The Maimonides School
Grade 7 English
Name: _________________
Class: __________________
The Hound of the Baskervilles
In the space provided below, brainstorm what you know about mystery novels, Sir
Arthur Conan Doyle, and Sherlock Holmes.
Answer the following questions:
1. What is the setting of the novel? (Provide details.)
2. Who are the characters who are introduced to us?
3. How does the novel begin?
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It is important to examine the protagonists (main characters) in a novel. Using the
book, describe the characteristics of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.
Sherlock Holmes
Dr. Watson
The Hound of the Baskervilles
Chapters 1& 2
Let’s judge a book by its cover! What is the front cover of the book trying to say about
the book? How well does it do this? What does the cover tell you about the plot or the
themes?
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Here are some glossary terms that you will find useful when reading the novel.
Chapter 1:
Hearth (p.1)- the floor of a fireplace, usually of stone, brick, etc., often extending a short
distance into a room.
Ferrule (p.2)- a ring or cap, usually of metal, put around the end of a post, cane, or the
like, to prevent splitting.
Piqued (p.3)- to arouse an emotion or provoke to action
Convex lens (p.3)- a lens that is curved or rounded outward.
Settee (p.3)- a seat for two or more persons, having a back and usually arms, and often
upholstered.
Inference (p.5)- The act of reasoning from factual knowledge or evidence.
Incredulously (p.5)- Skeptical; disbelieving
Pathology (p.6)- the science or the study of the origin, nature, and course of diseases.
Atavism (p.6)- the reappearance in an individual of characteristics of some remote
ancestor that have been absent in intervening generations.
Amiable (p.6)- having or showing pleasant, good-natured personal qualities
Mastiff (p.7)- Any of an ancient breed of large strong dogs, probably originating in Asia
and having a short, often fawn-colored coat.
Benevolence (p.8)- desire to do good to others
Dolichocephalic (p.9)- an adult with a long narrow head
Parietal fissure (p.9)- a fracture of the skull
Fulsome (p.9)- offensive to good taste, esp. as being excessive; overdone or gross
Chapter 2:
Resignation (p.12)Circumspect (p.13)Yeoman (p.13)Carouse (p.14)Moor (p.14)Flagons (p.14)Trenchers (p.14)Wench (p.14)Goyal (p.16)Roysterers (p.16)Twain (p.17)Providence (p.17)Scion (p.18)Dyspnoea (p.21)Prosaic (p.21)Hottentot (p.23)Gig (p.24)Chimerical (p.24)-
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Questions
1. On the first page of the book, Holmes says to Watson, “Now is the moment of fate,
Watson, when you hear on the stairs a step which is walking into your life, whether for
good or for evil.” How does this sentence set the mood (atmosphere) of the book?
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2. Finish these sentences. Try not to look at the book.
a) Dr. James Mortimer is a _____________________________________________.
b) He comes to see Holmes because ______________________________________.
c) Sir Hugo Baskerville owned Baskerville Hall in 1650. He was a _____________
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d) One night he followed _______________________________________________.
e) He and the girl were found dead. There was a terrible thing _________________
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f) Over 200 years later, Sir Charles Baskerville is found ______________________.
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In the space provided below, briefly sketch one of the settings in the novel. Please
indicate what setting you have illustrated.
The Hound of the Baskervilles
Chapters 3 & 4
Questions
1. Which people in B have the feelings in A? Find sentences in these chapters that show
this.
A
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
excited
deeply moved
impatient
satisfied
angry
B
i) Dr. Mortimer
ii) Sherlock Holmes
iii) Sir Henry Baskerville
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2. Work in pairs. Write down all the things in these chapters that seem to be unusual or
unnatural. Can you think of a way to explain any of these events?
3. What does Holmes like to do when he is thinking hard?
4. What hobby does Holmes have?
Chapter 3:
Spectral (p.30)- pertaining to a specter; ghostly; phantom.
Farrier (p.30)- (British) a blacksmith.
Apparition (p.31)- supernatural appearance of a person or thing, esp. a ghost
Diabolical (p.31)- having the qualities of a devil
Parish vestry (p.33)- a room in or a building attached to a church, in which the vestments,
and sometimes liturgical objects, are kept.
