing like her brother. She thinks Watson is Henry and tells him to go back to London but not say anything
to her brother. She seems almost scared of him. He comes back quickly and seems dead angry that they have
had a chance to speak – all of this is hugely weird.
The Stapletons walk Watson to their house and Stapleton tells Watson all about his time as a teacher and
about the insects he collects and finally he asks Watson to get Henry to visit him.
On that note Watson leaves but on the way home he meets Miss Stapleton again who tells him to forget
everything that happened. She says it’s just that she was worried about the curse but it’s all very suspicious
and Watson is confused.
Why This Chapter is Important
This chapter asks more questions than it answers and it is full of suspicious behaviour and odd people. First
there is Stapleton who seems too interested in Watson and Holmes and the case in general. He knows who
Watson is, even though his sister clearly doesn’t. He is supposed to be someone who is genuine, but there
are lots of indicators that he is not what he seems.
We also learn about his past life, as a teacher, which we ignore until later when Holmes tells us it was vital in
figuring out Stapleton’s identity. (It would be wouldn’t it? Only not for Watson, just for Holmes.)
We also meet Miss Stapleton, who is clearly very different from “her brother” and also very different from
other English women. (This is meant to hint that she might be from another country.) She definitely stands
out anyway and so we know there’s something shady going with her. She also acts weird, warning Watson
(who she thinks is Henry) to go back to London. Her warning sounds curiously like the letter in London, so we
wonder if she is connected to it. She’s clearly a suspect and if she is then her “brother” must be.
All of this makes it really suspicious that they want Henry to come over for dinner. We have to wonder what
they want from Henry.
Literature:
Unit 1
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES REVISION BOOKLET
Tasks
It is clear that the focus of any extract from this chapter will be on the characters of Stapleton and Miss
Stapleton.
Find five suspicious things each of them does or says
Find five ways the setting creates mood
Find five things we learn about Watson in this chapter (This one is hard)
For a challenge, do PELA in note form
Literature:
Unit 1
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES REVISION BOOKLET
Summary
This chapter sees the start of a series of letters from Watson to Holmes. So in theory we learn just what
Sherlock learns.
First he describes the loneliness of the moor and how old it feels (because we need to hear more about the
setting of course.) He then tells him about the escaped prisoner, about how he hasn’t been seen in two
weeks and how everyone assumes he’s run away from the area since he would likely die out there without
food.
Watson goes on to talk about how it seems like Henry fancies Miss Stapleton and she seems to like him too.
Watson describes Miss Stapleton as an exotic beauty – he clearly likes her. He describes Mr Stapleton as a bit
wet though, even though he gets angry sometimes. He also points out how Stapleton doesn’t like the fact
that Henry is trying to get with his “sister.”
He tells Holmes that he has also met with another neighbour, Frankland of Lafter Hall who is not a bad guy,
just a bit obsessed with suing people for no reason. At the moment, however, Frankland spends his time
using his telescope to search the moor looking for the convict.
He then talks about the Barrymores. First he tells Holmes that Barrymore didn’t receive the telegram but
promises he was at home that day. When Barrymore gets all bothered about the questions Henry gives him a
box of old clothes he no longer wanted.
He points out that one night he saw Barrymore creeping around the house at night, and then using a candle
to signal to someone on the moor. When Barrymore turns to leave Watson has to run away quickly and just
makes it back to his room on time. He doesn’t offer any reasons why, just leaves it to Holmes like he asked.
Why This Chapter is Important
While the chapter isn’t one of the most important we do learn some important things like how Stapleton
isn’t too happy about his sister and Henry. This leads us to wonder why. Surely you would want to set your
sister up with a guy who just inherited a fortune.
Also we see more of the suspicious behaviour of the Barrymores, like the signalling. He could be
communicating with someone who is looking after the dog.
It’s clever of Doyle to include all of these clues like this because it lets us be Sherlock Holmes for a while and
try to solve the case for ourselves.
Task
Find an extract that focus on either suspense or mystery (or do both) and either plan or write a
section d) answer for it. (12 marks, 12 minutes, 5 paragraphs)
Literature:
Unit 1
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES REVISION BOOKLET
Summary
Watson decides he knows who Barrymore was signalling, and rather than it have anything to with the case,
Watson decides Barrymore is having an affair. (You see that’s why he was sneaking around and why his wife
was crying.) He wants to prove this by doing a stake-out to catch Barrymore.
