4.

3
THE SIGN OF FOUR
A1.
i. Describe the character of Mary Morstan from Dr. Watson’s point of view.
 Dr. Watson found Mary very attractive. He could not take his mind
off Ms. Mary. He was mesmerized by her smile, the deep rich
tones of her voice, the strange mystery which overhung her life. He
also calculated her age and thought her to be very matured for her
age. The tenacity with which she faced the problem was indeed
commendable according to Watson. Watson even went ahead
thinking Mary as his future wife. He started comparing his
credentials with hers in the process realizing the fact that she was
far ahead and he was no match to her.
ii. Sherlock Holmes is the leading character in the extract. Explain.
 Sherlock Holmes is definitely the leading character in the extract.
Mary knowing Holmes and his repute had come to him with her
case. Mary’s Father had disappeared and never returned. She came
across an advertisement asking for her address which she gave and
even since then on the same day each year she received a rave and
expensive pearl. When Mary received a letter asking her to come
over to a place to unravel a secret associated with her life, did
Mary approach Holmes as she was certain he would solve the
puzzle. Holmes scrutinizes papers that Mary produced and he
deciphered that the paper was made in India. The paper was pinned
to a board. The diagram upon it appeared to be a plan of a part of a
large building with numerous halls and corridors. He also draws
attention towards the red mark ad ‘3.37 from left’ that was written
above it in faded pencil. In the left hand side is a curious
hieroglyphic like four crosses in a line with arms touching. The
final finding of Holmes reveals the name of the sign of four
Jonathan Small, Mahomet Singh, Abdullah Khan, Dost Akbar.
Since the papers are evident document they were kept carefully in
a pocket book for one side is as clean as the other. Thus Holmes
deciphers the mystery and is indeed the central character.
iii. Dr. Watson, the narrator, is one of the major character in the novel.
Illustrate.
 Dr. Watson is the narrator of the story. He is a doctor by profession
and has a background as a surgeon in the British army. Watson
aids Holmes throughout the story though it cannot be denied that
major break throughs in the case are always the result of Holmes’s
brilliance. Holmes always confirm the observations with Watson.
Holmes uses Watson as a sounding board for his ideas. Watson
might not see the problems as clearly as Holmes does but he leads
Holmes towards the problem. Watson is all awe for Holmes in four
sings, he saves the story for posterity. He has a remarkable quality
of knowing a person rather than seeing him/her as a mere factor as
Holmes does.
iv. Holmes is always one step ahead of Dr. Watson in solving cases.
Elucidate.
 Holmes displays his intelligence in four signs. Watson simply
found Mary attractive while Holmes was mere calculating
machine. He considered Mary as a client with a problem. Similarly
Watson couldn’t make anything of the scribble while Holmes
deciphered the long letters in the common herd men of characters
differentiate their long letters however illegally they may write said
Holmes thus he was ahead of Watson.
A2.
i. Arrange the sentences in correct sequence as per their occurrence in the
extract
Sr. Jumbled Incidents Correct Sequence Adjective
no.
1. Holmes put a revolver in his a. Mary Morstan was a well-
pocket dressed young lady.
2. Holmes gave Winwood’s b. Mary’s father was an officer in
book ‘Martydom of Man’ to an Indian regiment.
Dr. Watson.
3. Mary received a large and c. Mary received a large and
lustrous pearl through the lustrous pearl through the post.
post.
4. Mary’s father was an officer d. Holmes gave Winwood’s book
in an Indian regiment. ‘Martydom of Man’ to Dr.
Watson.
5. Mary Morstan was a well- e. Holmes put a revolver in his
dressed young lady. pocket
ii. Discuss the importance of the following statements from the light of the
extract
a. The trio-Holmes, Dr. Watson and Mary decide to visit Lyceum
Theatre
 Mary tells Holmes that she received a letter instruction her
to go to lyceum theatre with the accompaniment of two
friends. The letter gives a hint that some injustice has been
done to her. Holmes and Watson agree to accompany Mary.
Soon Watson as he engages Mary in his conversation gets
attracted to each other. As the trio are heading to the lyceum
theatre they are whisked away in a darkened carriage to a
strange house. Inside the house they find an eccentric
gentleman named Thaddeus Sholto who reveals that Mary’s
father died leaving behind great hidden treasure.
b. Mary received Pearls every year on the same day.
 Mary Morstan gets the case of her father’s disappearance to
Sherlock to solve. She inform Holmes that Mary’s father
disappeared mysteriously. A few years later she was
surprised to see an advertisement which was published in the
newspaper asking for her address. Mary gave her address
and ever since then on the same day Mary received a rare
and expensive pearl. This continued for some more years but
that day she received a letter to meet the addresser at
Lyceum theatre.
c. Holmes carefully examined the paper given by Mary
 Mary handled over the paper to Holmes. He examined
carefully and gave following inferences:-
1. The paper was made in India.
2. The diagram appeared to be plan of a large building
with numerous halls and corridors.
3. He drams alleviation towards red marks and above it
is ‘3.37 from left’ in faded pencil writing.
4. In the left hand side is curious hieroglyphic like four
crosses in a line with arms touching.
5. Finally names of four and sign of four is revealed
Janathan Small, Mohemet Singh, Abdullah Khan and
Dost Akbar.
6. The paper being an evident document was carefully
kept in a pocket book for one side is as clean as the
other.
A3.
i. How does the series of actions go from London to India? Explain by
citing references from the extract.
a. Mary’s father was an officer in an Indian regiment Mary was sent
home when she was quite a child.
b. Mary’s mother died and she was placed in a boarding at Edinburgh.
c. In 1878 Mary’s father who was senior captain of his regiment
obtained twelve month’s leave and came home. He telegraphed
Mary from London that he was safe.
d. Mary went to Langham Hotel where she was informed that captain
Morstan was staying there but the night before he went
somewhere, never to return.
ii. The extract begins when Mary Morstan meets Sherlock Holmes at his
house. After that Holmes, Dr. Watson and Mary visit some places in
London. Explain in detail the various places mentioned in the extract.
a. Lyceum Theatre: Mary is asked to come to Lyceum Theatre along
with her two friends.
b. As cab rattled toward Lyceum theatre Sherlock muttered the names
of streets.
 Rochester Row
 Vincent Square
 Vauxhall Bridge Road
 Thames River
 Wordsworth Road
 Wordsworth Road
  Priory Road
 Lark Hall Lane
 Stockwell Place
 Robert Street
 Cold Harbor Lane

