Penguin Readers Factsheets level

T e a c h e r’s n o t e s 1

The Hound of the 3

Baskervilles 5

by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 6

UPPER
INTERMEDIATE
S U M M A R Y
he Hound of the Baskervilles is one of Conan more apparent than when he gave a lecture on spiritualism
T Doyle’s most famous mysteries featuring the
detective, Sherlock Holmes, and his friend, Dr
in Amsterdam shortly before his death in 1930. Ignoring
the lecture’s title, many of the questions from the audience
Watson. were about Sherlock Holmes. Conan Doyle refused to
The eerie mists of Dartmoor form the setting to the answer them and told the audience he had nothing more
sinister events at Baskerville Hall. When Sir Charles to say about the detective or his cases.
Baskerville is found dead, the people living in the
neighbouring area are sure that he didn’t die from natural BACKGROUND AND THEMES
causes. Strange sightings of a giant fire-breathing hound
and stories from the past have convinced them of this. Few fictional characters are as well known around the
world as the amateur private detective Sherlock Holmes.
The new heir to the property, Sir Henry Baskerville, Sherlock Holmes was ‘born’ in 1887 when Conan Doyle’s
arrives from Canada determined not to let the stories first full-length detective story, A Study in Scarlet, was
frighten him away from his new home. He braves the published.
loneliness of the moors, takes pleasure in getting to know
his neighbours, and is careful to follow the advice and At the time of Sherlock Holmes’ creation, Victorian
guidance of the great detective, Holmes. society was in a state of unease as new thoughts and
ideas threatened to undermine traditional beliefs. The
Holmes and Watson slowly unravel a tangle of mystery Industrial Revolution had brought about the rapid
as the case takes them deep into the heart of the development of industry, railways, commerce and
Baskerville family. engineering. Along with this came revolutionary scientific
theories which shocked many people. Darwin’s Origin of
A BO UT SIR AR THU R CO NA N DO YLE Species, published in 1859, put forward the theory of
evolution, and so questioned the Christian beliefs that had
Arthur Conan Doyle was born on May 22nd 1859 in been dominant until then. There also occurred the rise of a
Edinburgh, Scotland. He studied at Edinburgh University new class of rich factory owners, who capitalized on the
and became a doctor. Interestingly, he had a strong poor, particularly women and children. The Victorian
resemblance to his fictional character - Dr Watson - both conscience was eventually stirred by the revelation of this
in nature and looks. He was solid, extrovert and patriotic, exploitation in the works of authors such as Dickens and
with strong views on things such as the importance of the Charles Kingsley.
British Empire and the stupidity of modern art. However,
his Irish ancestors gave him a wilder, Celtic streak that ran Tales of mystery, where social problems were rarely
through his life and writings. confronted, grew in popularity during the Victorian age.
The success of Wilkie Collins’ Woman in White, published
Conan Doyle, like Holmes, had very acute powers of in 1860, lead the way for further novels of mystery, crime,
observation. He had a very practical mind but also a great detection and suspense. When Sherlock Holmes solved
imagination. He developed an interest in spiritualism while his first mystery in Strand Magazine in 1887, he was an
he was a doctor in Southsea; an interest that comforted immediate success with readers. People often wrote to the
him when his youngest son, Kingsley, died of pneumonia editor of Strand asking if Holmes was a real person.
in the First World War.
Dr Watson, who relates all the Sherlock Holmes stories,
Conan Doyle joined the Society for Psychical Research acts as a foil to Holmes. The sparkling brilliance of
and for nearly 30 years carried out a series of experiments Holmes’s sharp mind shines as he explains to Dr Watson,
in telepathy and spiritual investigations. Finally, at the peak and thus to the reader, how he has solved each mystery.
of his literary career, he wrote two books on spiritualism – The solutions to the Sherlock Holmes mysteries are
The New Revelation and The Vital Message. reached through reason and, perhaps because of Conan
Conan Doyle rather resented the success of his Sherlock Doyle’s interest in the supernatural, there is often an air of
Holmes books, feeling that they overshadowed his more the unexplained and macabre about them.
important historical and scientific books. This was never

