SHERLOCK HOLMES

ACTIVITY 1 Read the synopsis of the story and replace the wrong words with the ones given:

 GIRLFRIEND-ABILITIES-HIS-DEATH-YOUNG-BLACK-USE-LORD-EVIL

 Sherlock Holmes and his unconditional partner Dr. Watson will have to abandon their intellectual sharpness and all kinds of resources and disabilities to defeat a new enemy: Lady Henry Blackwood. He is sentenced to life for the practice of white magic and the attempted murder of an old woman: Irene Adler, who happens to be Watson’s boyfriend. However, after the gallows Blackwood is missing from her coffin n. In his place there is Holmes’ housekeeper: Mrs. Hudson. Now, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson will rush to disrupt a good conspiracy that tends to claim more victims and that may change the very origins of nature.

  ACTIVITY 2   About the author: Reading.

 Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle was a Scottish physician and writer, most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, generally considered a referent in the field of crime fiction. He was a creative writer whose other works include science fiction stories, plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction and historical novels. From 1876 to 1881 he studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh. While studying, Conan Doyle began writing short stories. Following his term at university, he was employed as a doctor and after his graduation, as a ship’s surgeon during a voyage to the West African coast in 1881. In 1882 he joined a former classmate as his partner at a medical practice, but their relationship proved difficult, and Conan Doyle soon left to set up an independent practice. In June of that year with less than £10 to his name, he set up a medical practice. The practice was initially not very successful. While waiting for patients, Conan Doyle again began writing stories and composed his first novels, some inspired by Doyle’s time at sea. Doyle struggled to find a publisher for his work. His first significant piece, A Study in Scarlet, was taken on 20 November 1886, giving Doyle £25 for all rights to the story. The piece appeared later that year and received good reviews. The story featured the first appearance of Watson and Sherlock Holmes. In November 1891 Arthur wrote to his mother: “I think of killing Holmes…and winding him up for good and all. He takes my mind from better things.” His mother responded, “You won’t! You can’t! You mustn’t!” In December 1893, in order to dedicate more of his time to what he considered his more important works (his historical novels), Conan Doyle had Holmes and Professor Moriarty apparently plunge to their deaths together down some falls, in the story “The Final Problem”. Public outcry, however, led him to bring the character back in 1901, in The Hound of the Baskervilles. In 1903, Conan Doyle published his first Holmes short story in ten years, “The Adventure of the Empty House”, in which it was explained that only Moriarty had fallen; but since Holmes had other dangerous enemies he had arranged to also be perceived as dead. Holmes ultimately was featured in a total of 56 short stories and four Conan Doyle novels, and has since appeared in many novels and stories by other authors. Conan Doyle was found dead of a heart attack on 7 July 1930 at the age of 71. His last words were directed toward his wife: “You are wonderful”.

 Read the passage above and answer the following questions:

1. What is Sir Conan Doyle mostly recognised for? ______________________________________________________________________
2. In which context did Conan Doyle start writing? ______________________________________________________________________
3. What kind of experience did Arthur have at sea? ______________________________________________________________________
4. What was Arthur’s fi rst signifi cant piece? Which characters took part in it? ______________________________________________________________________
5. What did Conan Doyle do to upset his mother so much? ______________________________________________________________________
 6. How did the author get rid of Sherlock Holmes in the fi rst place? ______________________________________________________________________
7. How did he bring Holmes back in 1901 and 1903? ______________________________________________________________________

8. Under what circumstances did Sir Arthur Conan Doyle die? ______________________________________________________________________

 ACTIVITY 3    Write next to each statement its corresponding speaker (Holmes, Watson, Irene or Blackwood):
a) You saved me from committing suicide !…………………………
b) I don’t know why it has taken him so long to arrange a proper introductory dinner …………………… c) I am a big fan of detectives! I am sure your occupation implies a lot of work and it must be very tiring. ……………………
d) What is your problem with Irene? What can’t you just leave her alone?! ……………………
e) That is not true. In fact, the little details are by far the most important ones. ……………………
f) It took me a couple of days to recover from your blows. ……………………
g) You must expand your view. I am worried for you………………………
h) Don’t say anything, please. Would you join me for some tea? Your tea is getting cold. ……………………
i) I promise I won’t touch anything or interfere with your investigation at all. ……………………
j) You underestimate the gravity of coming events. Beneath your mask of logic I feel a fragility that worries me. ……………………
k) Can’t you just simply consider the possibility of Blackwood having some power to get into people’s minds? ……………………
l) Don’t say such things, please! Don’t fight because of me! ……………………
m) What kind of friend are you, Holmes? ……………………
n) There is nothing else to say. But don’t tell me that I didn’t warn you today. ……………………
o) You were right and I was wrong. ……………………
p) The most important thing now is that we are safe. I am sorry for you and Ms. Adler. …………………… q) I told you to get rid of him! ……………………
r) Don’t blame yourself, Irene! This has nothing to do with you! This man is crazy! ……………………
s) You are too blind, Watson! ……………………
t) I would drink from the grail if I were you. My powers were given to me for one purpose. ……………………
 ACTIVITY 4 Imagine you are a great playwright! Write a different ending for the play you watched. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________
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