44 pages • 1 hour read
Arthur Conan DoyleThe Sign of the Four
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1890A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
How does the opening chapter establish Sherlock Holmes’s character and personality? In what way does the story expand or complicate this first impression?
What are the possible benefits and pitfalls of presenting the story through the first-person narration of John Watson?
How does the story foreshadow Watson’s and Mary’s relationship from their first encounter onward?
In Watson’s and Holmes’s differing views on emotion versus reason, who do you agree with more, and why?
Explain Holmes’s methods of deductive reasoning. Is this an effective process beyond the confines of the novel? Why or why not?
In what ways is Thaddeus portrayed as a foil to his father, Major Sholto? Explain using examples from the text.
What aspects of The Sign of Four might contribute to the enduring popularity of Holmes in contemporary popular culture?
How does the novel portray the often-antagonistic relationship between Holmes and the police? Explain using examples from the text.
How does the representation of Tonga relate to the theme of British Imperialism and Its Impact?
In what ways do the three themes discussed overlap, interact, and influence each other throughout the novel? Explain using examples from the text.
Related Titles
By Arthur Conan Doyle
