Watson gets a telegram one morning, asking him to meet Holmes at the train station for an adventure. Watson’s wife encourages him to go. So he does. Holmes escorts Watson to a small town in Boscombe Valley, where a man named Charles McCarthy has been murdered.
Charles McCarthy has been living as a tenant on the land of his much richer acquaintance, John Turner. Both of them knew each other back in Australia, where Turner made it rich. McCarthy has a son, James, and Turner has a daughter, Alice.
McCarthy was killed by a blow to the back of the head while standing next to Boscombe Pool. Witnesses saw McCarthy walking towards the pool, followed quickly by his son, James. They also saw the two of them having an argument. James is found near the body of his father with blood on his hands.
Holmes is not so sure. Witnesses mention that Charles McCarthy called out “Cooee” to James – but how could he have known that James was behind him? McCarthy didn’t even know that James was in town. James’s statement does add two new pieces of evidence: his father’s last words were something about “a rat,” and James noticed a grey cloak on the ground next to his father’s body when he ran over to see him. When James looked up, the cloak was gone. Holmes goes to see James.
He finds out that James has no idea who killed his father. Inspector Lestrade, the Scotland Yard officer who loves giving Holmes a hard time, is sure that James is guilty.
But Holmes keeps defending James: after all, he notes, “Cooee” is an Australian cry, and McCarthy’s last words weren’t “a rat” but “Ballarat,” an Australian city name.
Holmes, meanwhile, has arranged a meeting with John Turner. It turns out that it was Turner who McCarthy was meeting by Boscombe Pool. Turner was a robber back in Australia, and McCarthy knew about it. He had been blackmailing Turner for years. The last straw was that McCarthy had been trying to make his son marry Turner’s daughter.
But Turner will not tolerate it. So he picked up a rock and hit McCarthy over the head. When he heard James coming to the pool, he ran off, dropping his cloak. He managed to grab the cloak without being seen and got away. Turner agrees to sign a confession so that, if James McCarthy is convicted of murder, Holmes can get the young man off. But Turner is dying, and doesn’t want to spend his final days in prison. Holmes agrees that Turner’s about to meet a higher judge than England can provide. Fortunately, James’s case is dismissed due to lack of evidence, James marries Miss Turner, and John Turner takes his secret to the grave seven months later.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Plot ( 5 Main Events )
Exposition / Introduction ->
1- Dr. Watson receives a telegram inviting him to Boscombe Valley.
2- James McCarthy has been accused for the murder of his father, Charles.
Rising Action / Conflicts ->
1- Moran found a gun which belongs to James near the scene of the murder.
2- Alice Turner believes James is innocent and hires Holmes to investigate.
Climax / Main Events ->
1- Holmes investigates the crime scene and discovers critical clues.
Falling Action / Solutions ->
1- John Turner confesses his crime and writes a confession letter.
2- Holmes explains to Watson the clues that lead him to identify the murderer.
Resolution / Conclusion ->
1- James McCarthy is found not guilty and he marries Alice Turner.
2- John Turner died, so Holmes destroys the confession letter.
1- Dr. Watson receives a telegram inviting him to Boscombe Valley.
2- James McCarthy has been accused for the murder of his father, Charles.
Rising Action / Conflicts ->
1- Moran found a gun which belongs to James near the scene of the murder.
2- Alice Turner believes James is innocent and hires Holmes to investigate.
Climax / Main Events ->
1- Holmes investigates the crime scene and discovers critical clues.
Falling Action / Solutions ->
1- John Turner confesses his crime and writes a confession letter.
2- Holmes explains to Watson the clues that lead him to identify the murderer.
Resolution / Conclusion ->
1- James McCarthy is found not guilty and he marries Alice Turner.
2- John Turner died, so Holmes destroys the confession letter.
Setting
1- Time Setting ->
- A period from when Watson received the telegram until seven months later.
- Flashback touches the time back during 1860s and twenty years after.
- Transportation punishment was prominent.
2- Place Setting ->
- Boscombe Valley, imaginary setting near Ross-on-Wye, between England and Wales.
- Dr. Watson’s house.
Dr. Watson received the telegram from Holmes.
- Paddington station.
Discussion about the case.
- Local Hotel.
Met Alice Turner.
- Ross-on-Wye prison.
Met James McCarthy.
- A room.
Further deduction.
- Boscombe Pool.
Searching for clues.
- A study.
Explanation on clues.
- Holmes's house in Baker Street.
Met John Turner revelation.
- Ballarat, Australia.
Flashback robbery.
- Regent Street, London.
Turner met McCarthy.
3- Social Setting->
-18th century Londoners.
- Former outcast.
- The authority.
- The silent hero of justice.
- A period from when Watson received the telegram until seven months later.
- Flashback touches the time back during 1860s and twenty years after.
- Transportation punishment was prominent.
2- Place Setting ->
- Boscombe Valley, imaginary setting near Ross-on-Wye, between England and Wales.
- Dr. Watson’s house.
Dr. Watson received the telegram from Holmes.
- Paddington station.
Discussion about the case.
