Appearances & Deception
The strange, seemingly ridiculous club for red-headed men actually existed to conceal this kind of serious crime.
What is a bank robbery?
Wilson's wish to earn this is what first drew him into the criminals' scheme.
What is extra money?
Wilson's choice to accept the League job shows that he is willing to do this whenever a chance looks beneficial.
What is take a risk?
A man described in the story as 'florid-faced' would have a complexion of this color.
What is red or flushed?
This literary device, used throughout the story, drops hints that let attentive readers guess the criminals' plan before Holmes explains it.
What is foreshadowing?
This ordinary pawnbroker's unremarkable shop turned out to sit directly above the criminals' path to a bank vault.
Who is Jabez Wilson?
This job — hours spent copying an encyclopedia every day — kept Wilson away from his shop while the real crime took shape.
What is the Red-Headed League position?
Wilson doubted the League at first but tried it anyway because the pay was good. This shows that he is willing to take ____ to get ______.
What is take risks to get money?
Calling John Clay 'formidable' tells the reader he is this kind of opponent.
What is strong and difficult to deal with?
This kind of plot structure includes a story-within-a-story, such as when Wilson stops to recount his whole experience with the League.
What is non-linear plot? (flashback)
Holmes and Wilson's interactions develop the theme that this — how things seem on the surface — cannot always be trusted.
What are appearances?
This detective steps in just before the robbery plan can succeed.
Who is Sherlock Holmes?
Based on his actions across the story, Spaulding's true intentions are to secretly do this while Wilson is out of the shop.
What is carry out a criminal plan?
The phrase 'not easily caught,' used right alongside 'formidable' in the same sentence, is a context clue pointing to this meaning.
What is hard to capture or defeat?
Although he narrates the tale, this companion of Holmes is shown to be far less observant and quicker to be puzzled.
Who is Dr. Watson?
Spaulding's willingness to work for half the normal wages seemed generous, but it actually hid this true motive.
What is a secret criminal plan (digging a tunnel to the bank)?
When this odd organization suddenly vanishes without explanation, Wilson rushes to Holmes for help.
What is the Red-Headed League?
His worn-out trouser knees and constant cellar trips is what first makes Holmes suspicious of _______.
What is Spaulding’s suspicious behavior in the cellar?
If Holmes greets someone cordially, he is greeting them in this way.
What is in a warm and friendly way?
Pausing the main plot for Wilson's flashback mainly affects readers by building this before the resolution is revealed.
What is suspense (or curiosity about the mystery)?
This detail about Spaulding — frequent trips to the cellar and worn knees on his trousers — reveals that his humble appearance was concealing this kind of activity.
What is criminal activity (tunneling to rob a bank)?
The individual who created the whole conflict of the story.
Who is John Clay
Doyle's descriptions of this character throughout the story emphasize careful observation and sharp reasoning above all else.
Who is Sherlock Holmes?
Holmes and Watson rode in this to get to the crime scene.
What is a hansom? (horse drawn carriage that acted like a taxi in the 1800s)
Doyle's repeated attention to small physical details Holmes notices helps establish him as this type of thinker.
What is a careful, deductive/analytical thinker?