Boscombe Valley Mystery

Synopsis

Holmes invited Dr Watson to accompany him to Ross-on Wye to slove a nurder case. Charles McCarthy is the victim, his son, James is the main suspect. The McCarthys lives on John Turner's estate. Patience Moran was the witness.

Moran & a policeman found Charles McCarthy dead and James's gun at the scene, Boscombe Pool.James was arrested.Alice Turner was sure he was innocent, So, she invited Holmes to solve the mystery. James admitted he went to B.P to shoot rabbits. He met his father and had an argument. After that he left his father and heard a cry. He ran back and found his father dead.

Alice T. explained that Charles McCarthy wanted James to marry her. John Turner became ill after the murder. Holmes had some idea and discussed it woth Dr Watson. They went with Inspector Lestrade at B.P. They found footprints and stones which is suspect as the murder weapon.Holmes describe the murdered a tall mam, left-handed and walked with a limp. He wore heavy boots and grey coat, and smoked Indian cigars.

Holmes explained to Watson about the clue. Charles knew the murderer. The last word said by him was " R-A-A-T " which refer to Ballarat in Australia. The footsteps indicated the person's height, the fact that he hit the victim showed that he's a left handed, and the ash was from an expensive cigar.

Mr Turner came to Holmes's house by invitation. He said that he was the murderer. He wrote a confesion letter to use after Turner's death and should James be found guilty.Holmes could destroy the letter if he's found guilty.Mr Turner explained how he met Charles in Australia. They were enemies. John was know as Black Jack of Ballarat. He robbed a gold convoy in B. near Melbourne. Charles was the stagecoach driver and witnessed the robbery. Turner became rich and be a respectable landowner in England.In 1880's, Charles ran into him and blackmailed him to provide farm on his estate. When he heard Charles ordering his son, James to marry Alice, he had no choice but to kill him. His secret was safe with Holmes and Watson.John died. James and Alice were married. Holmes destroyed the confession letter.

Flipping Fantastic Wordmaze

After reading the short story "Flipping Fantastic", identify the values found in the story and search them within the Wordmaze below.

Click here for the answer

Black Beauty - Anna Sewell (Novel)

Short Synopsis

• Black Beauty is a beautiful recount of the story of a handsome stallion living in Victorian England.
• Had a happy childhood in the countryside before being sold to various owners and goes through various hardship and mistreatment.
• Survived a horrible stable fire and also a serious illness.
• Became a horse for rent and a taxi puller in working class London.
• Finally sold to a kind farmer.
• Retires in peace in the countryside.
• The novel highlights the issue of cruelty to animals in Victorian England and remains a relevant issue till today.
• The story is told poignantly and remains a heartwarming story till today.

*  DOWNLOAD COMPLETE ANALYSIS OF THIS NOVEL HERE *

Flipping Fantastic - Jane Langford (Short Story)

'Flipping Fantastic' by Jane Langford is a story about twin brothers and their mother. Tristan is an outstanding, brilliant and a capable boy but James is shy, nervous and lacks confidence. Both of them are about to finish their primary education at Peter Hill Primary soon and plan to begin their new school term in two diferent schools. 

Their mother decides to enrol James in Highfields and Tristan who is physically challenged and wheelchair bound, in a special school (Chesterlea Grange). Both brothers are confused over the thought of being seprated as they have never been apart from each other. Since they rely on each other, the twins are concerned about how they are going to cope in their new school environment. 

The mother wants the twins to be independent. She is confident that Tristan would be able to cope well at Chesterlea Grange. However she worries about James and wonders how he is going to manage all alone at Highfields. Tristan changes his mind about Chesterlea Grange, in order to be with James. Besides that, the school is far away from home and he would only be able to see James once a week. On the other hand, James manages to persuade him by reminding him of all the facilities and activities in his new school that Tristan dreamt of. 

Knowing James cannot cope himself alone, tristan calls on their friend Kiara Jones to help James in Highfields. The twins at last realise that they have made the right decision and their new school environment is flipping fantastic. 

“I wonder” by Jeannie Kirby

Complete Slides Presentation on "I Wonder" by Jeannie Kirby

Mr Nobody (Anonymous Author)

Listen to audio file here


I know a funny little man,
    As quiet as a mouse,
Who does the mischief that is done
    In everybody’s house!
There’s no one ever sees his face,
    And yet we all agree
That every plate we break was cracked
    By Mr. Nobody.

’Tis he who always tears out books,
    Who leaves the door ajar,
He pulls the buttons from our shirts,
    And scatters pins afar;
That squeaking door will always squeak,
    For prithee, don’t you see,
We leave the oiling to be done
    By Mr. Nobody.

The finger marks upon the door
    By none of us are made;
We never leave the blinds unclosed,
    To let the curtains fade.
The ink we never spill;   the boots
    That lying round you see
Are not our boots,—they all belong
    To Mr. Nobody.


In this poem which is of unknown origin, it tells of the mischief in us when we were young ones. Afraid of punishment, we always refuse to admit anything whether of commission or of omission. So this poem tells about the character called Mr. Nobody who does not exist. He is just being mentioned as the fall guy and must take all the blame around the house as if he truly exists in every house.

Download Exercise 1 for Mr. Nobody here

The River (Valerie Bloom)

Listen to audio file here


The river’s a wanderer,
a nomad, a tramp.
He doesn't choose any one place
to set up his camp.
The river’s a winder,
through valley and hill.
He twists and he turns,
he just cannot be still.
The river’s a hoarder
and he buries down deep
Those little treasures
that he wants to keep.
The river’s a baby,
he gurgles and hums
And sounds like
he’s happily sucking his thumbs.
The river’s a singer,
as he dances along
The countryside echoes
the notes of his song.
The river’s a monster,
hungry and vexed
He’s gobbled up trees
and he’ll swallow you next.

The river is described as a living object, having their own attitudes and wants in life. The river is also described as having both their good and evil side, similar to human being. Human can be good and sweet sometimes, but other times, human can be evil and vexed. Thus that is a balance of natural order, as each complete things has both sides. The same with human, if in good nature, can be sweet and polite, but if vexed, can be evil and mean. This understanding is the referred back to the poem, as the river is personified to be as what it choses to be. Human do not have the capacity to control the river. It is up to it whether the river wants to be a baby or be a monster.


Download "Exercise 1" for The River here