The Sign of Four

    AQA
    GCSE

    Arthur Conan Doyle’s second novella follows Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as they investigate the disappearance of Captain Morstan and the mystery of the Agra treasure at the behest of Mary Morstan. The narrative traverses the domestic safety of Baker Street, the gothic atmosphere of Pondicherry Lodge, and the industrial landscape of the Thames, culminating in the capture of Jonathan Small and the death of his accomplice, Tonga. Central to the plot is the 'Sign of Four' pact formed during the Indian Mutiny of 1857, which drives the cycle of betrayal and revenge. The text juxtaposes Holmes’s cold, deductive rationality against Watson’s romantic subplot, ultimately resolving with the loss of the treasure and the restoration of Victorian social order. Candidates must recognize the novella as a foundational text in the detective genre that simultaneously explores anxieties regarding British Imperialism.

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    Objectives
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    Exam Tips
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    Pitfalls
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    Key Terms
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    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • AO1: Award marks for a conceptualised response that maintains a sharp focus on the task, distinguishing between Watson's narrative perspective and Doyle's authorial intent.
    • AO2: Credit analysis of form and structure, particularly the use of the detective genre conventions, pathetic fallacy in setting the atmosphere, and the foil dynamic between Holmes and Watson.
    • AO3: Reward integrated contextual exploration of late-Victorian fears, specifically regarding 'reverse colonisation', the perceived threat of the foreign Other (Tonga), and the tension between scientific rationalism and Romantic emotionalism.
    • AO1: Candidates must demonstrate precise textual knowledge, seamlessly embedding quotations from both the extract and the wider novel to support an exploratory argument.

    Example Examiner Feedback

    Real feedback patterns examiners use when marking

    • "You have identified the technique correctly; now explain specifically *why* Doyle used it to influence the Victorian reader's perception of the criminal class."
    • "Avoid 'bolting on' context at the end of paragraphs. Weave the reference to Imperialism directly into your analysis of the word 'savage'."
    • "Your analysis of the extract is strong, but your reference to the rest of the novel is vague. Cite a specific chapter or scene to support your wider argument."
    • "Move beyond character motivation. Instead of asking 'Why is Holmes bored?', ask 'What is Doyle suggesting about the limitations of the rational mind?'"

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • AO1: Award marks for a conceptualised response that maintains a sharp focus on the task, distinguishing between Watson's narrative perspective and Doyle's authorial intent.
    • AO2: Credit analysis of form and structure, particularly the use of the detective genre conventions, pathetic fallacy in setting the atmosphere, and the foil dynamic between Holmes and Watson.
    • AO3: Reward integrated contextual exploration of late-Victorian fears, specifically regarding 'reverse colonisation', the perceived threat of the foreign Other (Tonga), and the tension between scientific rationalism and Romantic emotionalism.
    • AO1: Candidates must demonstrate precise textual knowledge, seamlessly embedding quotations from both the extract and the wider novel to support an exploratory argument.

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡Allocate 5 minutes to planning: identify the 'focus' of the question (e.g., fear, justice) and select three key moments from the wider text before writing.
    • 💡Ensure the response is balanced: use the extract as a springboard to explore the theme, then pivot to specific moments elsewhere in the novel.
    • 💡Embed context within the analysis of language; for example, link the description of the dense London fog directly to Victorian fears of crime and obscurity.
    • 💡Memorise 'utility quotations'—short, versatile phrases associated with Holmes, Watson, Small, and the setting—that can apply to multiple themes.

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Providing a biographical account of Doyle or generic history of the Victorian era (e.g., Jack the Ripper) without linking it to the specific demands of the question.
    • Analysing the extract in isolation while neglecting the wider novel, or conversely, ignoring the extract to write a pre-prepared essay.
    • Feature-spotting (identifying 'metaphor' or 'simile') without explaining how the specific language choice shapes meaning or reader response.
    • Describing characters as real people rather than functional constructs used by Doyle to represent specific societal attitudes.

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

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