The Dying Detective
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
1. Arthur Conan Doyle will always be remembered for creating the fictional detective character Sherlock Holmes. Can you match the name of the following detectives with the name s of the authors who created them?
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Fictional detectives |
Authors |
|---|---|
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a. Hercule Poirot |
i. Saradindu Bandyopadhyay. [c] |
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b. The Secret Seven |
ii. P. D. James. [d] |
|
c. Byomkesh Bakshi |
iii. Colin Dexter. [e] |
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d. Cordelia Gray |
iv. Agatha Christie. [a] |
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e. Inspector Morse |
v. Enid Blyton. [b] |
MAKING CONNECTIONS
Quick answers
1. Answer the following questions in not more than one sentence.
a. Describe the 'sad spectacle' seen by Dr Watson.
= Dr Watson saw that Holmes was lying on his death-bed. He had been working on a case in an alley, near the river and he had brought that illness back with him. Neither food nor drink had passed his lips ever since. His eyes had the brightness of fever; his voice was croaking.
b. What did Holmes tell Watson he was suffering from?
= Holmes told Watson the he had been suffering from a deadly disease from Sumatra. He knew little about it. It he knew that the disease was deadly and horribly contagious.
c. Who did Holmes ask Watson to fetch? What reasons did Holmes give Watson for preferring that person over others?
= Holmes asked Watson to fetch Mr Culverton Smith of 13, Lower Burke Street.
Holmes informed Watson that Smith had his unique experience of that disease. He had the hobby to investigate about the disease.
d. What did Watson observe about Smith's behaviour when he told Smith about Holmes?
= The mention of Holmes' name had an extraordinary effect upon Smith. The look of anger passed in an instant from his face.
e. What had happened to Victor Savage?
= Victor Savage had died due to an out-of-the-way Asiatic disease in the heart of London. It was actually a planned murder by Smith.
Reference to context.
2. " 'Admirable, Watson admirable ! Now you must disappear from the scene.' "
a. Where did Holmes ask Watson to hide himself?
= Holmes asked Watson to hide himself behind the head of his bed.
b. Who was Holmes waiting for?
= Holmes was waiting for Culverton Smith.
c. What did Holmes tell Watson to do while hiding?
= Holmes told Watson not to move whatever happens. He should only listen everything carefully.
3. " 'It was no joke. It was I who sent it. Who asked you to cross my path? If you had left me alone, I would not have hurt you.' "
a. Who said this and to whom?
= Smith said this to Holmes.
b. What was the joke the speaker is referring to?
= The speaker is referring to an ivory box which he sent to Holmes by post on that Wednesday. A spring comes out as soon as it is opened. The spring draws blood injecting some poison into the blood of the person who opens it. The person dies within a few days.
c. What does the speaker mean by 'cross my path'?
= The speaker means that why Holmes had tried to investigate the death of his nephew Victor Savage.
4. " 'The best way of successfully acting a part is to be it,' said Holmes."
a. What 'part' did Holmes play?
= Holmes played the 'part' of a dying man infected by a rare disease from Sumatra.
b. What did Holmes do to play it well?
= Holmes absolutely fasted for three days to play it well.
c. Why did Holmes play the part?
= Holmes played the part to catch Smith red-handed. He made him confess his conspiracy of killing his nephew.
Read, reflect and write
5. In your opinion, why did Holmes keep his plan a secret from Watson?
= Holmes is an elite detective. He did not want to left any loop whole open resulting his plan unsuccessful. Watson had to go to Smith's place and fetch him to Holmes. He had to be that much worried so that Smith becomes convinced that Holmes is truly going to die. There will be on one to investigate his crime of murdering his nephew. So Holmes did not let Watson know his plan of unmasking Smith.
6. Describe the part that Watson play in Holmes' plot. What does this say about Watson's character and his attitude towards his friend, Holmes?
= Watson comes to Sherlock Holmes' home. His landlady informs that Holmes is dying and yet not letting her to call a doctor. Watson finds the Holmes is truly lying in his death-bed and his eyes had the brightness of fever; his voice is croaking. He approaches towards Holmes and he stops his to proceed. Holmes informs that he is attacked by a highly contagious deadly disease from Sumatra.
Watson becomes worried and wishes to call Dr Ainstree who is the greatest living authority on tropical disease. Holmes snatches the twisted key of Watson and asks him to stay near him. Watson was obedient enough to listen to him. Watson finds a black and white ivory box and Holmes asked him to put it back upon the mantlepiece.
Holmes instructs his friend Watson to fetch certain Mr Culverton Smith of 13, Lower Burke Street. He further instructs him to return earlier. He persuaded Smith to come to Holmes and returned before Smith with the excuse of another appointment.
