Analysing Helen Stoner’s presentation in ‘The Speckled Band’
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can analyse Helen Stoner’s presentation in ‘The Speckled Band’.
Key learning points
- The Victorian era saw the police force take an interest in solving previous crimes
- The popularity of detective fiction grew at this time, in particular the Sherlock Holmes stories
- In The Speckled Band, Helen Stoner, who is frightened and distressed, comes to visit Sherlock Holmes
- Helen may have visited Holmes to help her solve a crime
Keywords
Prevent - If you prevent something, you stop it from happening.
Detective - A detective is someone who investigates and solves crimes.
Agitation - Agitation is a state of anxiety or panic.
Analysis - If you analyse something, you explore it in great detail.
Common misconception
The police force we have today is the one society has always had.
Explain that the police force was a new concept to Victorians and thus civilians had a lot of anxiety around crime.
Teacher tip
You could show Victorian illustrations that depict attitudes towards police.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is a protagonist?
Q2.Who is the protagonist of 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes'?
Q3.What is Sherlock Holmes' likely occupation based on evidence?
Q4.Which adjective best describes Sherlock Holmes?
Q5.What is a prediction?
Q6.What is tentative language?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What did the police force start focusing on in 1842?
Q2.Why was Sherlock Holmes so popular?
Q3.Which adjective best describes Helen Stoner in 'The Speckled Band'?
Q4.What does agitation mean?
Q5.Which quote proves Helen Stoner is in danger?
Q6.Why might Helen Stoner have come to Sherlock Holmes?
To help you plan your 7 English lesson on: Analysing Helen Stoner’s presentation in ‘The Speckled Band’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 English lesson on: Analysing Helen Stoner’s presentation in ‘The Speckled Band’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 English lessons from the Sherlock Holmes: short stories unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.