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© 2005 Peter Burkhart

 

"A Study in Scarlet" Part II "The Country of the Saints." Chapter 5 "The Avenging Angels":

Unit/Theme: Sherlock Holmes      Level: Honors

Subject: Seventh Grade English

NYS Standards/ Benchmarks: E2b: The students produce a response to literature that advances a judgment that is interpretive, analytic, evaluative, or reflective. The students demonstrate an understanding of a literary work.

E3b: The students participate in group meetings, in which the students gives reasons in support of opinions expressed. E5a: The students respond to fiction by evaluating literary merit. E5a The students examine the reasons for a character’s actions , taking into account the situation and basic motivation of the character.

OBJECTIVES/OUTCOMES

• Students will have time for silent reading.
  
• Students will be able to identify Doyle’s use of foreshadowing.
  
• Students will discuss and analyze character development.
  
• Students will review the importance of norms in some communities and the role they play in this story.
  
• Students will respond to a journal prompt.
  
• Students will participate in a number of story related discussions
  
• Students will write an epitaph for John and Lucy Ferrier.
  
  QUOTABLE QUOTE
  

"No one won’t have her very long though, for I saw death in her face yesterday. She is more like a ghost than a woman."

-Cowper (a Mormon talking to Jefferson Hope, Pg. 54)

RESOURCES

• Sherlock Holmes text
  
  PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

• Students have read Chapters 4 and 5 for homework.
  
  ACTIVITIES/ OUTCOMES
  
  
• Silent reading: Students will have time to silently read their Sherlock text or a book of their choice.
  
• After a review of foreshadowing, small groups of students will identify examples of foreshadowing throughout what they have read in Part 2. The groups will share their findings aloud.
  
• NOTE: Prior to starting the last chapters of the story, it is important students have a firm grasp on the events of this chapter. They should understand the changes characters experience, including the death of John Ferrier and Lucy and the quest for revenge by Jefferson Hope.
  
• Discussion: The term "avenging angel" might create some irony. Why are they called that? What characters that you might have already met do you think are in this group? Describe their success. Is it an appropriate term? If it is, what events in this chapter do you base your answer on? Was Ferrier’s death a surprise?
  
• Discussion: Kidnapping still goes on today. Without Ferrier, Lucy is in great danger. As a result of Ferrier’s death, this is the second time Lucy has been orphaned. There are differences between the two times. Compare what you know about each time. What are the major differences?
  
• Discussion: We talked about norms in the past. The Mormon community is very strict about people "conforming" to the norms. Ferrier agreed to this in the beginning. His fate was a result of this. What are your reactions? Ferrier and Lucy left because they felt they had no other choice. They chose Carson City as their destination. Why do you think they chose it? Were they killed because they left or was it another reason (defying the four/ going against norms?)
  
• Journal: Analyze Lucy’s life. Was it a happy one? Was she powerless to control what her community wanted her to do? Explain. Write an epitaph for her as it would appear on her tombstone. Be prepared to share.
  
  

ASSESSMENT

• "A Study in Scarlet" Part 2 Chapter 4 quiz.

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