During the day, however, Watson is having trouble protecting Henry because Henry wants some alone time
with Miss Stapleton. Watson lets Henry go, but then follows him to make sure he’s safe. He sees Henry meet
Miss Stapleton and then go to kiss her. She’s not massively up for it but her brother is definitely angry about
it because he sees Henry go for the kiss and runs at them, yelling and shouting and just generally being mad.
It’s odd because again, he should be happy about their relationship.
When he’s gone, Watson reveals that he has been following Henry and they talk about how crazy Stapleton
might actually be. Henry also reveals that while Miss Stapleton seems into him, she won’t talk about love
and just keeps giving him those crazy warnings. Later the same day, Stapleton comes over to apologise for
acting crazy and invites him to dinner next Friday.
It takes two nights but eventually Barrymore does his creeping around thing again and Watson and Henry
follow him and confront him. Finally they get the truth, but only when Mrs Barrymore turns up and explains
it. It turns out that the signalling is between them and the escaped convict, Selden, who is Mrs Barrymore’s
brother. They have been feeding him and giving him clothes so that he can survive on the moor. (Clothes
including Sir Henry’s of course)
Watson and Henry decide they want to capture the convict themselves and head out to where the other
light is on the moor. (Crazy ideas since it’s night time.) On their way they hear the howling and it makes them
hesitate but they keep going. Watson nearly catches Selden but he escapes and as he does Watson sees the
outline of another man on the moor – one he doesn’t know. It seems we have another suspect.
Why This Chapter is Important
This chapter solves some of the mysteries for us. For example we know that the Barrymore’s weird
behaviour has nothing to do with Charles’ death and everything to do with the convict, so they seem to be
off the hook.
We also see more of Stapleton’s oddness and it makes him even more of suspicious character and therefore
his “sister” is more suspicious too.
Tasks
Have a go at planning a response that looks at the Barrymore’s.
8 point question on Mrs Barrymore and a 10 point question on Mr Barrymore
Literature:
Unit 1
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES REVISION BOOKLET
Summary
Watson admits that the whole thing is pretty confusing. He knows that the hound is real but can’t work out
where it goes during the day. He also wonders who the mysterious figure is on the moor and wonders if it is
the same person who was warning them in London.
Henry spends his time arguing with the Barrymores. He thinks Selden is dangerous but they say he isn’t and
he is just chilling out there waiting for his ship to South America and won’t hurt anyone. Finally Henry agrees
to not tell the police and in return Barrymore offers him another clue to Charles’ death. (Why he didn’t offer
it before now...) Apparently Charles was due to meet someone whose initials are L.L. by the gate that night –
the person had sent him a letter and Barrymore found what was left of it in the fire.
Watson then figures out that L.L. is Laura Lyons, daughter of Frankland. Basically Frankland disowned her
because she married an artist and he didn’t want her to. Since then the artist has abandoned her but her
father still won’t have anything to do with her. Apparently both Stapleton and Charles offered her money to
help her out.
Watson also learns that Selden has seen the strange figure on the moor and apparently whoever it is has
been living in the huts and getting his food brought to him by a young boy.
Why This Chapter is Important
Again we tie loose ends up but as we do, more appear. So the Barrymore are okay but they give a clue that
ties in with Charles’ death. Laura Lyons was due to meet Charles that night. This also raises a number of
questions. Why would a women be meeting him so late and outside of the house?
We also are left to wonder about the guy living in the old stone huts. Who is it? Why is he there? Is he the
owner of the dog? It is up to us to figure all of this out, just as it is up to Watson.
It is interesting that this section is related via his journal. This means we can see all his ideas and theories, all
the things that Holmes banned him from sending in his letters. Doyle does this so that we can check them
against our own and see if we are right and to see if we can work out if his are right or not. It allows us to
engage more closely with the novel.
Tasks
Watson writes to Holmes: ‘I have a feeling of danger all the time – a danger all the more terrible
because I cannot describe it.’ What reasons does Watson have for feeling this?
Find five ways that the supernatural is presented in this chapters
Literature:
Unit 1
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES REVISION BOOKLET
Summary
Watson goes to see Laura Lyons. He describes her as beautiful. He asks her about her involvement with Sir
Charles and at first she is hesitant but then she tells him that Sir Charles gave her a bunch of money and that
she wrote to him a couple of times. She won’t admit to trying to hook him though and says that Stapleton
was the one who told Charles all about her. (Funny that Stapleton is involved right?)