© Pearson Education 2000

 level
Penguin Readers Factsheets 5
T e a c h e r’s n o t e s
Written in 1902, The Hound of the Baskervilles is one of have travelled much, what their childhood was like etc.
the best-known tales of Sherlock Holmes. Doyle was Have a whole-class feedback session.
inspired to write the story after hearing a West Country Chapters 9–12
legend, and the resulting novel is rather more gothic than
Put students into pairs. Give each pair a paragraph in the
other Holmes stories. As in all Sherlock Holmes stories, book to rewrite from the 1st person into the 3rd person.
the solution to the mystery is found through Holmes’ Ask them to discuss what effect this has on the writing,
observation of tiny details. As Holmes says to Watson, and come to some conclusions about why Conan Doyle
‘The world is full of clear things which nobody notices.’ wrote the story in the 1st person, through the eyes of Dr
Because his mind is uncluttered and free of trivia, Holmes Watson. Write the main points on the board, and have a
notices these small things. class discussion.

Characteristics, good and bad, run through generations Chapters 13–15

of families. Doyle develops this theme in the The Hound of Write on the board what Holmes says: ‘The stranger and
the Baskervilles. We see traits in the modern Baskerville more meaningless an event seems, the more closely it
family that are reminiscent of the family members a century should be considered.’ Discuss the meaning of this
earlier. Doyle thus shows good and evil in permanent statement. Divide the students into small groups and give
each group a different situation. For example, someone
opposition to each other throughout the ages. Evil is
has committed a murder, someone is having an affair, etc.
shown to be stronger in the hours of darkness. ‘Dark’ is a Each group writes down some ‘strange and meaningless’
word that is constantly used to describe Baskerville Hall things that might happen in these situations, which might
and Dartmoor. The feeling of menace created through the show that the person is guilty.
descriptions of the hall and the moors contrasts sharply
with the warm cosiness of Baker Street. ACTIVITIES AFTER READING THE BOOK
Discuss with students what they carry around in their
Conan Doyle builds the tension in the novel through
pockets or handbags. Show them what you have in your
mysterious happenings, unexplained noises, menacing bag/pocket, and ask them what this says about you as a
weather, and eccentric characters who clearly have person. Divide the class up into small groups and give
something to hide. each group a character from the book. They discuss what
this character would carry around with them, and why.
Have a whole-class feedback session.

Communicative activities
The following teacher-led activities cover the same Glossary
sections of text as the exercises at the back of the reader,
and supplement those exercises. Further supplementar y It will be useful for your students to know the following new words.
They are practised in the ‘Before You Read’sections of exercises at
exercises covering shorter sections of the book can be the back of the book. (Definitions are based on those in the Longman
found on the photocopiable Student’s Activities pages of Active Study Dictionary.)
this Factsheet. These are primarily for use with class
Chapters 1–4
readers but, with the exception of discussion and
article (n) a piece of writing in a newspaper or magazine
pair/group work questions, can also be used by students
avenue (n) a road or a path
working alone in a self-access centre.
black sheep (n) someone who is thought to be bad by the rest of
their family or group
ACTIVITIES BEFORE READING THE BOOK cab (n) taxi
Divide the class into groups. Ask groups what the front cigar (n) rolled tobacco which people smoke
cover of the reader is trying to say about the book and confess (v) to tell the truth about a bad thing you have done
dressing gown (n) a long loose coat that you wear before getting
how well it does this. Make sure they think about the style dressed
of the letters as well as the picture. What does the cover fate (n) a power that is believed to control people’s lives
tell them about the plot or the themes? Write the main gigantic (adj) very big
points on the board. hounds (n) dogs used for hunting
moor (n) an area of high ground covered with rough grass
ACTIVITIES AFTER READING A SECTION naturalist (n) someone who studies plants and animals
Chapters 1–4 yew (n) a type of tree with dark green leaves

