AQA GCSE English Literature
AQA GCSE English Literature The Sign of Four Exam Questions
Free AQA GCSE English Literature practice questions for The Sign of Four. Covers Conan doyle's the sign of Four: detection, reason, greed, empire, Holmes, Watson, Mary Morstan, Jonathan Small and the Agra treasure.
The Sign of Four practice questions
1 pack of exam-style practice questions for The Sign of Four. Plan and write as many answers as you can under timed conditions, then compare them with the guidance on this page and your notes.
About AQA GCSE English Literature The Sign of Four
The Sign of Four is a 19th-century novel option on AQA GCSE English Literature Paper 1, Section B. You respond to an extract and to the whole novel. Watson narrates how Holmes investigates Mary Morstan's case, the murder of Bartholomew Sholto and the stolen Agra treasure, leading to a Thames chase and Jonathan Small's confession. Examiners reward analysis of how Conan Doyle presents Holmes's method, how Watson's narration shapes the reader's view, and how the novel reflects Victorian attitudes to empire, India, crime and the dangers of greed.
Key themes, characters and context
- Sherlock Holmes Holmes relies on observation and deduction, but the opening shows him injecting cocaine out of boredom. He is brilliant yet emotionally detached.
- Watson and Mary Watson narrates with admiration for Holmes and falls in love with Mary Morstan. Their romance offers warmth that contrasts with Holmes's coldness.
- Jonathan Small and the Four Small and three Sikh soldiers swore the 'sign of four' to share the Agra treasure during the 1857 rebellion. The Sholtos' betrayal leads to revenge and murder.
- Greed and treasure The treasure brings misery to everyone who seeks it, and Small throws it into the Thames. The novel suggests wealth gained through violence is cursed.
- Empire and 'otherness' India is presented through stereotypes, and Tonga is described in dehumanising terms. Strong answers critically discuss these Victorian imperial attitudes.
- Victorian London Fog, gaslight and the river create a mysterious, dangerous city. Athelney Jones's incompetence makes Holmes's skill stand out.
Common mistakes in The Sign of Four
- Retelling the plot instead of analysing it. Focus on how Conan Doyle builds mystery and character.
- Forgetting Watson is the narrator. Discuss how his admiration and limited knowledge create suspense.
- Ignoring the colonial context. Discuss the presentation of India and Tonga critically, not just as background.
- Muddling the Sholto brothers. Thaddeus is the anxious, eccentric brother; Bartholomew is murdered at Pondicherry Lodge.
- Treating Holmes as perfect. His drug use and coldness are deliberate parts of his characterisation.
Try three The Sign of Four practice questions
1. Starting with this extract from Chapter 1, how does Conan Doyle present Holmes as an unusual detective? Write about this extract and the novel as a whole. (30 marks)
Show what a strong answer includes
A strong answer would analyse the cocaine scene and Holmes's need for mental stimulation, then discuss his deductions, the chase on the Thames and his reaction to Watson's engagement, linking to Victorian interest in science and reason.
2. Starting with this extract, how does Conan Doyle present Jonathan Small? (30 marks)
Show what a strong answer includes
A strong answer would examine his confession, his loss of a leg, his loyalty to the Four and his sense of injustice, and consider how far he is presented as villain or victim in an imperial context.
3. Starting with this extract, how does Conan Doyle present ideas about greed? (30 marks)
Show what a strong answer includes
A strong answer would discuss Major Sholto's betrayal, the brothers' quarrel, the murder and the empty box, showing how the treasure corrupts and how Mary's lack of wealth allows Watson to propose.
The Sign of Four FAQs
What does AQA GCSE English Literature The Sign of Four cover?
It covers the whole novel, including Holmes, Watson, Mary Morstan, the Sholtos and Jonathan Small, and themes of reason, greed, crime and empire.
Which paper is The Sign of Four examined in?
It is examined in Paper 1, Section B, through one extract-based question that also asks about the whole novel, worth 30 marks.
How do I revise The Sign of Four?
Make a chapter-by-chapter plot summary, learn short quotations for Holmes, Watson and Small, and plan how you would link the Agra treasure story to Victorian ideas about empire.
