THE MYSTERY OF THE HOUND

CLUE IN

THE MYSTERY OF THE HOUND (THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES)

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

 

Word Meaning

 

                          1.            Apparently – seemingly, look like

      2.            Recent - not long ago

      3.            Heir – family person who legally own property

      4.            Gigantic - extremely large, huge

      5.            Hound - a dog used for hunting

      6.            Excitement – full of interest

      7.            Glitter - shine with a bright

      8.            Suppose - believe to be true, think

      9.            Enormous - very large size

 10.            Approached - came near

 11.            Raw - natural

 12.            Damp - slightly wet, moist

 13.            Alley - a narrow passage way

 14.            Hedge - a fence or boundary

 15.            Impenetrable - impossible to pass through

 16.            Strip - a long and narrow piece of something

 17.            Yew - an evergreen tree or shrub

 18.            Penetrated – passed through

 19.            Exceedingly - extremely

 20.            Gravel – pebbles, stones

 21.            Impatient - quickly irritated

 22.            Evidently - clearly; obviously

 23.            Evidence – proof, facts, information

 24.            Hesitate - to pause, unwillingness

 25.            Supernatural - force beyond scientific understanding

 26.            Incident – event, occurrence

 27.            Demon - an evil spirit or devil

 28.            Dreadful - causing fear

 29.            Terror - extreme fear

 

A.3 Work in pairs.

a. Why do you think Dr. Mortimer found it purposeless to tell anyone else about the footprints?

Dr. Mortimer did not tell anyone else about the footprints because he thought it was of no use in the case of investigation, as they were found twenty yards away from the body.

 

b. What are the other possible questions Holmes must have asked Dr. Mortimer during his investigation?

Some of the possible questions I think Dr. Mortimer must have asked for the investigation are…

Who was the first one to spot this event?

Are there any other witnesses?

Are there any marks or evidence of scuffle found on the body?

 

 

A.4 From the text.

a. Why do you think Holmes asked Dr. Mortimer about sheep-dogs?

Holmes asked Dr. Mortimer about sheep-dogs to check if the footprints found near the body belonged to these animals.

 

b. Why do you think Holmes struck his hand against his knee with an impatient gesture? How do you think he was feeling?

Holmes struck his hand against his knee with an impatient gesture because he could not find any crucial evidence that could change the course of the case. In the lack of any essential evidence, he felt discouraged and anxious.

 

 

A.11 Choose the correct options.

Sherlock Holmes: What is the alley like?

Dr Mortimer: There are two lines of old yew hedge, twelve feet high and impenetrable. The walk in the centre is about eight feet across.

… Sherlock Holmes: So that to reach the yew alley one either has to come down it from the house of else to enter it by the moor-gate?

Dr Mortimer: There is an exit through a summer-house at the far end.

 

a. Which of the following phrases from the extract show that no one could pass through the yew hedges?

i.          twelve feet high and impenetrable (√)

ii.         about six feet broad on either side

iii.       eight feet across

iv.        penetrated at one point by a gate

 

b. In the extract, which of the following has NOT been mentioned as a way to reach the yew alley?

i.          come down the alley from the house

ii.        jump over the yew hedge (√)

iii.        enter the alley by the moor-gate

iv.        enter through a summer-house at the far end

c. What was there between the yew hedges and the walk?

i.          a summer-house

ii.         a wicket-gate

iii.       a strip of grass about size feet broad on either side (√)

iv.        the moor

 

A.12 Choose the correct options.

a. Why has Dr Mortimer not told anyone about the footprint?

i.          He was afraid that the hound would hunt him down.

ii.         He felt there was no use telling anyone. (√)

iii.        He wanted to keep it a secret because it might frighten the people living there.

iv.        none of the options.

 

b. Which of these words describe Sherlock Holmes best in your opinion, based on your reading the play The Mystery of the Hound?

i.          easy to fool

ii.        inquisitive (√)

iii.       unhelpful

iv.        funny

 

c. Then anyone could have got over it? Why was it possible for anyone to get over the wicket gate?

i.          The gate was only four high. (√)

ii.         There was a ladder nearby.

iii.       The yew hedge provided handholds and footholds, which would help someone climb over the gate.

iv.        The gate was not locked, and anybody could have easily opened it

 

A.13 Answer the following questions.

a. There is a realm in which the most acute and most experienced of detectives is helpless. What does the word realm refer to here? Why does Dr. Mortimer claim that detectives are helpless in this realm?

The word realm refers to the area of supernatural entities. It is this realm in which Dr. Mortimer claims that detectives are helpless. He claims so because there are no scientific and rational reasons to understand this realm.

 

b. Why do you think Sherlock Holmes questioned Dr. Mortimer in detail about the entrances to the yew hedge? Do you think this information would help Holmes in his investigations?

Sherlock Holmes questioned Dr. Mortimer extensively about the entrance to the yew hedge to find a clue if someone could enter the area without any obstacle. Also, as a detective, it becomes necessary to inspect the event’s site thoroughly. Holmes interrogated Dr. Mortimer to uncover any crucial information that could lead to the suspect.

 

c. If I had only been there! Why do you think Sherlock Holmes said this? Do you think it would have made a difference if Holmes had been there? Why/Why not?

Sherlock Holmes said these lines as he believed that if he had been at the crime scene before, he would have been able to solve the case quickly. The rain and the waste had smudged the gravel by the time Holmes reached. Only if he had been called earlier, he could have looked into those clues and solved the case.

 

A. 14 Answer the following questions in details

a. Think of five words that you can use to describe Sherlock Holmes.

inquisitive, observant, intelligent, rational, thrilled

 

b. Now use the five words you have found in the previous exercise to write a character sketch of Sherlock Holmes in not more than 150 words.

With his long black overcoat, Sherlock Holmes looks like a detective. He has curly black hair that touches his clean forehead. His observant eyes always search for the missing piece thoroughly. He is always at work and with his inquisitive approach misses no clue. His intelligent observation is found in his monologue in any case. By applying his pure reason and intellect he eliminates all the unscientific beliefs and that is how Sherlock Holmes solves his case on rational grounds.

c. Mr. Holmes, there have come to my ears several incidents which are hard to reconcile with the laws of Nature. What do the words laws of nature mean here? What is Dr. Mortimer implying here with the words hard to reconcile with the laws of Nature?

Laws of nature refer to the extensive system in which humans, animals, plants and elements of nature co-exist. These laws of nature are consistent with the scientific and rational methods that explain them.

Dr. Mortimer implies that supernatural events are hard to solve with the laws of nature. It is hard to understand them because no scientific knowledge can explain their existence. Holmes refuses to agree with his ideas. As found in the text, Holmes does not believe that the footprints found near the body belonged to any supernatural giant which does not exist in real. Dr. Mortimer connects these enormous footprints to supernatural power that cannot be explained by reasons and science.

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