Sign of Four 4.

4
1) What is the Central idea of the novel ‘The Sign of Four’?
The Sign of Four is a detective story. The novel explains how Miss Morstan describes her
father’s case to Sherlock Holmes. How she receives a pearl every year and in the sixth year she
receives an anonymous letter requesting her to meet near the Lyceum Theatre. The letter is
sent by the same person who has been sending her pearls for the past six years. According to
Holmes, the act can be viewed as compensation being given to Miss Morstan for the loss that
she has suffered, the letter also mentions her as a wronged woman. Miss Morstan’s decision to
seek help from Mr. Holmes and the decision to go to the meeting place is the outcome of the
letter. The disappearance of Mr. Morstan from Langham Hotel, the mystery of Agra’s treasure,
and the murder is the central idea of the novel.
2) Character sketch of Mary Morstan.
Mary Morstan was a lady with firm steps and an outward composure of manner, a young lady
small dainty, well-gloved, dressed in the most perfect taste. There was however a plainness and
simplicity about her costume which bore with it a suggestion of limited means. The dress was a
somber grayish beige, untrimmed and unbraided and she wore a small turban of the same dull
hue, relieved only by a suspicion of a white feather in the side. Her expression was sweet and
amiable. And her large blue eyes were singularly spiritual and sympathetic.
She was a model client of Holmes who had correct intuition. She gave in indirect facts like half
a dozen pieces of paper, minutes details about the lustrous pearls and the cardboard box, the
letter, and the envelope which she received for a meeting at Lyceum Theatre.