It’s not until Watson mentioned the burnt letter that Laura breaks down and admits to having sent it to
Charles. She reckons it was at an odd time and place for good reason. It was late because Charles was
headed to London and she wanted to catch him before he left and it was outside because it would have been
wrong to see a woman go into a man’s house so late at night. She reckons she just never made the
appointment though but won’t say why. She did say that the letter was asking for more money, but to get
her out of her bad marriage. However she didn’t turn up that night because she got it from someone else.
Watson gets really annoyed because he feels like Laura isn’t telling him everything. He leaves and heads to
the moor. He has decided to try and find that mysterious figure that seems to live on the moor. On his way
he bumps into Frankland and shares a glass of wine with him. Frankland tells him he knows just where the
boy takes the food and Frankland thinks it’s the convict, though Watson knows it’s the stranger.
Watson heads over to the hut that Frankland pointed out. The stranger is not there so Watson settles in to
wait. In the hut though, he find a note about his own activities and realises he is being followed.
At the very end of the chapter he hears footsteps outside and a greeting from a familiar voice.
Why This Chapter is Important
This chapter is sort of sad in some ways because we see how proud Watson is of his detective skills. It’s also
important because we meet Laura Lyons and that opens up a whole can of worms. She doesn’t seem
involved but clearly there’s something going on there and the fact she’s involved with Stapleton... well, he’s
just getting more and more suspicious.
The chapter ends on a cliffhanger, we are meant to wonder who the voice is but it is clearly obvious that it is
Holmes which means he has been sneaking around. (However more on that next chapter.)
Tasks
Two key focuses on this chapter: Laura Lyons and tension
So... fives again: Five ways Laura is presented and five ways Watson responds to her
Five ways mystery is presented there
Five ways tension is presented at the end
Literature:
Unit 1
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES REVISION BOOKLET
Summary
Well, Watson joins us in realising he’s talking to Holmes and here we see all that pride Watson had in the
other chapter deflate as Holmes essentially says he was watching everything. Holmes lied to Watson, he says
it was to watch from behind the scenes but it hurts Watson anyway, who thinks all his hard work was for no
reason.
He tells Holmes about his visit to see Laura Lyons and in return Holmes tells him that Laura and Mr Stapleton
are very close and that Miss Stapleton isn’t Stapleton’s sister, she’s his wife. Watson is very shocked at this
and asks for proof. So Holmes takes the chance to show off telling him how he used the information about
Stapleton’s past as a school master to find out who Stapleton is (though not who he REALLY is because that
comes later) and how he is the enemy. He used Laura Lyons to lure Charles to the moor and he is using his
wife (posing as his sister) to seduce Henry.
They decide that perhaps it is time to visit Laura Lyons again and that they will tell her about how Stapleton’s
been using her so that she will tell them everything. Before they can do anything, however, they hear a mad
scream from the moors, and it repeats over and over. They run towards it (because that’s what you do) and
find the body of Sir Henry, or rather a body that LOOKS like Sir Henry, only it turns out to be Selden, the
convict, dressed in Henry’s clothes.
Funnily enough, Stapleton shows up (perfect timing eh?) and is a little shocked when he realises it’s NOT Sir
Henry, which is suspicious. But Holmes pretends Selden just broke his neck and they all head back to where
they are staying.
Why This Chapter is Important
We see more of the relationship between Holmes and Watson, and basically how Holmes treats him like a
pet dog, kicking him and then petting him to make him feel better.
We learn lots too. All of a sudden we KNOW Stapleton is the suspect, rather than just thinking him
suspicious. It’s like Watson was all full of theories but along comes Holmes and TELLS us everything we need
to know and it’s a bit of a letdown, but at the same time we know where to fix our attention now: Stapleton.
We also have more of an idea what happened to Henry’s boot; clearly it’s being used to give the hound his
scent and poor Selden, wearing Henry’s old clothes, was just in the wrong place, at the wrong time. But it
allowed us to confirm Stapleton as the bad guy.
Finally we have another lead, or rather life is breathed back into one: Laura Lyons. She had become a dead
end but now they have more information about Stapleton she could spill the beans.