iii. Basically the setting of the extract is in London but it has some references
of India, too. Explain how the settings of the extract contribute to the
theme of the novel.
a. References of the Great Indian Rebellion 1857. Mary’s father was
in India those days. On 3rd Dec. 1878 he returned to London and
stayed at Langham Hotel London.
 b. Major Sholto of upper Norword, late of the 34th Bombay infantry,
died on 28th April 1882. Basically when in London Mary’s father
should have met Sholto I 1878 but Sholto denies; Four years later,
Sholto dies too. Within a week Mary receives letter.

iv. Complete: Which places/cities in India and England and mentioned/have

appeared in the extract? Also write about their importance.
India Importance London Importance
Andaman Mary’s father was one of Langham Mary’s father after returning
Islands the officers in charge of Hotel to London stayed at Langham
the convict guard in hotel from where he
Andaman disappeared
Agra The treasure was stolen Lyceum Miss Mary met Thaddeus
from Agra from an Indian Theatre Sholto at Lyceum Theatre
prince. It is a bountiful
collection of luxurious
jewels
A4.
i. Write in brief the theme of the extract.
 The theme of the novel revolves around the Agra treasure.
Throughout the story, appearance of the treasure leads to a direct
and often tragic change in the lives of the characters.
Mary taking help of Holmes and Watson investigates the missing
blocks in the treasure mystery.

ii. Write 4-5 sentences about the meeting of Miss Morstan with Holmes.
 Ms. Mary came to Holmes to solve the mystery of her father’s
disappearance. Mary urged Watson and Holmes to accompany her
to Lyceum Theatre as she was asked to come there to discover
more about her missing father. Holmes examined various
evidences and finally caught small there by solving the case.
iii. Write the central idea of the given extract of the novel, “The Sign of
Four”
 “The Sign of Four” is a detective story written and set in Victorian
times Sherlock Holmes investigates and ultimately solves a
mystery of hidden treasure and missing Morstan.

A5.
i. Elaborate the following lines in the light of the novel/extract, ‘The Sign
of Four’.
a. “You really are an automation- a calculating machine”
 Holmes is focused in his case and considers every character
associated with the case as a factor in a problem
b. “The letter speaks of giving her justice. What justice can she have?”
 Mary deserves a share in the hidden treasure. The letter from
Sholto is to inform her about the details of treasure.
c. “Our quest does not appear to take us to very fashionable regions.”
 The place where the trio were being taken was a forbidden
neighborhood. Long lines of dull brick houses were relieved
by coarse glare and tawdry brilliance of public houses at the
corner.