Structure
English Lit: AQA GCSE The Sign of the Four, topic 5.1.3
Structure: Novella
A novella is a story which is longer than a short story but not as long as a novel.
Plot
- A novella can have a complicated plot but does not have as many complications as a novel.
Characters
- Although novellas may have a range of characters, the limited word count means that they cannot explore many of the characters in great depth.
- Instead, they tend to have one or two characters that readers really get to know, and then several other smaller roles.
Structure of The Sign of the Four
The story is structured in three distinctive sections:
Beginning
- The scene is set and we are introduced to Holmes, Watson and their relationship.
- We are then introduced to Watson’s potential love interest: Mary Morstan.
- Mary brings a case to Holmes which looks fairly straightforward.
- They travel to meet the stranger.
Middle
- After meeting Thaddeus, there is a twist in the story – we find that Bartholomew has been murdered.
- This then causes a chain of revelations, where we gradually find out more details about the case.
- Holmes demonstrates excellent detective skills as he finds out all of the information to put the case together.
End
- Holmes initiates a boat chase down the River Thames.
- He and Watson kill Tonga and arrest Jonathan Small.
- Small explains all of the details of his life and the case.
- Small goes to prison.
- Watson becomes engaged to Mary Morstan.
Significance of the Structure
The structure of the story itself is designed to suit the detective/mystery genre.
Gradual release of information
- There is an initial puzzle presented to an intelligent protagonist.
- As each chapter progresses, a few more details around the mystery are revealed – some puzzle pieces are put together (such as Thaddeus being the sender of the pearls) and more puzzling details are revealed (such as Major Sholto’s fear of men with wooden legs).
- Information is gradually revealed to the reader, one small piece at a time – this keeps the reader hooked because it keeps us guessing.
Holmes' role
- Whenever there are too many unsolved puzzle pieces, Holmes puts a few together for the reader – this ensures that we are not completely lost at any point, which keeps the reader engaged.
Increasing tension
- Tension increases throughout the story as the more deadly details are revealed (such as the murder of Bartholomew Sholto).
- Conan Doyle keeps the reader guessing right to the end – it is only when Jonathan Small tells his whole life story that all of the details of the case are finally laid out for the reader.
Test yourself on Structure
Which of these are true of novellas?
What do we call a text which is longer than a short story but not as long as a novel?
Length of Different Literary Texts
Beginning Section of The Sign of the Four
Middle Section of The Sign of the Four