Maharashtra Board Class 12 English Solution Chapter 4.4 – The Sign of Four
Balbharati Maharashtra Board Class 12 English Solution Chapter 4.4: The Sign of Four. Marathi or English Medium Students of Class 12 get here The Sign of Four full Exercise Solution.
Std |
Maharashtra Class 12 |
Subject |
English |
Chapter |
4.4 |
Chapter Name |
The Sign of Four |
Brainstorming:
A1) i) Dr. Watson- he has the power to understand emotional states of people through their actions.
He always arises deeper questions about details from his inquisitive mind to help Holmes solving issues.
He is compassionate person who tries to handle Mary’s anxiety towards the way of meeting.
He is quite adventurous person who enjoys the thrilling journey to the meeting place.
Sherlock Holmes- he is an excellent detective with extraordinary power to solve complications.
He is great knowledgeable and informative person to think deeper levels of a problem.
He tends not to express emotions in his professional journey.
He goes through all stages of investigation without leaving a minute detail.
MaryMorstan- she is a refined and sensitive woman who gives value to emotions.
She is smart person who understands her intuition and follows it.
She is sensible enough to bring all the clues to Holmes for full investigation.
She maintains friendly communication with Watson and Holmes during their journey to meeting place.
ii) dr. Watson met Mary for the first time when she came to Holmes with her case. Watson described Mary as woman with firm and calm in her every step. He described her as young, graceful and well-gloved lady who is impeccably dressed in a sober, greyish beige, untrimmed and upbraided dress with a dull turban that has a white feather on the side. He found her dressing style as simple and normal which indicated her woman with limited means. Her physical features were not regular and her complexion was not bright but her expression was sweet and friendly with her large blue eyes. Watson saw many women from three continents and found Mary as the most refined and sensitive in nature. He noticed her agitated emotional state by her trembling lips while she took seat. With all the qualities Watson found Mary as an attractive woman with deep, rich-toned voice. Whey they were visiting towards meeting place Watson saw Mary for the second time. He described her appearance as wrapped in a dark cloak but her face was pale and sensitive. She felt quite uneasy and discomfort for her situation still she had self-control. When they were driving to lyceum theatre the dark evening and mysterious journey made Mary tensed and depressed. She showed her demeanour as resolute and collected during this. Mary was least interested in her inherited riches as he became relieved after finding out the loss of the treasure. She accepted Watson’s proposal too at the end which showed her as a positive woman.
iii) We came to know about Holmes at the beginning of the extract when Mary came to her with her case. During their conversation we got informed that Holmes solved the case of Mary’s employer Mrs. CecilForrester and he is a detective. After listening the story of MaryHolmes was the person to question her further which added his significant role in the extract. Holmes came into actions just after Mary’s leaving for which he went out and collected much information within one afternoon. His actions and way of investigation proved her active part in the entire case. He shared collected information with Watson after returning to go further with the case. Another remarkable point of his character is his strong refusal to bring emotions while solving his case. The lack of emotions made him to be in track of solving a case with his intense rational logics and passion. On the carriage towards lyceum theatre Holmes deciphered the page of Mary’s father that she brought which proved the intellectual power. On the way, Holmes uttered all the names of his known places while crossing them showed all his exceptional qualities.
iv) Dr. john Watson is the narrator of the story who is the closest friend and assistant of Sherlock Holmes, the main detective. We get detail description about the narrative from his viewpoint through his admiring remarks about Mary Mortsan and appreciation about Holme’s extraordinary qualities. He is a person of emotions who understand the inherent emotions related to each scene and character of the story. Despite knowing the fact that Holmes is the ideal detective he did not mind to argue with him and explain his points. Watson is an empathetic person who followed every detail throughout the journey of Mary and tried to assure her. Only he had the courage to face Holmes with his logical views which proved him as the ideal companion in detective journey. He admired Mary from the beginning in both her personality and emotional ways still he felt less confident for getting love and affection from Mary Mortsan. All the qualities that depicted in the extract related to his relation with Holmes and his style of depicting all incidents proved him as one of the major character.