Tasks
The big thing here is the relationship between Holmes and Watson at the start. So...
o Find five things Holmes says or does that shows us how he feels about Watson
o Find five things that Watson says or does that show us how he feels about Holmes
Find five ways Stapleton is presented as suspicious
Find five ways the death of Selden is presented as supernatural
Find five ways tension is built when Selden dies
Literature:
Unit 1
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES REVISION BOOKLET
Summary
It is clear from the start of this chapter that Holmes and Watson kind of admire Stapleton – he kept his cool
even when the wrong guy was dead. But they do wonder if now he will get reckless or become even more
cautious and what that might mean for Henry. Watson wants to arrest him but Holmes points out they have
no real evidence.
Holmes says he thinks the interview with Laura Lyons will be good but says he has another plan going too
(though won’t tell us because he’s secretive) and tells Watson to keep Selden’s death a secret from Henry.
Finally he tells Watson not to go to dinner with Henry at Stapleton’s the next day.
During dinner, Holmes notices a portrait on the wall of Hugo Baskerville. He finally gets Watson to notice
that the portrait looks just like Stapleton and they realise why Stapleton has done everything: he is a
Baskerville and he wants the inheritance.
The next day Holmes lies to Henry and tells him that he and Watson are going to London. Henry is a bit
spooked because it leaves him unprotected, but Holmes convinces him that it will be fine. He then convinces
Henry to tell Stapleton that they are going to London and to walk home alone across the moors after he has
finished his dinner.
Holmes and Watson head over to see Laura Lyons where, long story short, they tell her about Stapleton and
his wife and in return Laura says Stapleton was behind everything. He made her arrange to meet Henry and
then paid her not to go and he told her never to tell anyone or she would get in trouble.
Why This Chapter is Important
It’s called fixing the nets because it’s all about trying to catch Stapleton. (Net is a cool reference to catching
things and also a good symbol for Stapleton as he runs around with them.) Holmes has set the trap; he has
Stapleton thinking he and Watson are in London and he has Henry crossing the moor all on his own – the
perfect bait. And now it’s just a huge waiting game.
Tasks
Find five things Watson says or does at the start of the chapter that shows us something about his
character and way of thinking
Find five things that Holmes says or does that show us about his character
Find five ways Doyle presents the revealing of truth here and how we react to it
(Don’t forget to make your notes PELA style!)
Literature:
Unit 1
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES REVISION BOOKLET
Summary
Holmes and Watson, joined by the London police detective, Lestrade, go stake out Merripit house where
Stapleton is having dinner with Henry. During dinner they see Stapleton leave and head to a shed like
building where there’s scuffling (clearly the dog). He heads back and finished dinner with Henry. Miss
Stapleton is nowhere to be seen. Holmes and his crew are preparing to ambush the dog before it gets Henry
but then a big fog bank rolls in and suddenly no one can see.
They hear Henry heading home on his walk and they hear the dog coming. When it arrives they see a
massive, fire-breathing, glowing hell hound and for a moment they are too shocked to move. The dog lunges
at Henry, and then everyone breaks the shock and turns on the dog. Holmes gets there first and shoots it,
killing it before it attacks Henry.
It turns out the dog was just that, a really, really big dog that glowed because Stapleton had covered it in
phosphorous. Bit of a letdown! Anyway, they head back to the house, not really expecting to find Stapleton
but checking just in case and instead they find Mrs Stapleton, tied to a post and gagged. She tells them about
a mine in the mire (the boggy bit of the moor) where Stapleton had made his hide-out. They decide it’s too
foggy to follow tonight but instead they will wait for the next day.
In the morning Mrs Stapleton (trying to make up for being on the wrong side) takes them to where the hide
out is, but there’s no one there. They find Henry’s boot in the boggy bit and assume Stapleton threw it there
as he ran away. Since there is no other sign of him they all assume he’s dead. It was clear the hound was
being kept there and that’s why everyone could hear it day and night. All the threads are now tied up and
the mystery is over.
Why This Chapter is Important
This is the climax of the story, where it all happens and everything comes to a head. We finally find out about
the hound and we can feel better now that it and Stapleton are dead. Holmes has beaten the man he
thought was one of the cleverest villains he’d ever faced and so is a little bit proud.
It is also a great chapter for the supernatural with an amazing description of the hound in it.
