Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

BIOGRAPHY (Full Text) Work with a partner. Take turns to ask and answer questions to find the missing information in the following biography of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. For example: -

When was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle born?

-

Why did he abandon the medical career?

Etc

Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle was a Scottish physician and writer, most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, generally considered a milestone in the field of crime fiction. He was a prolific writer whose other works include science fiction stories, plays, romances, poetry, nonfiction and historical novels.

Arthur Conan Doyle was born the third of ten siblings on May 22nd, in 1859 in Edinburgh, Scotland. From 1876 to 1881 he studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh. While studying, Conan Doyle also began writing short stories and the first one was published before he was 20 years old. Following his term at university, he was employed as a ship’s surgeon during a voyage to the West African coast.

He set up a medical practice but was not very successful and while waiting for patients, Conan Doyle again began writing stories. His first significant work, A Study in Scarlet, featured the first appearance of Sherlock Holmes, who was partially modelled after his former university teacher Joseph Bell, a man of perceptive observations and clever deductions.

In December 1893, in order to dedicate more time to his historical novels, Conan Doyle decided to “kill” Sherlock Holmes. In the story “The Final Problem”, Holmes and Professor James Moriarty (by many considered to be the first true example of a super villain) involve in a fight and apparently plunge to their deaths together. Public outcry, however, led him to bring the character back in 1901 with “The Hound of the Baskervilles” among other writings.

Conan Doyle served in the Boer War as a physician and back to England he was knighted in 1902. He continued to write until his death on July 7th in 1930 being outlived by five of his six children.

Alexandra Duarte

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BIOGRAPHY STUDENT A

Work with a partner. Take turns to ask and answer questions to find the missing information in the following biography of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. For example: - When was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle born?

- Why did he abandon the medical career?

Etc

Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle was a Scottish _______________ and writer, most noted for his stories about the _______________ Sherlock Holmes, generally considered a milestone in the field of crime fiction. He was a prolific writer whose other works include science fiction stories, plays, romances, poetry, nonfiction and historical novels.

Arthur Conan Doyle was born the third of ten siblings on May 22nd, in _______________ in Edinburgh, _______________. From 1876 to _______________ he studied medicine at the _______________ of Edinburgh. While studying, Conan Doyle also began writing short _______________ and the first one was published before he was 20 years old. Following his term at university, he was employed as a ship’s _______________ during a voyage to the West _______________ coast.

He set up a medical practice but was not very successful and while waiting for patients, Conan Doyle again began writing stories. His first significant work, A Study in Scarlet, featured the first appearance of Sherlock Holmes, who was partially modelled after his former university teacher Joseph Bell, a man of perceptive observations and clever _______________.

In December _______________, in order to dedicate more time to his historical _______________, Conan Doyle decided to “kill” Sherlock Holmes. In the story “The Final _______________”, Holmes and Professor James _______________ (by many considered to be the first true example of a super villain) involve in a fight and apparently plunge to their deaths together. Public outcry, however, led him to bring the character back in 1901 with “______________________________” among other writings.

Conan Doyle served in the Boer War as a physician and back to England he was knighted in _______________. He continued to write until his death on July 7th in _______________ being outlived by five of his _______________ children.

Alexandra Duarte

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BIOGRAPHY STUDENT B

Work with a partner. Take turns to ask and answer questions to find the missing information in the following biography of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. For example: - When was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle born?

- Why did he abandon the medical career?

Etc

Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle was a Scottish physician and _______________, most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, generally considered a milestone in the field of crime fiction. He was a prolific writer whose other works include science fiction stories, plays, romances, poetry, nonfiction and historical novels.

Arthur Conan Doyle was born the third of ten siblings on _______________, in 1859 in _______________, Scotland. From _______________ to 1881 he studied _______________ at the University of Edinburgh. While studying, Conan Doyle also began writing _______________ stories and the first one was published before he was 20 years old. Following his term at university, he was employed as a _______________ surgeon during a voyage to the ______________ African coast.

He set up a medical practice but was not very successful and while waiting for patients, Conan Doyle again began writing stories. His first significant work, A Study in Scarlet, featured the first appearance of Sherlock Holmes, who was partially modelled after his former university teacher Joseph Bell, a man of perceptive _______________ and clever deductions.

In _______________ 1893, in order to dedicate more time to his _______________ novels, Conan Doyle decided to “kill” Sherlock Holmes. In the story “The _______________ Problem”, Holmes and Professor _______________ Moriarty (by many considered to be the first true example of a super villain) involve in a fight and apparently plunge to their deaths together.

Public outcry, however, led him to bring the character back in _______________ with “The Hound of the Baskervilles” among other writings.

Conan Doyle served in the Boer War as a physician and back to England he was _______________ in 1902. He continued to write until his death on _______________ in 1930 being outlived by _______________ of his six children.

Alexandra Duarte

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WRITERS and BOOKS Now you already know something about the writer / creator of the unforgettable detective Sherlock Holmes  What else do you know???

A) Match the WRITERS with what they WRITE: 1. Authors

1.

a) write poetry.

2. Novelists

2.

b) write about the lives of famous people.

3. Poets

3.

c) write any kind of book.

4. Playwrights

4.

d) write articles about different topics in newspapers.

5. Journalists

5.

e) write fiction.

6. Biographers

6.

f) write plays.

B) Let’s see if you understood it clearly by filling in the blanks with the correct WRITERS: (be careful with singular / plural forms)

1. Walter Isaacson is a famous ____________________ whose most recent book is “Steve Jobs”.

2. Maya Angelou, Benjamin Zephaniah, Carol Ann Duffy, Roger McGough, Brian Patten… are among the most celebrated contemporary ____________________.

3. William Shakespeare, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language, wrote sonnets and narrative poems but he is best known as a ____________________: his plays have been translated into every major living language!

4. José Rodrigues dos Santos is a Portuguese writer and university lecturer but we all know him mostly from TV as a reporter and ____________________.

5. J. K. Rowling, pen name for Joanne Kathleen Rowling, is a British ____________________ best known as the author of the Harry Potter fantasy series.

6. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a very prolific ____________________ whose writings include not only the world famous detective stories but also science fiction stories, plays, romances, poetry, nonfiction and historical novels.

C) Follow-up Activity: Is there a contemporary author you admire? Send him / her an email asking about their titles, literary creations and the creative process itself  Alexandra Duarte

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D) Sherlock Holmes is a fictional character just like Harry Potter which means they were invented. Put the kinds of books listed below under the right column: ghost story

biography autobiography novel

textbook

encyclopedia

atlas

thriller

dictionary classic

Fiction

Nonfiction

E) Which kind of book would you buy if…

1… you wanted to read about life stories, about real people, written by themselves? ____________________________________________ 2… your brother / sister wanted to read a very famous book? _______________________________________________ 3… you needed to know the meaning of words? ______________________________________________ 4… you wished to know the height of the Himalayas? ______________________________________________

F) When talking about books and different kinds of books, there are words and expressions we always need to know. Check if you know these by writing the translation: Character: ____________________

Review:

____________________

Plot:

____________________

Fiction:

____________________

Chapter:

____________________

Hardback:

____________________

Novel:

____________________

Paperback:

____________________

Sequel:

____________________

Trilogy:

Hero:

____________________

Bestseller: ____________________ Alexandra Duarte

Villain: Flop:

____________________

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