About The Hounds of the Baskervilles:

(Grades 7 and up; complete story plus quiz)

Overview: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's extended short story “The Hound of the Baskervilles” shows Sherlock Holmes in his finest hour. The story begins in London, where Dr. James Mortimer seeks the help of the  detective after the mysterious death of Sir Charles Baskerville. Mortimer recounts the legend of a fearsome hound that has haunted the Baskerville family for generations, originating from a cursee placed on Sir Hugo Baskerville, who was killed by a hellish hound after pursuing a young woman. Sir Charles, who took the legend seriously, is found dead on the moors with a look of terror on his face, and large paw prints nearby suggest the presence of a supernatural creature.Holmes and his companion Dr. Watson investigate the case, with Watson sent to Dartmoor to observe the heir, Sir Henry Baskerville, who has returned from Canada  to claim his inheritance.

Included: A complete copy of the original story, plus a quiz.  This quiz covers the whole story. It focuses on plot elements, Character motivation, and point of view. 20 Multiple-Choice Questions with key.

Age Level and Length: Though classified as a short story, this is a “long short story”, and it will probably take 1-2 hours to read.   The story is complex, and we recommend that in the 8^th and 9^th grade, teachers read along with students aloud.  The quiz should take no more than 20 minutes. 

Maturity and Political Issues:  None.  A couple of murders are committed, but they are not described in detail.

Additional Considerations: Several films have been made of this story, including an excellent and faithful adaptation in 1988 starring Jeremy Brett, available free on You Tube.