Tasks
You have likely focused on the hound at school – if not pick five quotes to describe it and analyse
them
At the beginning find five that shows how nervous Watson is
Find five that show how confident Holmes is
Near the end, Find five that show how sorry Mrs Stapleton is
Find five that show how Holmes and Watson feel about Mrs Stapleton
Literature:
Unit 1
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES REVISION BOOKLET
Summary
This chapter is set back in London, so back to normal life for Holmes and Watson and basically we get the full
run down of the case. (It’s a big, look how smart we are moment.) And here it is...
Stapleton is actually the son of Roger (see I told he was important when he was mentioned right back at the
beginning of the book) who ran away from South America because he stole money. He went to England and
set up a school before deciding that he wanted his inheritance and so headed to Devonshire to kill off
Charles using the myth of the hound and the knowledge of Charles’ bad hear.
To get Charles to play along, Stapleton tries to get his wife to help but she won’t, so he get Laura Lyons to by
promising to pay for her divorce (her husband is not a nice guy) and by promising to marry her so that
people would stop being mean to her. He convinces Laura to set up the meeting and then not go so that
Stapleton could set the hound on Charles.
When he knew Henry was coming to England, Stapleton headed to London with his wife (she’s the one who
sent the warning note) where he stole boots to be able to give the dog Henry’s scent. The first was too new
so that’s why it was returned and the second one stolen.
Apparently Holmes felt the warning letter smelled of ladies’ perfume and therefore he started looking at the
Stapletons from the start (wouldn’t that be nice if he’d told people.) Once he had investigated Stapleton and
named him the enemy he just needed proof, therefore used Henry as bait at the end to trap Stapleton.
Mrs Stapleton apparently loved her husband but wouldn’t let him hurt Henry and tried to warn Henry when
they were together, supposedly on dates. Stapleton let the romance between Henry and Mrs Stapleton
happen but clearly he was jealous and that’s why he got so angry when he saw them.
On the last night Stapleton realised that his wife was going to get them in trouble if she was allowed to roam
free and so he told her all about his relationship with Laura Lyons (a bit mean if you ask me) and then tied
her up and set off to kill Henry.
The only thing Holmes can’t work out is how Stapleton would have tried to claim his fortune and admits he
won’t ever know. Then Henry and Mortimer head off on holiday together so that Henry can get better.
Why This Chapter is Important
Basically this is important in case we missed anything as we were reading. He sums up the story, ties off any
loose ends and even pretends he knew from the start that the Stapletons were dead dodgy. It should,
however be a nicely wrapped up end, but it’s not. Henry doesn’t get with Mrs Stapleton, even though he
loves her; we don’t know for a fact Stapleton is even dead, and it is suggested that Doyle left it open in case
he wanted another case with Stapleton in it – seeing as Holmes named him the cleverest foe to date.
Tasks
Find five examples of Holmes being arrogant
Find five examples of ANY ONE theme in here: horror, tension, truth, mystery
Literature:
Unit 1
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES REVISION BOOKLET
Chapter One
Reread from page 2 to page 3
a) Explain how the author presents the character of Holmes in this extract. Use evidence from the
extract to support you. (8)
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
(10)
b) Explore how the writer’s language is used to present the character of Waston in this extract.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer.
c) Explore the importance of friendship in this extract.
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
(10)
d) Explore how the theme of friendship is presented in one other part of the novel.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (12)
Total for question = 40 marks
Chapter Two
Reread from page 10 to page 11
a) Explain how the author presents the Hound of the Baskervilles in this extract. Use evidence from the
extract to support you. (8)
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
b) Explore how the writer’s language is used to present a sense of mystery in this extract.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (10)
c) Explore the importance of the supernatural in this extract.
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
(10)
d) Explore how the theme of the supernatural is presented in one other part of the novel.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (12)
Total for question = 40 marks
Chapter Three
Reread from page 20 to page 21
(a) Explain how the author presents the character of Mortimer in this extract. Use evidence from the
extract to support you. (8)
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
(10)
(b) Explore how the writer’s language is used to Holmes in this extract.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer.
(c) Explore the importance of the supernatural in this extract.
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
(10)
(d) Explore how the theme of the supernatural is presented in one other part of the novel.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (12)
Total for question = 40 marks
Literature:
Unit 1
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES REVISION BOOKLET
Reread pages 23 to 25
a) Explain how the author presents the character of Holmes in this extract. Use evidence from the
extract to support you. (8)
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
b) Explore how the writer’s language is used to present the character of Watson in this extract.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (10)
c) Explore the importance of the mystery in this extract.