Put students into pairs. Ask them to go through the book Chapters 5–8
and make a list of all the clues we have learnt so far which carriage (n) a vehicle with wheels that is pulled by a horse
might lead to the mystery being solved. Then have a class mire (n) an area of soft, sinking wet ground
discussion and write all the clues on the board. Do roar (n) a very deep loud noise
students have any ideas so far on the solution? Ask them Chapters 9–12
to tell the class. divorce (n) when a marriage is legally ended
reputation (n) the opinion people have of someone or something
Chapters 5–8
straw (n) dried sticks of wheat put down for animals to sleep on
Put students into small groups. Give each group a
Chapters 13–15
different character from the book. The groups write down
phosphorous (n) a chemical
what they know about that character and then what sort
of life they think that character has had – whether they

Pub lis hed an d dis tribut ed by Pe arson Educ atio n

Factsheet written by Mary Tomalin
© Pearson Education 2000
Fact sh eet ser ies dev elo ped by Louis e James
 Penguin Readers Factsheets level

Student’s activities 1

2
The Hound of the Baskervilles 3
Photocopiable
These activities can be done alone or with one or more 4
other students. Pair/group-only activities are marked.

5
Activities before reading the book
Read the Introduction in the book. Then close your book 2 Work with another student. Write down all the things
6
and answer these questions. Check your answers in the in these chapters that seem to be unusual or
book. unnatural. Can you think of a way to explain any of
UPPER
these events?
(a) What nationality was Conan Doyle? INTERMEDIATE
(b) What was his first job? 3 Answer these questions
(c) How old was he when he became a full time author? (a) What does Holmes like to do when he is thinking
(d) Why did he go to South Africa? hard?
(e) Where were Conan Doyle’s short stories about (b) What hobby does Holmes have?
Sherlock Holmes first published?
(f) What other types of book did Conan Doyle write?
CHAPTERS 5–8
(g) How did the death of his son affect him? Chapters 5 & 6
(h) When did Conan Doyle die? How old was he? 1 (a) Who says the sentences below, and who do they
say them to? What are they talking about?
(b) Change the sentences from direct speech into
Activities while reading the book reported speech in the past tense.
Example: ‘I can laugh at a joke like anybody else, but
CHAPTERS 1–4 they have gone a bit too far this time.’
Chapters 1 & 2 Sir Henry Baskerville speaking to Holmes about his
missing boots.
1 On the first page of the book, Holmes says to
Watson, ‘Now is the moment of fate, Watson, when Sir Henry told Holmes that he could laugh at a joke
you hear on the stairs a step which is walking into like anybody else, but this time someone had gone
your life, whether for good or for evil.’ How does this too far.
sentence sets the mood (atmosphere) of the book? (i) ‘He is quite old, and is a man of good life and
Now talk to another student. Do you agree with each simple tastes.’
other? (ii) ‘Did you know that you were followed this
2 Finish these sentences. Try not to look at the book. morning?’
(iii) ‘I tell you, this time we have an enemy worth
(a) Dr James Mortimer is a ....................................... . fighting.’
(b) He comes to see Holmes because
2 Work with a partner. You are Watson and Holmes.
..................................... . Watson describes to Holmes how he felt when he first
(c) Sir Hugo Baskerville owned Baskerville Hall in saw Baskerville Hall and the surrounding moors.
1650. He was a .......................................... . Holmes asks him questions to make him explain the
details.
(d) One night he followed ......................................... .
3 Have you learnt anything in these chapters which may
(e) He and the girl were found dead. There was a help solve the mystery? If so, make a note of it.
terrible thing .........................................
(f) Over 200 years later, Sir Charles Baskerville is
Chapters 7 & 8
found ................................... . Fill in the gaps in the sentences with the words below.