v) Holmes possesses exceptional qualities in observation and analysis each details related to cases. The power of critical thinking and logical approach to every case makes him analysing scenarios in such a way which is not an easy task for others. We got examples of his great intellectual side when he deciphered the piece of paper Mary gave him in the carriage and his constant description about various places while crossing during journey though he was unware about the intended destination. His approach to each case devoid of emotion which was different from Mr. Watson. Holmes never brought emotions in investigation for not getting biased at the time of solving cases. On the other hand, Watson was quite emotional and compassionate person who used to think with emotions and feel sympathy for clients. Holmes was way beyond emotion which enables him to think out of fear and anxiety. He used to stay strong in tensed situation which makes him think cases from different perspective. In Watson’s word Holmes was a calculating machine which makes him inhuman sometimes. Holmes was always active in his duty as he took only one afternoon to collect information and found out the connection between major Sholto and the unknown sender of pearls. But Watson was not aware of the fact even he took time to understand when Holmes brought proofs in front of him. All the information proved that Holmes thrives into investigation with his logical mind with slightest of hints and tries to resolve the mysteries, a step ahead of Watson.
A2) i)
Jumbled incidents | Correct sequence |
1. Holmes put a revolver in his pocket | 5. Mary mortsan was a well-dressed young lady |
2. Holmes gave winwood’s book ‘martyrdom of man’ to dr. Watson | 4. Mary’s father was an officer in a Indian regiment |
3. Mary received a large and lustrous pearl through the post | 3. Mary received a large and lustrous pearl through the post |
4. Mary’s father was an officer in a Indian regiment | 2. Holmes gave winwood’s book ‘martyrdom of man’ to dr. Watson |
5. Mary mortsan was a well-dressed young lady | 1. Holmes put a revolver in his pocket |
ii)
a) Mary comes to visit Holmes with her mysterious case to resolve. She was receiving a richest kind of pearl from the unknown sender every year on the same day for the last six years. This time she received the pearl along with a letter which mentioned a meeting outside lyceum theatre. It revealed that Mary had been wronged and she deserved justice. The letter also warned her not to bring police with her for meeting and she could bring two of her friends if she wants. Mary was curious for the meeting to resolve the prolonged mystery while she was in risk to meet a stranger in that way. For that she decided not to inform police and came to ask help from detective Holmes. When Mary described the entire case to Holmes the trio decided to visit lyceum theatre for unveiling the mystery which is proved as the main plot.
b) Mary’s father disappeared ten years ago after returning from Indian regiment when he wished to meet his daughter. After few years of that incident, Mary noticed an anonymous advertisement asked for her address. On employer’s suggestion she gave her address in the same advertisement column after which she was getting an amazing big pearl every year on same date. That present year she got pearl with one personalised letter which troubled Mary and she came to visit Holmes. Those pearls are the central part of the mystery which indicated Mary was wronged by someone and she needed justice.
c) Mary handed over a piece of paper to Holmes which she found in her father’s desk. Though she thought it was not connected to the mystery still she brought with her if it can help Holmes in any way or he would like to see. The content of the paper was so difficult that no one could understand but Holmes decipher some parts of it. He then advised Mary to keep it in safe place as if it could help in any later stage. It was the first occasion when Holmes felt the case as a complicated one more than he thought earlier. He thought that he should reconsider his approach of resolving the matter. From the paper he got the location of the hidden treasure that Jonathan small and three conspirators kept in Agra fort. From the paper they came to know first about the treasure. The titular sign ‘the sign of four was first introduced to them here. Holmes thought about many more attempts to solve the issue after viewing the paper.