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
(10)
d) Explore how the theme of the mystery is presented in one other part of the novel.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (12)
Total for question = 40 marks
Chapter Four
Reread pages 26 to 27
a) Explain how the author presents the character of Sir Henry in this extract. Use evidence from the
extract to support you. (8)
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
b) Explore how the writer’s language is used to present the character of Holmes in this extract.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (10)
c) Explore the importance of the mystery in this extract.
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
(10)
d) Explore how the theme of the mystery is presented in one other part of the novel.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (12)
Total for question = 40 marks
Reread pages 30 to 31
a) Explain how the author presents the character of Sir Henry in this extract. Use evidence from the
extract to support you. (8)
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
b) Explore how the writer’s language is used to present the character of Holmes in this extract.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (10)
c) Explore the importance of the mystery in this extract.
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
(10)
d) Explore how the theme of the mystery is presented in one other part of the novel.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (12)
Total for question = 40 marks
Chapter Five
Reread pages 37 to 38
a) Explain how the author presents the character of Sir Henry in this extract. Use evidence from the
extract to support you. (8)
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
b) Explore how the writer’s language is used to present the character of Holmes in this extract.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (10)
Literature:
Unit 1
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES REVISION BOOKLET
c) Explore the importance of the misdirection in this extract.
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
(10)
d) Explore how the theme of the misdirection is presented in one other part of the novel.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (12) Total for question = 40 marks
Reread pages 44 to 45
a) Explain how the author presents the character of Holmes in this extract. Use evidence from the
extract to support you. (8)
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
b) Explore how the writer’s language is used to present the character of Watson in this extract.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (10)
c) Explore the importance of the friendship in this extract.
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
(10)
d) Explore how the theme of the friendship is presented in one other part of the novel.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (12)
Total for question = 40 marks
Chapter 6
Reread pages 49 to 50
a) Explain how the author presents the character of Sir Henry in this extract. Use evidence from the
extract to support you. (8)
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
b) Explore how the writer’s language is used to present the character of Mortimer in this extract.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (10)
c) Explore the importance of the mystery in this extract.
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
(10)
d) Explore how the theme of the mystery is presented in one other part of the novel.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (12)
Total for question = 40 marks
Chapter 7
Reread pages 58 to 59
a) Explain how the author presents the character of Watson in this extract. Use evidence from the
extract to support you. (8)
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
b) Explore how the writer’s language is used to present the character of Stapleton in this extract.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (10)
c) Explore the importance of the supernatural in this extract.
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
(10)
d) Explore how the theme of the supernatural is presented in one other part of the novel.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (12)
Total for question = 40 marks
Literature:
Unit 1
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES REVISION BOOKLET
Chapter 8
Reread pages 72 to 73
a) Explain how the author presents the character of Mrs Barrymore in this extract.
Use evidence from the extract to support you. (8)
b) Explore how the writer’s language is used to present the character of Mr Barrymore in this extract.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (10)
c) Explore the importance of the loyalty in this extract.
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
(10)
d) Explore how the theme of the loyalty is presented in one other part of the novel.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (12)
Total for question = 40 marks
Chapter 9
Reread pages 78 to 79
a) Explain how the author presents the character of Stapleton in this extract. Use evidence from the
extract to support you. (8)
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
b) Explore how the writer’s language is used to present the character of setting in this extract.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (10)
c) Explore the importance of the mystery in this extract.
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
(10)
d) Explore how the theme of the mystery is presented in one other part of the novel.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (12)
Total for question = 40 marks
Chapter 10
Reread pages 92 to 93
a) Explain how the author presents the character of Barrymore in this extract. Use evidence from the
extract to support you. (8)
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
b) Explore how the writer’s language is used to present the character of Watson in this extract.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (10)
c) Explore the importance of the supernatural in this extract.
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
(10)
d) Explore how the theme of the supernatural is presented in one other part of the novel.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (12)
Total for question = 40 marks
Literature:
Unit 1
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES REVISION BOOKLET
Reread pages 94 to 95
a) Explain how the author presents the character of Barrymore in this extract. Use evidence from the
extract to support you. (8)
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
b) Explore how the writer’s language is used to present the character of Sir Henry in this extract.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (10)
c) Explore the importance of the mystery in this extract.