Chapters 3 & 4 moor, walk, meets, surprises, crying, breakfast,

mire, death, footsteps, chases, plan, foothold, Sir
1 Which people in B have the feelings in A? Find Henry, back to London
sentences in these chapters that show this.
A: (a) excited After (a) ............................. Watson meets Mrs Bar rymore.
(b) deeply moved He realizes that she was the person he heard
(c) impatient (b) ............................. in the night. He takes a
(d) satisfied (c) .................... along the edge of the (d) ..........................
(e) angry and (e) .............................. Stapleton. Stapleton
B: (i) Doctor Mortimer (f) ............................. Watson by asking him if Holmes has
(ii) Sherlock Holmes come to a decision about the (g) ............................. of Sir
(iii) Sir Henry Baskerville Charles. Stapleton (h) ............................. a small fly

© Pearson Education 2000

 level
Penguin Readers Factsheets 5
Student’s activities

across the (i) .............................. without losing his (e) Who dies on the rocks of the moor? Why do
(j) ............................. . Miss Stapleton thinks that Watson Holmes and Watson mistake him for someone
else?
is (k) ............................., and tells him to go
(f) What makes Stapleton such a dangerous
(l) ............................. . In the night Watson hears enemy?
(m) ............................. passing his room. He and Sir
Henry make a (n) ............................. . CHAPTERS 13–15

CHAPTERS 9–12 Chapters 13 & 14

1 Put these events in the right order.
Chapters 9 & 10
(a) Holmes sends a report to Princetown about the
1 Answer these questions. death of Seldon.
(a) Why does Watson follow Sir Henry out on to the (b) Laura Lyons tells Holmes that Stapleton stopped
moor when Sir Henry goes out hoping to meet her from keeping her appointment with Sir
Miss Barrymore? Charles.
(b) What does he witness? (c) Holmes, Watson and Lestrade position
(c) What excuse does Stapleton give for his themselves around Merripit House.
behaviour? (d) Mrs Stapleton is found tied to a post.
2 Are these sentences true or false? (e) A gigantic, fire-breathing hound chases Sir Henry
(a) The escaped prisoner is Mrs Barrymore’s elder across the moor.
brother.
(f) Holmes discovers that Stapleton is a Baskerville.
(b) Watson and Sir Henry go out onto the moor to
(g) The mist begins to sur round Merripit House.
give the prisoner some food.
(h) Holmes and Watson look for Stapleton on
(c) Watson and Sir Henry think they hear a ghost on Grimpen Mire, but cannot find him.
the moor.
(i) Holmes kills the hound.
(d) Watson sees a man on a rock.
(j) Holmes tells Laura Lyons that Stapleton is
(e) Laura Lyons wrote a letter to Sir Charles and he married.
burnt it.
(k) Holmes tells Sir Henry that he and Watson are
3 Talk to a partner. returning to London.
(a) How many men are living out on the moor? What
2 Talk to another student.
are they like? Make notes.
Conan Doyle writes about the ‘powers of evil’ being
(b) Watson writes to Holmes: ‘I have a feeling of stronger in the darkness. Do you ever feel this?
danger all the time – a danger all the more
terrible because I cannot describe it.’ What
Chapter 15
reasons does Watson have for feeling this?
Answer these questions. Try not to look at the book.
Chapters 11 & 12 (a) What relation was Stapleton to Sir Charles?
1 Which three adjectives best describe Laura Lyons, (b) What killed Sir Charles?
and which three best describe Mr Stapleton?
(c) Why did Stapleton steal one old boot and one new
cunning, sad, wild, pretty, deceitful, desperate, boot from Sir Henry?
happy, patient, anxious, kind
(d) Why did Holmes pretend to be in London when he
2 Talk to another student. was hiding on Dartmoor?
How do you think Laura Lyons will help Holmes and (e) Why did Stapleton encourage the friendship between
Watson discover the truth? Why will she want to help Sir Henry and his wife?
them?
3 Answer these questions.
(a) How does Holmes know that Watson is in the Activities after reading the book
hut?
(b) Who was the man Watson saw on the night he Talk to another student.
and Sir Henry went out after Seldon? Did you guess who the murderer was before Holmes tells
(c) Why does Stapleton want people to think his wife the reader? Do you think The Hound of the Baskervilles is
is his sister? a good detective novel? Did you enjoy it?

(d) Who does Watson describe as ‘the man of iron’.

Publishe d and d istribu ted by P ear son Ed ucat ion

Fact s heet wri tt en by M ary To malin
© Pearson Education 2000
F act shee t s eri es d evel ope d by L ou ise J ames