A3) i)
Lines | Time and period |
1. My father was an officer in an indian regiment | Prior to 1878;india under the rule of the British empire |
2. In the year 1878 my father, who was senior captain of his regiment, obtained twelve months’ leave and came home | 1878; ten years ago, London |
3. This morning I received this letter, which you will perhaps read for yourself | 1888; present day morning, London |
4. The envelope too, please. Postmark, London, S.W. date, July 7 | 1888; present day, London |
5. He and papa were in command of the troops at the Andaman islands, so they were thrown a great deal together | Prior to 1878; India under the rule of the British empire |
ii) The extract begins when Mary comes to Holmes with her mysterious case in present day (1888) London. She narrated all the past events related to his father and her experiences after his disappearance. She gave the first reference of India in ‘my father was an officer in an Indian regiment who sent me home when I was quite a child’ where she mentioned his father stationed in India before 1878. Then the events shifted to London in the line ‘he telegraphed to me from London that he had arrived all safe, and directed me to come down at once, giving the Langham hotel as his address’ where Mary mentioned his father’s returning to London in 1878. The next reference about India was in the line when Mary said ‘there was nothing in it to suggest a clue- some clothes, some books, and a considerable number of curiosities from the Andaman islands. He had been one of the officers in charge of the convict-guard there’. This explains that his father was in charge of convict guard in AndamanIsland and his luggage had nothing exceptional except his belongings which occurred before 1878. The scene shifted to London again in the line ‘a singular case’ in 1888 as Holmes admitted Mary’s case as a remarkable one. Mary met Holmes and Watson in the evening when she mentioned ‘he and papa were in command of the troops at the Andaman islands, so they were thrown a great deal together’ where Mary told them Mr. Sholto was the commander of the troops in Andaman Islands.
iii) mary along with holmes and Watson headed towards lyceum theatre for meeting the stranger who sent pearl for six years. Watson described the evening whn the journey was taken place as dull and gloomy with mud like clouds covering the sky. Holmes uttered the names of all places during their journeying despite not knowing about the intended destination. The first place they crossed was the strand where the street lamps were looked like misty spots in dim lightthrowing glimmer on the wet pavement. The bright yellow lights of shops windows were shining into the steamy and foggy air by throwing irregular glow in the crowded street. The faces crossing the streets that time were looking like ghosts in the gloomy place. The trio reached to the lyceum theatre where the side entrance was already crowded with people. They were escorted in a horse-driven carriage which was crossing various places like Rochester Row Street, Vincent square, Vauxhall Bridge then headed to surrey side adjoining Thames river where the lamps were shining over the river water. Then they landed on the words worth road followed by priory road, lark hall lane, Stockwell place, Robert Street and cold harbour lane which were in the less fashionable part of London. The journey ended near the neighbourhood where they drew to the third house on a new terrace.
v)
a) London: all the characters of the extract Mary, Holmes, Watson and the anonymous of the pearl was living in London. There are various references about India related to Mary’s father in some part still the major part was covered by London. The two sides of London has been showed through examples of different places. We get to know fashionable places like Langham hotel, the lyceum theatre, the strand where the neighbourhood is wealthy and the unfashionable places like London suburbs, lined with brick houses and two storied houses. At the ending of the story the climax was also taken place in London.
b) Lyceum theatre: the lyceum theatre is significant in the extract where the anonymous sender of pearl asked Mary to meet him at the third pillar outside of the theatre. It was promised to reveal the mystery after meeting him and Mary would come to know how she was wronged woman and she deserved justice. The narrator described the upper class and sophisticated culture of London where people came by horse-driven carriages, cabs outside lyceum theatre. The entire description showed the wealthy and richness prevalent in that part of London.
c) Edinburgh: Mary Morstan’s father was an officer in the Indian regiment for which he had to send Mary to London. She was a motherless child who had no other relatives with her. So, she had to take resort of a comfortable boarding school in Edinburgh where she lived till age seventeen. This place is important and worth mentioning as Mary spent her valuable childhood here.
d) Agra: Agra fort was mentioned in the extract where the treasure was hidden by major Sholto and his three conspirator. The trio came to know first about the treasure from the paper of Mary’s father which she found from his desk. Unable to read it Mary handed it to Holmes who decipher some information and came to know about the treasure for the first time.
e) Andaman islands: Mary’s father was officer in Indian regiment posted in Andaman Islands. He was in the charge of commanding the convict guard in Andaman Islands. Her father’s friend major sholto was also in the charge of convict guard in Andaman Islands. So, Andaman Islands covered a larger part in the novel.