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
(10)
d) Explore how the theme of the mystery is presented in one other part of the novel.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (12)
Total for question = 40 marks
Chapter 11
Reread pages 101 to 102
a) Explain how the author presents the character of Laura Lyons in this extract. Use evidence from the
extract to support you. (8)
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
b) Explore how the writer’s language is used to present the character of Watson in this extract.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (10)
c) Explore the importance of the misdirection in this extract.
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
(10)
d) Explore how the theme of the misdirection is presented in one other part of the novel.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (12)
Total for question = 40 marks
Chapter 12
Reread pages 122 to 124
a) Explain how the author presents the character of Stapleton in this extract. Use evidence from the
extract to support you. (8)
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
b) Explore how the writer’s language is used to present the character of Holmes in this extract.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (10)
c) Explore the importance of the mystery in this extract.
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
(10)
d) Explore how the theme of the mystery is presented in one other part of the novel.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (12)
Total for question = 40 marks
Literature:
Unit 1
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES REVISION BOOKLET
Chapter 13
Reread pages 125 to 126
a) Explain how the author presents the character of Mrs Barrymore in this extract. Use evidence from
the extract to support you. (8)
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
b) Explore how the writer’s language is used to present the character of Stapleton in this extract.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (10)
c) Explore the importance of the setting in this extract.
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
(10)
d) Explore how the theme of the setting is presented in one other part of the novel.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (12)
Total for question = 40 marks
Chapter 14
Reread pages 144 to 145
a) Explain how the author presents the character of Holmes in this extract. Use evidence from the
extract to support you. (8)
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
b) Explore how the writer’s language is used to present the character of Watson in this extract.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (10)
c) Explore the importance of the mystery in this extract.
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
(10)
d) Explore how the theme of the mystery is presented in one other part of the novel.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (12)
Total for question = 40 marks
Literature:
Unit 1
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES REVISION BOOKLET
Answer all parts of the question that follows as fully as possible.
(a) Explain how the author presents the character of Watson in this extract.
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
(b) Comment on the effect of the language used to create a sense of danger in the extract.
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
(c) Explore the importance of the supernatural in this extract.
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
(d) Explore the importance of the supernatural in one other part of the novel.
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
(8)
(10)
(10)
(12)
There was a thin, crisp, continuous patter from somewhere in the heart of that crawling bank. The
cloud was within fifty yards of where we lay, and we glared at it, all three, uncertain what horror
was about to break from the heart of it. I was at Holmes’ elbow, and I glanced for an instant at his
face. It was pale and exultant, his eyes shining brightly in the moonlight. But suddenly they started
forward in a rigid, fixed stare, and his lips parted in amazement. T the same instant Lestrade gave a
yell of terror and threw himself face downwards upon the ground. I sprang to my feet, my inert
hand grasping my pistol, my mind paralysed by the dreadful shape which had sprung out upon us
from the shadows of the fog. A hound it was, an enormous coal-black hound, but not such a hound
as mortal eyes have ever seen. Fire burst from its open mouth, its eyes glowed with a smouldering
glare, its muzzle and hackles and dewlap were outlined in flickering flame. Never in the delirious
dream of the disordered braincould anything more savage, more appalling, more hellish, be
conceived than that dark form and savage face which broke upon us out of the wall of fog.
With long bounds the huge black creature was leaping down the track, following hard upon the
footsteps of our friend. So paralysed were we by the apparition that we allowed him to pass before
we had recovered our nerve. Then Holmes and I both fired together, and the creature gave a
hideous howl, which showed that one at least had hit him. He did not pause, however, but bounded
onwards. Far away on the path we saw Sir Henry looking back, his face white in the moonlight, his
hands raised in horror, glaring helplessly at the frightful thing which was hunting him down.
Literature:
Unit 1
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES REVISION BOOKLET
The Hound of the Baskervilles (pgs 63-64)
3 Answer all parts of the question.
(a) From the extract, what do you discover about the character of Stapleton?
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer. (8)
(b) Comment on the effect of the language used to describe Miss Stapleton in the extract.
Use examples of the writer’s language from the extract.(10)
(c) Explore the significance of mystery in the extract.
Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.(10)
(d) Explore the significance of mystery in one other part of the novel.
Use examples of the writer’s language to support your answer. (12)
a) Stapleton is presented as a man who is good at blending in, with his “neutral-tinted” complexion and his
“light hair and grey eyes” he seems to be someone who you would not necessarily notice. Doyle clearly uses
such vague adjectives to make him seem less suspicious at first, and then later cast suspicion on him. This is
clearly contrasted, however, with the way his “sister” treats him. She seems almost scared of him, which is at
odds with this neutral personality. Even from the start “her eyes were on her brother” and she takes pains to
hide her speech from him shown through the use of the verb “hush.” This makes us begin to wonder what is
going on between them.
