4.1.1

Corruption

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Corruption from Wealth

The crime in The Sign of the Four is based around the greed of the four who stole the Agra treasure. The treasure negatively impacts everyone in the story:

Bartholomew Sholto

Bartholomew Sholto

  • Bartholomew Sholto is murdered for the treasure.
Thaddeus

Thaddeus

  • Thaddeus Sholto is constantly nervous – he is described as ‘jerking’ and ‘nervous’.
Major Sholto

Major Sholto

  • Major Sholto spent the rest of his life worried about a ‘one-legged man’.
Tonga

Tonga

  • Tonga is killed whilst trying to escape Sherlock and the police.
Jonathan Small

Jonathan Small

  • Jonathan Small is imprisoned because of his desire for the treasure.
Mary and Watson

Mary and Watson

  • The romance between Watson and Mary is also negatively impacted, as Watson fears that Mary will become ‘the richest heiress in England’ because of her share of the treasure.
  • He convinces himself that he is not good enough for her.
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1

Context

1.1

Victorian England & British Empire

1.1.1Author Background1.1.2Victorian Crime & Police1.1.3Historical Context1.1.4Victorian London1.1.5Women1.1.6The British Empire1.1.7End of Topic Test - Author & Victorian Police1.1.8End of Topic Test - Victorian London & Empire
2

Plot Summary

2.1

Chapter Summaries

2.1.1Chapter 12.1.2Chapter 22.1.3Chapter 32.1.4Chapter 42.1.5Chapter 52.1.6Chapter 62.1.7Chapter 72.1.8Chapter 82.1.9Chapter 92.1.10Chapter 102.1.11Chapter 112.1.12Chapter 122.1.13Chapter 12: Jonathan Small's Stories2.1.14End of Topic Test - Chapters 1-62.1.15End of Topic Test - Chapters 7-12
3

Characters

3.1

Key Characters

3.1.1Sherlock Holmes3.1.2Sherlock Holmes: Quotations3.1.3Dr John Watson3.1.4Mary Morstan3.1.5End of Topic Test - Key Characters3.1.6Exam-Style Questions - Mary & Dr Watson
3.2

Other Characters

3.2.1Thaddeus Sholto3.2.2Jonathan Small3.2.3End of Topic Test - Thaddeus and Jonathan Small
3.3

Grade 9 - Key Characters

3.3.1Grade 9 - Key Characters3.3.2Extract Analysis - Tonga
4

Key Themes

4.1

Key Themes

4.1.1Corruption4.1.2Criminals & Victims4.1.3Victorian Fear4.1.4British Empire & Imperialism4.1.5Duality4.1.6End of Topic Test - Key Themes
5

Writing Techniques

5.1

Writing Techniques

5.1.1Narrative Voice5.1.2Dialogue5.1.3Structure5.1.4Structure & Characters5.1.5Pathetic Fallacy5.1.6End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques
6

Recap: Main Quotes

6.1

Characters Quotes

6.1.1Sherlock Holmes - Quotations6.1.2Dr John Watson - Quotations6.1.3Mary Morstan - Quotations6.1.4Thaddeus Sholto - Quotations6.1.5Jonathan Small - Quotations
6.2

Text Structure - Quotes

6.2.1Chapter 1 - Quotations6.2.2Chapter 2 - Quotations6.2.3Chapter 3 - Quotations6.2.4Chapter 4 - Quotations6.2.5Chapter 5 - Quotations6.2.6Chapter 6 - Quotations6.2.7Chapter 7 - Quotations6.2.8Chapter 8 - Quotations6.2.9Chapter 9 - Quotations6.2.10Chapter 10 - Quotations6.2.11Chapter 11 - Quotations6.2.12Chapter 12 - Quotations

Practice questions on Corruption

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  1. 1
    Which characters are murdered because of the Agra treasure?Fill in the list
  2. 2
    Quotations describing Thaddeus Sholto's nervousness:Fill in the list
  3. 3
    Who is imprisoned because of their desire for the Agra treasure?Multiple choice
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Extract Analysis - Tonga

Criminals & Victims