Flippantly (p.33)- frivolously disrespectful
Congenial (p.24)- agreeable, suitable, or pleasing in nature or character
Acrid (p.35)- sharp or biting to the taste or smell; bitterly pungent; irritating to the eyes,
nose, etc.
Miry (p.36)- swampy, muddy.
Inclement (p.39)- (of the weather, the elements, etc.) severe, rough, or harsh; stormy.
Chapter 4:
Baronet (p.41)- a member of a British hereditary order of honor, ranking below the
barons and made up of commoners, designated by Sir before the name
Pugnacious (p.41)- inclined to quarrel or fight readily; quarrelsome; belligerent;
combative.
Cajoled (p.44)- to persuade by flattery or promises
Maxillary curve (p.45)- the curve of the jaw
Bourgeois (p.45)- a member of the middle class.
Slovenly (p.45)- untidy or unclean in appearance or habits.
Agitation (p.47)- the state of being disturbed
Languid (p.53)- lacking in spirit or interest; listless; indifferent.
Vexation (p.54)- The act of annoying.
Benevolent (p.55)- characterized by or expressing goodwill or kindly feelings
Malevolent (p.55)- wishing evil or harm to another or others; showing ill will; illdisposed; malicious.
Wily (p.55)- cunning.
Sauntering (p.56)- A leisurely walk or stroll.
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Chapters 7 & 8
Fill in the gaps in the sentences with the words below.
Moor, walk, meets, surprises, crying, breakfast, mire, death, footsteps, chases, plan,
foothold, Sir Henry, back to London
After (a) ____________________ Watson meets Mrs. Barrymore. He realizes that she
was the person he heard (b) ____________________ in the night. He takes a
(c) ____________________ along the edge of the (d) ____________________ and
(e) ____________________ Stapleton. Stapleton (f) ____________________ Watson by
asking him if Holmes has come to a decision about the (g) ____________________ of
Sir Charles. Stapleton (h) ____________________ a small fly across the
(i) ____________________ without losing his (j) ____________________ .
Miss Stapleton thinks that Watson is (k) ____________________, and tells him to go
(l) ____________________ . In the night Watson hears (m) ____________________
passing his room. He and Sir Henry make a (n) ____________________ .
Chapters 9 & 10
Answer the following questions.
1. Why does Watson follow Sir Henry out on to the moor when Sir Henry goes out
hoping to meet Miss Stapleton?
2. What does Watson witness?
3. What excuse does Stapleton give for his behavior?
True or False? If the statement is false, correct it to make it true.
1. The escaped prisoner is Mrs. Barrymore’s elder brother.
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2. Watson and Sir Henry go out onto the moor to give the prisoner some food.
3. Watson and Sir Henry think they hear a ghost on the moor.
4. Watson sees a man on the rock.
5. Laura Lyons wrote a letter to Sir Charles and he burned it.
Chapters 11 & 12
Answer the following questions:
1. How does Holmes know that Watson is in the hut?
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2. Who was the man Watson saw on the night he and Sir Henry went out after Seldon?
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3. Why does Stapleton want people to think his wife is his sister?
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4. Who does Watson describe as ‘the man of iron’?
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5. Who dies on the rocks of the moor? Why do Holmes and Watson mistake him for
someone else?
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6. What makes Stapleton such a dangerous enemy?
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Chapters 13 & 14
Put the following events in the right chronological order:
a. Holmes sends a report to Princetown about the death of Seldon.
b. Laura Lyons tells Holmes that Stapleton stopped her from keeping her appointment
with Sir Charles.
c. Holmes, Watson and Lestrade position themselves around Merripit House.
d. Mrs. Stapleton is found tied to a post.
e. A gigantic, fire-breathing hound chases Sir Henry across the moor.
f. Holmes discovers that Stapleton is a Baskerville.
g. The mist begins to surround Merripit House.
h. Holmes and Watson look for Stapleton on Grimpen Mire, but cannot find him.
i. Holmes kills the hound
j. Holmes tells Laura Lyons that Stapleton is married.
k. Holmes tells Sir Henry that he and Watson are returning to London.