3)How does the mystery of Bartholomew’s murder lead Holmes to track down Small? (March
22)
Answer: Bartholomew was found dead in his home from a poison thorn lodged in his neck and
the treasure was missing. Holmes concludes that there were two people one of them had a
wooden leg named Jonathan Small and the other person was an interesting person. Holmes
traces the steam launch which was camouflaged. The police officers along with Holmes and
Watson, chase the steam launch. They overtake the boat which has a wooden-legged man and
a small pygmy from Andaman the wooden-legged man gets entrapped in the mud and is
captured. The small gypsy is shot dead by Holmes and Watson dies. Jonathan Small tries to
escape but he is caught with the iron box.
4)How did Holmes discover the connection between Miss Morstan receiving precious pearls
from Sholto?
Major Sholto was the only friend of Mary Morstan’s father. Morstan could have only visited
Major Sholto. Four years later Sholto dies and within a week of his death Captain Morstan ‘s
daughter receives a valuable present which is repeated year after year and later culminates in a
letter that describes her as a wronged woman. Why should the present begin after Sholto’s
death? Holmes was sure Sholto’s heir knew about the mystery. The letter also instructed them
to visit the Lyceum Theatre. Thus, Holmes discovered the connection between Mary receiving
pearls from Sholto.
5) Write the importance of these places in the novel” The Sign of Four”.
London: Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson, Miss Mary Morstan, and the anonymous sender of the
letter all of them live in London. Most of the incidents take place there. The two sides of
London which are shown are the fashionable north and west London with the Langham Hotel.
The Strand and Lyceum Theatre are frequently visited by the wealthy crowd and the south
London suburbs have dull brick houses and rows of two-storied villas.
Lyceum Theatre: The letter that Mary Morstan received there was mentioned to be at the
third pillar from the left outside the Lyceum Theatre that night at seven o’clock. If she is
distrustful, she can bring two friends. it further said she was a wronged woman and shall have
justice. At Lyceum Theatre the upper class of London arrives in four-wheelers shirt-fronted men
and beshawled or bediamonded women.
Edinburg: Mary Morstan’s father was an officer in an Indian regiment the 34 th Bombay Infantry.
Her father had sent her to England when she was a child. Her mother was dead and they had no
relatives so she was sent to a comfortable boarding school in Edinburg, She remained there till
she was 17 years of age.
Agra: It is not directly mentioned in the extract but the treasure which leads to the actions in
the story comes from Agra. The chain of events which alters the lives of major characters sets
off in Agra. Even the precious pearls that Mary receives are part of Agra treasure. The piece of
paper that Mary shares with Holmes contains the blueprint of Agra Fort and the name of four
characters the Sign of Four.
Andaman Island: The very first time she tells Holmes that her father was an officer in an Indian
Regiment and he sent her home when she was a child. The second time she talks about the
luggage she gets from the pick-up from the hotel where her father was staying. She talks about
the curiosities that he got from Andaman Island. Later on, she talks about her father’s friend
who was also posted with him at the 34 th Bombay Infantry and in charge of convict guard.
Andaman Island is an important place as here they got entangled in the Agra treasure crime
which led to a chain of events.
 Langham Hotel: Mary Morstan received a telegraph from her father where he had directed her
to come to Langham Hotel. She reached London drove to Langham Theatre and was informed
the Captain was staying there but he had gone out the night before and had not yet returned.
For the last time, he was seen there before he went missing. His disappearance during the stay
at Langham is a big mystery that needs to be solved
6) Elaborate the following lines in the light of the novel, ‘The Sign of Four”
a) “You are automation—a calculating machine”.
When Miss Morstan was leaving Holmes’ house Dr. Watson saw her walking briskly. He further
said, “What a very attractive woman!” At that time Sherlock Holmes lit his pipe again and asked
“Is she?’ I did not observe. Then Dr. Watson said “You are an automated calculating machine!
Dr. Watson further said there is something inhuman about you. Sherlock Holmes was so
engrossed in his work that he did not notice the beauty of Miss Morstan. He said a client for
him is just a unit a factor in a problem. The emotional qualities get in the way of logical
reasoning and he does not want his judgment to be biased by the personal qualities of the
client.
b) “Our quest does not appear to take us to very fashionable regions.’
When Miss Mary Morstan, Sherlock Holmes, and Dr. Watson were going in a cab toward south
London Holmes was able to make out exactly which street the carriage passed. It crossed
Wordsworth Road, Lark Hall Lane, Robert Street, and Cold Harbor Lane. Then Sherlock Holmes
said our quest does not appear to take us to a very fashionable place. They had reached a
questionable neighborhood, there were dull brick houses, rows of two-storied villas brick
buildings.
c) “The letter speaks of giving her justice’ What justice can she have?
Watson speaks this line when Sherlock Holmes shares his findings with Watson he tells him
about the pearl, the letter that describes her as a wronged woman. He further says Sholto’s
heir knows about the mystery and wants to give compensation to Mary Morstan then Dr.
Watson says ‘What justice can she have? Why should anyone write a letter to her after six
years? It is too much to suppose that her father is still alive.
7) Write in brief about the meeting of Morstan with Holmes.
One fine day when Holmes and Dr. Watson were discussing general issues a girl entered their
room with firm steps and an outward composure of manner. She further narrated the story of
her father’s disappearance 10 years ago at Langham Hotel. She further discussed the most
singular part which happened six years ago. She has been receiving a pearl from an anonymous
sender which is of rare variety. Then she further told him about the letter which she received
that day which asked him to be at the third pillar from right outside the Lyceum Theatre tonight
at 7 o’clock. If you are distrustful bring two friends. She asks Holmes and Dr. Watson to
accompany her to the meeting. Dr. Watson decides to come at six and they all decide to head
toward the place of the meeting.
8) Write the character sketch of Major Sholto.
Major Sholto was an officer of the 34 Bombay Infantry and a very close friend of Mr. Morstan.
He was the one who was approached about the Agra treasure. He along with Tonga escaped
from Andaman along with the treasure. He takes the treasure himself leaving Morstan and
Small without anything. Major Sholto and Morstan decided to divide the priceless treasure that
Sholto had brought from India, while quarreling over the treasure Morstan suffered a heart
attack and died. Sholto hides the body and keeps the treasure. He lives the rest of his life in
guilt and fear, he dies after seeing Jonathan Small’s face through the window.
9) Write the character sketch of Sherlock Holmes.
Miss Mary comes to meet Sherlock Homes. She tells him that in the past he had solved the case
of Mrs. Cecil Forrester, so we come to know he is a detective. He has extraordinary
concentration and a clear-cut Hawk feature. Sherlock Holmes listens to minute details of Miss
Morstan and then asks for minute details about the case. This shows how meticulously he
observes the details. He further goes out of the house to gain more information. He comes
home and discusses the details with Dr. Watson which shows his role as the main leading
character. He does not allow emotions to come his way in solving the case. He is rational and
logical which helps him to make quick advances in the case. He can make out a character by
seeing his handwriting. He says’ Men of character always differentiate their long letters…” On
the carriage ride, Dr. Watson felt lost but Holmes was never at fault He muttered the names as
the cab passed various places.” This tells us he has an excellent memory and keen observation.
10) Write the character sketch of Dr. Watson. Write two instances of how he wanted to
impress Miss Motstan.
He is the second most important character in the novel. He is a close friend of Sherlock Holmes
and his assistant. He is the narrator of the story and we come to know about the novel through
his eyes. He is a Doctor by profession and very empathetic. He gives a minute description of
Miss Morstan which shows he is a great observant he also gives a detailed description of the
London evening scene. He can understand the sensitive aspect that Holmes overlooks. Holmes
is extraordinarily gifted but still, Dr. Watson argues with him. When he praises Miss Morstan it
shows his romantic side.
The two instances:
1) When Miss Mary Morstan was talking to Sherlock Holmes Dr Watson thought his position
was an embarrassing one. Rising from his chair he said’ You will I’m sure excuse me”. But the
lady stopped him and said he might be of inestimable service to her.
2) In trying to cheer and amuse her he shared an anecdote as to how a musket (gun) looked
into his tent in the dead of night and how he fired a double-barreled tiger cub at it.
11) Plot (Board Question)
Miss Morstan meets them at their house.
She discussed her problems with them
She showed her pearls and letter to Holmes
They planned to meet the writer of the letter.
12) Who was Jonathan Small?
Small was the fortress gatekeeper in India He is the villain in this novel. He is one of “the four”
original men who acquired the treasure. He met with an accident in which the crocodile injured
him so he had a wooden leg. Small was sent to Andaman Island for his role in Killing the
merchant who had Agra Treasure. On the island, he met Sholto and Morstan and passed on the
secrets to them about the treasure in exchange for help with the escape. But Sholto took all the
jewels and betrayed all leaving Small in prison. When Small came out of prison he left for
England with his companion Tonga and searched for Sholto. He thinks only he and four of his
friends deserve the treasure so he dumps the treasure in the river when he is caught. In this
search, he had taken the help of Tonga. He did not like when Tonga killed Bartholomeo. Small
had tracked Sholto and after his death, he affixed the note “ The Sign of Four” which was found
on the body as a reference to himself and three Arab companions.
13) Who was Tonga?
Tonga is a native of Andaman Island. He was helped by his master Jonathan Small when he was
not keeping well so he is also loyal to the master and accompanies him to recover Agra’s
treasure. He helped him to escape from prison and break into Sholto’s house. He killed
Bartholomew and Sherlock calls him a racial character. Tonga is described as savage and
animalistic. He uses a poisonous blow dart as a weapon to kill Bartholomew Sholto, Tonga is
referred to as a small gypsy who dies when Holmes and Watson shoot him during the boat
chase.
14) Discuss the importance of the following statements in the light of the extract given for
our study from the novel” The Sign of Four”.
‘Holmes carefully examined the paper’. In the evening when Miss Morstan met Holmes and Dr
Watson, she handed over one curious paper to show Holmes. Holmes unfolded the paper and
kept it on his knees. With a double lens, he studied it and told that it was native Indian
manufactured paper, and long back this paper was pinned on a notice board. The diagram on
the paper was a part of a large building with many halls’ corridors and passages. At one place
there was one small cross done in red ink and above it, 3.37 from left in faded pencil writing. In
the left-hand corner is a curious hieroglyphic like four crosses in a line with their arms touching
which was difficult to understand. Besides it was written in very rough and coarse characters ‘
The Sign of Four”. It was an important document as the matter written on it was more subtle.
We can see how it was connected to Andaman Island and how these guards were related to
Major Sholto and helped to solve this problem.
15) Explain how the setting of the extract in London has some references to India too. How
the setting of the extract contributes to the theme of the novel ‘Sign of Four’.
Imperialism: The novel has a complex plot. A stolen treasure, the secret pact between the four convicts
at Andaman Island, and the two corrupt prison guards Sholto and Morstan. At that time India was under
the rule. Many British officers were posted here. Mosrtan and Sholto who belonged to the 34 th Bombay
Infantry were also stationed in India. When Watson and Sherlock Holmes reach the house of the
anonymous sender of pearls they find an Indian servant. This too hints at the Imperialist attitudes of
Englishmen.

