Arthur Conan Doyle Worksheets Arthur Conan Doyle Facts Arthur Conan Doyle was a doctor and author of 60 mystery stories depicting the most famous detective characters of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. He was knighted by King Edward VII for his non-fiction pamphlet about the Boer War. Early Life ★ Arthur Conan Doyle was born on May 22, 1859, in Edinburgh, Scotland. Arthur grew up in a strict Irish-Catholic family. His father, Charles Altamont Doyle, was an artist who gained moderate success and suffered with alcoholism. Mary, his mother, was a well-educated woman and lover of books. Young Arthur grew apart from his father while his mother greatly influenced his imagination and enthusiasm for reading. ★ In 1868, he went to England and attended Hodder Place, Stonyhurst, a Jesuit preparatory school. Arthur Conan Doyle Facts ★ He spent seven years in a boarding house away from his family. While studying, he experienced bullying by his classmates and corporal punishment. ★ In 1876, he graduated from Stonyhurst College and decided to pursue a medical degree instead of art. ★ Doyle met Dr. Joseph Bell, his future mentor, and future authors like James Barrie and Robert Louis Stevenson while at the University of Edinburgh. Arthur Conan Doyle’s Literary Career ★ At medical school, Doyle penned his first short story, The Mystery of Sasassa Valley, which was published in an Edinburgh magazine followed by The American Tale. The latter was published in the London Society. ★ At that time, Doyle’s work was hugely influenced by his favorite authors, including Edgar Allan Poe and Bret Harte. ★ At the age of 20, Doyle was offered to be a ship’s surgeon on a whaling boat bound for the Arctic Circle. While on the voyage, he wrote Captain of the Pole Star. ★ In 1881, he received his Bachelor of Medicine degree. At the same time, he denounced his Catholic faith. ★ Upon graduation, he worked as a medical officer on a steamship named Mayumba. Doyle traveled from Liverpool to Africa Part of Doyle’s journal and found the Arctic had more allure than Africa. He soon gave while writing the “Captain up his career as a doctor to of the Pole Star” focus on writing. Arthur Conan Doyle Facts ★ In 1886, he started writing A Tangled Skein, which was later renamed A Study in Scarlet. Two years later, it was published in Beeton’s Christmas Annual. It is arguably his most famous work depicting the adventures of detective Sherlock Holmes and his assistant, Dr. Watson. In popular culture, the first “Sherlock Holmes” film was released in 2009 featuring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law ★ By 1887, Doyle became an active member of the Spiritualist movement. He developed a fascination with spiritualism and the paranormal, which were reflected in his tale The Mystery of Cloomber. ★ At that time, Doyle was more famous in the United States than in London. By 1889, through Joseph Marshall Stoddart, a magazine managing editor in Philadelphia, Doyle met and became acquainted with Oscar Wilde. ★ In 1893, he started publishing autobiographical works like Beyond the City, The Stark Munro Letters (1895), and A Duet in an Occasional Chorus (1899). ★ As his success continued to grow, he wrote several historical novels including The Great Shadow (1892) and Rodney Stone (1896). Arthur Conan Doyle Facts ★ Throughout the 1890s until the 1900s, he published four books about Sherlock Holmes, including The Sign of Four (1890), The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892), The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (1894), and The Hound of Baskervilles (1901). The final twelve stories about Sherlock Holmes were depicted in a compilation entitled The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes. ★ In the early 1900s, Doyle focused on writing about spiritualism. In 1918, he published The New Revolution followed by The Vital Message (1919), The Wanderings of the Spiritualist (1912), and History of Spiritualism (1926). Later Life, Legacy and Death ★ Aside from short stories and novels, Doyle also tried writing plays, including Brigadier Gerard, The Tragedy of the Korosko, The House of Temperley, and The Speckled Band. ★ During WWI, Doyle was permitted to visit the British and French fronts. He even witnessed the Battle of St. Quentin under the Australian High Command. By the end of the war, he had lost his son, brother, brothers-in-law and nephew. ★ In 1929, he went on a spiritual tour in Holland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden despite his health condition. ★ On July 7, 1930, Arthur Conan Doyle died of a heart attack in his home in Crowborough, England. The Doyles in 1926, New York Name: Man of Mysteries Arthur Conan Doyle was known for his popular detective fictional character, Sherlock Holmes. The character died in 1893 but was revived after 10 years due to public demand. Using the mystery categories, solve his biographical narrative. Doyle was a sportsman. He played cricket, football and popularised skiing. Name: Detective Gadgets It was during his short stint in the Arctic Circle when his fascination for mysterious stories developed. Today, Sherlock Holmes and other detective-based films continue to interest viewers worldwide. Can you name some detective gadgets seen in movies? S H E R L O C K Doyle actually solved a real life mystery case for the murder of Marion Gilchrist. Name: Doyle’s Mystery Aside from being a writer, Doyle also tried to enter politics, but failed to be elected to Parliament twice. Complete his timeline using the clues. After he graduated from high 1876 school, Arthur began using “Conan” as part of his surname. 1879 1881 1930 1929 1888 Name: Crime Mystery Authors Arthur Conan Doyle was one of the greatest crime mystery authors of all time. Solved the others by naming and providing their photos. Name: Find the Missing Terms Aside from stories about Sherlock Holmes, Doyle also wrote several historical books and spiritual pamphlets. Fill in the missing terms to complete the titles of his works. A Study in The of the Four The Surgeon of Gaster The of Cloomber Rodney The Stark Letters The of the Korosko The Captain of the A Story of The Band Name: A Parable In addition to novels and short stories, Arthur Conan Doyle also wrote poems, including A Parable, Religio Medici, and The Song of a Bow. Read the text and do the tasks at hand. The cheese-mites asked how the cheese got there, And warmly debated the matter; The Orthodox said that it from the air, And the Heretics said from the platter. They argued it long and they argued it strong, And I hear they are arguing now; But of all the choice spirits who lived in the cheese, Not one of them thought of a cow. Describe Arthur Conan Doyle’s style of writing. ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ Using symbols, what is the meaning of A Parable to you? Name: Sherlock Holmes Over 125 years after Doyle’s publication, Sherlock Holmes remains one of the most iconic detective characters in history. In 2009, the first of the series was released, which hit the box office. Accompanied by your guardian, watch any of the two and answer the guide questions. Who are the main characters? ❖ __________________________ ❖ __________________________ ❖ __________________________ What are the issues raised in the film? _______________________________ _______________________________ What part of the film struck you the most? Why? _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ Any lessons learnt? _______________________________ _______________________________ Name: Secrets to Tell For a while, Doyle tried to practice ophthalmology in London. Although it was unsuccessful, he used his time to write. Look for lines/quotes of Doyle covering the aspects given. Tell us your thoughts. “For strange effects and extraordinary combinations we must go to life itself, which is far more daring than any effort of imagination.” -Arthur Conan Doyle Life Struggles Imagination Success Name: Unveiling Knowledge Let us sum up what you learnt today! Complete the phrases and share your thoughts with us. As a writer, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was ______________________ because _______________________________. What I like about him ___________________________________ __________________________________ . His works like _______________________ made me realize ____________________. Compared to other authors, _____________________________________ ____________________________________ . I particularly appreciate ________________________________ _____________________________ . Doyle volunteered as a soldier during the Boer War, but he was not admitted due to his weight. Instead, he became a ship’s doctor..