Dr Watson is the the loyal friend and assistant of Holmes from long. His part in the plot of Holmes depicts that all clear. He is all set to believe and help Holmes. On the other hand, in somewhere in his mind, he knew that it might be any trick to solve any case. So, he did the things as instructed by Holmes.
7. What signal did Holmes have Smith give? Who was the signal meant for? Describe what happened after the signal was given.
= The signal of turning up the gas lamp had been given Holmes by Smith.
The signal was meant for Inspector Morton of Scotland Yard.
After the signal was given, the was opened and Inspector entered the room. He arrested Smith on the charge of murdering his nephew Victor Savage. He also seized the little ivory box from the right-hand pocket of Smith to use it as an evidence during the trial. Then Smith realised that it was a trap for him by Holmes. Holmes asked Watson to come out and thanked him for helping him to execute the plan. Inspector Morton took Smith to the Police Station.
8. What do you think is Holmes' attitude to life? What do you learn from it?
= First of all we can see that Holmes is a dedicated man towards his works. He is a detective. He never let anyone fall into his work unless needed. He did not eat anything and fated for three days to get the appearance of a sick people.
Secondly we see that he is a man of perfection. He did not let any effort untouched. He did not let his landlady know that it was his secret mission to catch a murderer red-handed. He did not let Watson know the plan. He was a man of logical reasoning and he was excel in disguise himself so precisely.
He is always ready to face and control any situation. He instantly stops Watson as he was intending to call Dr. Ainstree. He did not open the ivory box sent by the Mr. Smith. He did not forget to inform Inspector Morton of Scotland Yard to wait to attest Mr. Smith. He was well intelligent to convince Mr. Smith to turn up the gas which was a signal to Inspector Morton to enter into the room and arrest Culverton Smith.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has created Sherlock Holmes with many character traits. He is a man with calmness, intelligence, patience, presence of mind and determination. All these help him to reach his goal, i.e., to discover the truth. His personality teaches us that we are the controller and mentor of our mind and character. It is our determination which helps us to stand with virtue or with vice.
9. Extended writing : List all the things that could be used as evidence in the trial of the murder of Victor Savage. Write in about 300-350 words, a description of Holmes' plan for catching Smith red-handed.
= The things that could be used as evidence in the trial of the murder of Victor Savage are - the small ivory box, Watson who he was present behind Holmes' bed and Inspector Morton who was also present outside Holmes' room.
Culverton Smith was a planter. His nephew, Victor Savage died in a horrible way. Holmes had suspected foul play in it and he allowed himself to investigate the case. And this made Smith angry. He had a grudge against Holmes. Holmes was not being able to make the matter out. Eventually he had received an ivory box and this gave Holmes the idea to have a plant to catch Smith red-handed.
Holmes fasted for three days and got a sick look. His friend assistant Watson came to him and became worried. Dr Watson saw that Holmes was lying on his death-bed. He had been working on a case in an alley, near the river and he had brought that illness back with him. Neither food nor drink had passed his lips ever since. His eyes had the brightness of fever; his voice was croaking. Holmes told Watson the he had been suffering from a deadly disease from Sumatra. He knew little about it. It he knew that the disease was deadly and horribly contagious.
Dr. Watson intended to call a doctor for him. Holmes stopped him not letting him know that it was his trap to catch Smith. He convinced Watson that he was suffering from a rare contagious disease. It can only be cured by Culverton Smith. Holmes asked Watson to fetch Mr Culverton Smith of 13, Lower Burke Street. Holmes informed Watson that Smith had his unique experience of that disease. He had the hobby to investigate about the disease.
Holmes is an elite detective. He did not want to left any loop whole open resulting his plan unsuccessful. Watson had to go to Smith's place and fetch him to Holmes. He had to be that much worried so that Smith becomes convinced that Holmes is truly going to die. There will be on one to investigate his crime of murdering his nephew. So Holmes did not let Watson know his plan of unmasking Smith.
Accordingly Holmes' plan, Smith comes to his room and saw that Holmes was lying in his death bed. Watson was hiding behind the bed of Holmes. Inspector Morton was waiting outside. After seeing Holmes' adverse situation, Smith confessed that he was the one to send the box with the spring which had some poison in it to get mixed with the blood. Likewise he killed his nephew Victor Savage. Watson came out of his hidden place and Inspector Morton entered the room and arrested Smith.
About the Author :
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859 - 1930) was a Scottish doctor who inherited the love for writing books form his mother. His first story was published when he was twenty. He is best known for his Sherlock Holmes stories. He modelled the character of Sherlock Holmes on his former professor. Apart from short stories and novels on crime, he wrote historical novels, romances and plays.