5.1.4

Structure & Characters

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Significance of Structure for Characters

Structurally, it is important to note that all of the other characters seem to either benefit or lose something from the investigation – except for Sherlock Holmes.

Quotation

Quotation

  • ‘You have done all the work in this business. I get a wife out of it, Jones gets the credit, pray what remains for you?’ (Dr John Watson).
How characters benefit or lose out

How characters benefit or lose out

  • Watson gets engaged to Mary.
  • Thaddeus loses his brother but gains his family’s wealth.
  • Tonga loses his life.
  • Jonathan Small loses the treasure and his freedom.
  • Sherlock Holmes simply returns to the same thing he was doing before the case began: taking cocaine.
Cyclical structure

Cyclical structure

  • Holmes’ character follows a cyclical structure, whereby he takes drugs for mental stimulation, then he is given a case to investigate and he solves it, and then he returns to taking drugs.
  • His whole life revolves around attempts to stimulate his brain.
  • In fact, Holmes seems to feel that any other pursuit in life is worthless – he criticises Watson for becoming romantically involved, as he argues that it is a distraction from logical thought and reasoning.
Jump to other topics
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 Structure & Characters

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  1. 1
    How do characters benefit from the investigation in _The Sign of the Four_?Fill in the list
  2. 2
    Watson's Ultimate Question to HolmesPut in order
  3. 3
    How do characters lose out from the investigation in _The Sign of the Four_?Fill in the list
  4. 4
    What does Sherlock Holmes return to doing at the end of the case (Chapter 12)?Multiple choice
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Structure

Pathetic Fallacy