This sense of mystery surrounding the character of Stapleton is enhanced when Doyle says he “abandoned
his chase” which earlier had been so important to him. The verb abandoned connotes a sense of wildness, as
though he was desperate to return to his sister. This again raises our suspicions. Furthermore that Doyle
describes his tone as “not altogether a cordial one”, highlighting the adjective cordial, we wonder what the
problem is and finally we wonder why there is such a concern over Miss Stapleton talking to Watson. In all,
in this extract, Doyle moves from showing Stapleton as a blended character to one on whom the spotlight of
suspicion is beginning to fall.
b) Miss Stapleton is presented as a beautiful woman who is “darker than brunette whom I have seen in
England” which means that unlike her brother she stands out. Doyle, by using the comparative “darker”
highlights how exotic she is and it makes us wonder if she is actually English at all. Furthermore this coupled
with her “dark, eager eyes” highlight that she nothing like her brother which is odd, and makes us wonder if
they are related at all.
Her behaviour is strange too. Doyle uses imperatives “Go back!” in the exclamatory mood to highlight the
urgency of her statement. She clearly knows what she wants and that is to warn Watson (who she thinks is
Henry). Her odd behaviour is futher shown when she appears impatient that Watson doesn’t run straight
away, “she tapped the ground impatiently.” Doyle uses the adverb impatiently to show that she wants the
whole encounter over with as soon as possible making us wonder why.
This whole strange encounter is rounded off when she reacts badly to her brother’s return, she seems
almost frightened of him “her eyes were on her brother” and she takes pains to hide her speech from him
shown through the use of the verb “hush.” This makes us begin to wonder what is going on between them.
Literature:
Unit 1
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES REVISION BOOKLET
c) A sense of mystery is clearly shown in this extract by the fact we are presented with a set of siblings who
are not only nothing alike but also with a woman who gives a warning. Firstly a sense of mystery surrounds
the character of Stapleton when Doyle says he “abandoned his chase” which earlier had been so important
to him. The verb abandoned connotes a sense of wildness, as though he was desperate to return to his
sister. This again raises our suspicions.
His sister is suspicious too, creating a sense of mystery. Doyle uses imperatives “Go back!” in the
exclamatory mood to highlight the urgency of her statement. She clearly knows what she wants and that is
to warn Watson (who she thinks is Henry). Her odd behaviour is futher shown when she appears impatient
that Watson doesn’t run straight away, “she tapped the ground impatiently.” Doyle uses the adverb
impatiently to show that she wants the whole encounter over with as soon as possible making us wonder
why.
This whole strange encounter is rounded off when she reacts badly to her brother’s return, she seems
almost frightened of him “her eyes were on her brother” and she takes pains to hide her speech from him
shown through the use of the verb “hush.” This makes us begin to wonder what is going on between them.
d) In chapter 14 we also see Doyle present us with a sense of mystery when Holmes, Watson and Lestrade
are waiting to confront the hound, ‘crouching among the stones’, suggesting they are hiding from an
approaching threat. Conan Doyle uses the pathetic fallacy of the ‘curtain’ of ‘fog’ to suggest the men are
blind as to what will happen next, creating a sense of mystery, since the threat is unknown.
Holmes’ monosyllabic exclamatory sentences ‘Look out! It’s coming!’ create excitement and further create a
sense of mystery, since the reader doesn’t know what ‘it’ is, as Holmes has not told Watson, the narrator, his
plans.
Lestrade’s ‘yell of terror’ further emphasises the sense that the men are in danger from ‘the dreadful shape
which had sprung out’ in front of them, the fact that Doyle uses the noun “shape” rather than specify dog or
hound creates a sense of the unknown, of mystery.
Watson, the narrator, does not know of the plan, and therefore Conan Doyle creates a sense of mystery for
the reader too. The triple used to describe the hound as ‘more savage, more appalling, more hellish’ creates
a sense of the hound as the most dangerous creature imaginable and yet the fact that Doyle evokes hell, a
place that is beyond our true understanding makes us wonder whether the hound is real at all, or whether
Mortimer was right all along in thinking that this is the curse, and the hound really is a demon dog.