Class Notes
Class: VIII Topic: The Red-Headed League
By – Arthur Conan Doyle
Subject: ENGLISH
Reading Comprehension
Q A. Answer these questions within 20 words each.
All answers will be discussed in the class.
Q B. Answer these questions in 30-40 words each.
1. Why does Mr Wilson come to Holmes?
Ans. Mr Wilson was taken aback when his job with the Red-Headed League suddenly came to an end with
the notice that The Red-Headed League is dissolved. He came to know that Duncan Ross was actually
William Morris and feeling something was fishy, he came to Holmes.
2. What does Holmes ask about Mr Wilson’s assistant?
Ans. Holmes asks Mr Wilson about the tenure of his assistant with him, how he came to work with him,
why Mr Wilson picked him and what he was like. He wants to know if Mr Wilson had observed whether
his ears had been pierced for earrings.
3. What happens when Holmes and Watson visit the pawnshop?
Ans. When Holmes and Watson visit the pawnshop, the door is opened by a bright-looking, clean shaven
young fellow. When Holmes asks him the way to the Strand, he replies third right, fourth left and closes
the door promptly.
4. Summarise the conversation between Jones and Holmes regarding their suspicion.
Ans. Peter Jones says that he wants to get hold of John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher and forger. His
Grandfather was a Royal Duke and Clay himself had been to Eton and Oxford but he had not yet seen him.
Holmes says that he may be introduced to him that night and says that John Clay was at the head of his
profession.
Q C. Answer these questions in 80-100 words each.
1. Comment on Holmes’ power of observation and deduction with reference from the text.
Ans. Holmes has a keen power of observation and he takes into account every detail of the person he
meets. He is able to deduce that Mr Wilson has done manual work because his right hand is larger than
his left. He has worked with it and therefore, the muscles are more developed. He cleverly concludes that
he has been in China because the fish which was tattooed immediately above his wrist could have only
been done in China and he could also see a Chinese coin hanging from his watch chain. When he meets
Vincent Spaulding at the pawnshop for a few seconds and notices that his trousers are frayed at the
knees, he has the mystery of the Red-Headed League solved. He concluded that the assistant is the fourth
smartest man in London and is at the head of his profession. He also surmised that the only reason for the
advertisement and for giving Mr Wilson the job was to get the pawnbroker out of the shop for a few
hours every day until the work of digging a path to the cellar of the bank was completed.
2. Write a character sketch of John Clay.
Ans. John clay was not an ordinary criminal. He had royal blood in him as his grandfather was a Royal
Duke and John Clay himself had been well educated at Eton and Oxford. He was small, stout, very quick in
his ways and had a white mark from an acid splash on his forehead. He was smart enough to judge
that Mr Wilson was not bright and could be deceived easily. So, he took up a job as his assistant at meagre
wages and came up with the ingenious plan of the Red-Headed League. As he had anticipated, Wilson fell
into the trap and John Clay was successful in digging the tunnel to reach the cellar of the bank but he had
not foreseen Holmes’ clever solving of the mystery. He was vexed when he was nabbed by Peter Jones but
went with the police , asking Holmes to address him as ‘Sir’ and say ‘please’ as he had royal blood in his veins.
3. When John Clay is caught, he has a strange interaction with Holmes. Why do you think he responds
to Holmes in such a way?
Ans. When John Clay is caught, he does not utter bitter words or indulge in any kind of verbal battle with
Holmes. He just says very coolly that he has done the thing very completely. He compliments the
detective on solving the case. When Holmes says that his Red-Headed League idea was both very new and
effective, he just corrects his manner of addressing him. He tells Holmes that he may not be aware that he
has royal blood in his veins. So, he must have the manners to always address him saying ‘Sir’ and ‘please’.
He seems to be very dignified, as if to prove that he was royalty and would not stop to raining and raving
on being apprehend by the police.
ALL THESE ANSWERS MUST BE WRITTEN IN THE COPY.
Extra Questions
Question: Choose the appropriate answer for the given questions.
1. Which newspaper published the advertisement on Red-Headed League?
a. The Morning Chronicle
b. The Evening Chronicle
c. The Times of India
d. The Economic Times
2. Who was Mr Jabez Wilson’s assistant?
a. John Clay
b. William Morris
c. Vincent Spaulding
d. Watson
3. How long did Jabez Wilson work in The Red-Headed League?
a. About 4 weeks
b. About 6 weeks
c. About 7 weeks
d. About 8 weeks
4. What package was offered to Jabez?
a. 4 pounds a week
b. 5 pounds a week
c. 6 pounds a week
d. 7 pounds a week
5. Who was a solicitor in the play?
a. Sherlock Holmes
b. Vincent Spaulding
c. William Morris
d. John Clay
6. Which scene introduces Peter Jones?
a. Scene 1
b. Scene 2
c. Scene 3
d. Both a & b
7. Where is Holmes’ house located?
a. Baker Street
b. Saxe-Coburg Square
c. Strand
d. Fleet Street
8. Who is Mr Merryweather?
a. A Royal Duke
b. A Board of Director
c. A Solicitor
d. The Chairman of Directors
9. What did the two rogue plan?
a. A bank robbery
b. A cyber hacking
c. A diamond heist
d. A burglary
10. According to Holmes, why did Vincent spend a lot of time in the basement?
a. Developing photographs
b. Making a tunnel
c. Stocking inventory
d. Investigating a crime
ONLY FOR PRACTICE.
CONTENT IS PREPARED AT HOME.