A4) ii) Miss Mary Morstan came to meet Holmes to solve her mysterious case as per suggestion of her employer. She narrated all events happened in her life from his father’s sudden disappearance to receiving pearls from anonymous person. She was receiving pearl on same date every year after sharing her address in an advertisement column. That time she was asked for meeting in a letter along with pearl. Then she decided to visit Holmes for resolving the mystery and helping her throughout this. Holmes and Watson agreed to accompany her for the meeting as her friends in the evening at lyceum theatre.
iii) The theme of ‘the sign of four’ is about the significance of wealth and affluence in life. The story explains the various purpose about involving wealth in our life through turning of events. Happiness comes with wealth and riches which has been proved in certain occasions of the narrative.
iv)
Statement | Reasons |
a) Miss morstan plans to meet shrlockholmes | After few years of Mary’s father’s disappearance she saw an anonymous advertisement asking for her address. She shared her address in the same column after which she received a big pearl every year on the same date for six years. This time she got pearl along with a letter where she was asked to meet at lyceum without informing police. For that she diced t take help from Holmes. |
b) Miss morstan gives the reference of mrs. cecilforrester | Mary got know about Holmes from her employer Mrs. Cecil Forrester. Holmes solved her little problem of domestic with sheer kindness and skills which impressed Mary. |
c) It’s a singular case | Major morstan informed her daughter to meet after returning London and gave the address of Langham hotel. But Mary found him disappeared when she came to meet. There was only hint which was his father’s only friend major sholto. But he was also died in London and Mary did not know that he was in London. The absurdity in events left Holmes confirmed that the case was an extraordinary one. |
d) Holmes needed some references | After hearing the case from Mary the trio decided to head towards the meeting place. During their journey Holmes asked more details about the case so that he could not leave any information unturned. |
e) Miss pearl received a pearl every year | The pearl that was sent every year to Mary was part of compensation for losing her father as per Holmes’s statement. He thought about some connection with major sholto’s heir and Mary for which a pearl was sending for compensating about losing her father which happened years back. |
f) The coachman confirmed that neither of miss morstan’s companion was a police officer | The letter from the anonymous sender of pearls mentioned that Mary should not inform police. In place she could bring any two friends along with her. For that command the coachman confirmed from Mary if her companions were not police. |
A5) i)
a) Watson knew Holmes very well about his keen observation, intellectual power, intelligence and analytical skills for solving cases. Still he expressed wonder for not noticing or admiring beauty. Holmes used to remain far away from emotional expressions to investigate mysteries. But Watson was kind of emotional and empathetic person which think all cases with emotions even expressed emotions for clients. When he told Holmes about Mary’s extraordinary quality he showed no interest. Then Watson told him about being so calculator machine who remain busy only with works and activities.
b) Mr. Watson wondered after hearing that Mary was receiving pearls from anonymous sender as compensation for being deprived form her father. He expressed interest to know what justice Mary deserved mentioned in the letter. He thought the major injustice happened with her to loss her father earlier for unknown reason.
c) Holmes said this line while the trio was crossing various places during their journey towards the meeting. Holmes told the names of all places though he did not know where they were heading. All the places mentioned like Wordsworth road, lark hall lane, Robert street, cold harbour lane belonged to the working class neighbourhood in London.
ii)
Dialogue | Speaker | To whom it is said | Tone, style, significance etc. |
“…you have once enabled my employer, Mrs. Cecil Forrester, to unravel a little domestic complication. She was much impressed by your kindness and skill.” | Miss Mary Morstan | Sherlock Holmes | Tone- complimentary, admiring
Style- exposition Significance- Mary said this to inform Holmes from where she got to know about Holmes. She came as per her employer’s suggestion. |
“you will, I am sure, excuse me” | Dr.Watson | Sherlock Holmes | Tone- polite, courteous
Style- direct Significance- Watson wanted to leave Mary and Holmes alone for their private conversation. |
“Your statement is most interesting, has anything else occurred to you?” | Sherlock Holmes | Mary Morstan | Tone- inquisitive, intriguing
Style- interrogative Significance- Holmes was immensely interested in Mary’s case for which he asked updated information from Mary. |
“Are you the parties who come with miss Morstan?” | The coachman | Sherlock Holmes and dr. Watson | Tone- enquiring
Style- clarifying Significance- the coachman sent by the anonymous sender of pearls asked about Holmes and Watson to ensure they were not police. |
“The sahib awaits you.” | The khitmutgar | The trio- Mary, Watson and Holmes | Tone- welcoming, polite
Style- direct, informative The word sahib referred to the anonymous sender of pearls who sent the coachman. |