Wealth: The pearls that Mary receives represent the theme of wealth. Lyceum Theatre located in the
upper-class neighborhood of the west is visited by wealthy people, who come here nicely dressed up.
The Agra treasure also indicates the theme of wealth which dominates the novel.

Justice: Sherlock Holmes believes that Sholto’s heir knows something about Captain Morstan and wants
to compensate for the loss Mary suffered all these years This represents the theme of justice and is
related to the events which happened in India.

Logic versus emotion: De Watson admires Mary Morstan’s beauty, and he is attracted towards her but
for Sherlock Holmes, she is a mere unit or factor. Dr. Watson is sensitive, emotional, and empathetic
whereas Holmes is rational and intellectual.

Fear of anything Foreign: The events narrated in this novel transpired in India. So, India is associated
with the theme of evil. Even the main characters have a bias towards India in this novel. The names of
four people in the novel indicate they are of Indian origin which is viewed as foreign. Holmes is trying to
solve this mystery, The servant in the house of the man who sends the anonymous letter is also linked to
East (India) So, we say the fear of anything foreign is also the theme of the extract.

Mystery: The writer has described London as being enveloped in a dense dizzy fog, with street lamps
throwing ‘splotches of diffused light. This kind of dark and gloomy image of London also adds to the
theme of mystery.

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