Analysing atmosphere and character in ‘The Speckled Band’
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can analyse how Conan Doyle presents character and atmosphere on the night of Julia’s death in ‘The Speckled Band’.
Key learning points
- The night Julia Stoner dies, there is an awful storm.
- Conan Doyle uses pathetic fallacy to create a sinister atmosphere, foreshadowing the threatening force behind her death.
- Conan Doyle also emphasises the fear of both the Stoner sisters.
- Quote explosions can help you to gather ideas for analytical writing.
- Analytical writing should include single word analysis and conjunctions to justify analysis.
Keywords
Pathetic fallacy - Pathetic fallacy is giving human emotions to inanimate things, usually the environment.
Annotate - Annotate means to label and add notes.
Foreshadowing - Foreshadowing means a warning of a future event.
Hubbub - Hubbub means chaotic noise.
Common misconception
Planning can often be seen as a waste of time.
You must take time to make notes and gather ideas so the analysis you write is strong.
Teacher tip
Complete a quote explosion as a class where you ask them questions to get them deeper in the analysis
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In 'The Speckled Band', why had Helen Stoner gone to visit Sherlock Holmes?
Q2.In 'The Speckled Band', why is Helen shivering when she comes to Holmes?
Q3.What is meany by the word 'analysis'?
Q4.In 'The Speckled Band', what is Helen Stoner likened to when she meets Holmes?
Q5.Why is Julia Stoner's death a mystery in 'The Speckled Band'?
Q6.In 'The Speckled Band', what did Julia cry out as she died?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is pathetic fallacy?
Q2.Which quote uses pathetic fallacy?
Q3.Which word best describes the night Julia died in 'The Speckled Band'?
Q4.In 'The Speckled Band', how is Helen presented when she hears her sister’s screams?
Q5.Why use quote explosions before analytical writing?
Q6.Why use conjunctions in analytical writing?
To help you plan your 7 English lesson on: Analysing atmosphere and character 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 atmosphere and character 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.