- Local Hotel.
Met Alice Turner.
- Ross-on-Wye prison.
Met James McCarthy.
- A room.
Further deduction.
- Boscombe Pool.
Searching for clues.
- A study.
Explanation on clues.
- Holmes's house in Baker Street.
Met John Turner revelation.
- Ballarat, Australia.
Flashback robbery.
- Regent Street, London.
Turner met McCarthy.
3- Social Setting->
-18th century Londoners.
- Former outcast.
- The authority.
- The silent hero of justice.
Characters + Characteristics
1- Sherlock Holmes ->
-Well-known private detective.
- Very confident, intelligent and perceptive.
- Trustworthy, persuasive and charming.
- Very observant.
- Able to keep anything secret given by any body.
2- Dr Watson ->
- A medical doctor (protagonist).
- A good sidekick that helps Holmes solve cases.
- Likes detective work and usually accompanies Holmes on cases.
- Helpful, adventurous and trustworthy
Gullible.
- Wears glasses, a bowler hat, and has a heavy moustache.
- He asks a lot of questions regarding the case.
3- James McCarthy ->
- An innocent victim blamed to have killed his own father, Charles McCarthy.
- Handsome, kind and good-hearted.
- In love with Alice Turner, daughter of John Turner.
- Youthful, strong and fragile.
- Proactive and observant.
- Incapable at hurting anyone.
4- John Turner ->
-A highway robber in Australia in the 1860s when gold was discovered in Ballarat.
- Moved to England after a major robbery and settled in a country estate in Ross-on-Wye.
- Tall, left-handed, slight limp, likes to smoke Indian cigar.
- Respectable and Introvert.
- Reserved, Secretive and Deceptive.
- Dishonest and Hypocritical.
- Family-oriented man and he loves Alice, his daughter very much.
5- Alice Turner ->
- 18 years old daughter of John Turner.
- Loves James McCarthy.
- Pretty and dainty, a bit fragile after her father fell ill.
- Proactive and Trusting.
- Loyal.
- Believes that James McCarthy does not kill his own father.
6- Charles McCarthy ->
- An evil man who blackmailed John into giving him money to feed his gambling habit.
- A manipulative man.
- Wants his son, James McCarthy to marry Alice so that he can access Turner's wealth.
-Well-known private detective.
- Very confident, intelligent and perceptive.
- Trustworthy, persuasive and charming.
- Very observant.
- Able to keep anything secret given by any body.
2- Dr Watson ->
- A medical doctor (protagonist).
- A good sidekick that helps Holmes solve cases.
- Likes detective work and usually accompanies Holmes on cases.
- Helpful, adventurous and trustworthy
Gullible.
- Wears glasses, a bowler hat, and has a heavy moustache.
- He asks a lot of questions regarding the case.
3- James McCarthy ->
- An innocent victim blamed to have killed his own father, Charles McCarthy.
- Handsome, kind and good-hearted.
- In love with Alice Turner, daughter of John Turner.
- Youthful, strong and fragile.
- Proactive and observant.
- Incapable at hurting anyone.
4- John Turner ->
-A highway robber in Australia in the 1860s when gold was discovered in Ballarat.
- Moved to England after a major robbery and settled in a country estate in Ross-on-Wye.
- Tall, left-handed, slight limp, likes to smoke Indian cigar.
- Respectable and Introvert.
- Reserved, Secretive and Deceptive.
- Dishonest and Hypocritical.
- Family-oriented man and he loves Alice, his daughter very much.
5- Alice Turner ->
- 18 years old daughter of John Turner.
- Loves James McCarthy.
- Pretty and dainty, a bit fragile after her father fell ill.
- Proactive and Trusting.
- Loyal.
- Believes that James McCarthy does not kill his own father.
6- Charles McCarthy ->
- An evil man who blackmailed John into giving him money to feed his gambling habit.
- A manipulative man.
- Wants his son, James McCarthy to marry Alice so that he can access Turner's wealth.
Themes
1- Curiosity ->
“No, I don’t. A simple case can be very complex in reality, my dear Watson”.
2- Investigation Of a crime ->
- Investigation of the death of McCarthy.
- The searching for evidences.
- Tracking down the information.
3- Vengeance ->
- John Turner vs Charles McCarthy
- Turner robbed McCarthyMcCarthy blackmailed Turner
- Turner killed McCarthy
“No, I don’t. A simple case can be very complex in reality, my dear Watson”.
2- Investigation Of a crime ->
- Investigation of the death of McCarthy.
- The searching for evidences.
- Tracking down the information.
3- Vengeance ->
- John Turner vs Charles McCarthy
- Turner robbed McCarthyMcCarthy blackmailed Turner
- Turner killed McCarthy
Moral Values
1- Do not judge a book by its cover.
2- Keep your promises.
3- Its never too late to turn over a new leaf.
5- Love and protect you family.
6- Do not take advantage on other people’s misery.
2- Keep your promises.
3- Its never too late to turn over a new leaf.
5- Love and protect you family.
6- Do not take advantage on other people’s misery.
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