NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English (Woven Words) Short Stories 4 The Adventure of the Three Garridebs

Class : 11th

Subject : English

Chapter : 4

Chapter Name : The Adventure of the Three Garridebs

Q1 What clues did Sherlock Holmes work upon to get at the fact that the story of the three
Garridebs was a ruse?

Answer. The story of the three Garridebs was truly a ruse, there are many shreds of evidence in
the story that support the same. First, one being the difference in the appearance of the
detective who was supposedly American but was dressed up so British. That sows the seeds of
suspicion. This was covered up by providing the fact that he was a lawyer in Kansas which was
just a bait that he fell for.As the story unfolds, the proceedings tell us about the factual reveal of
the truth.

Q2 What was John Garrideb’s objective in inventing the story of Alexander Hamilton Garrideb
and his legacy?

Answer. The main objective that John Garrideb had while creating the whole story was to make
a fool of others in which he partially achieved success too. But it's not possible for even the
smartest thief to not leave a trail of clues behind. That is where his planning failed. So he
planned the entire mastermind to break into the house in order to see the third Garrideb.

Q3 Why didn’t John Garrideb like the idea of including Holmes in the hunt for the third Garrideb?

Answer. Holmes was a detective who was well known in the same field. Thus, the main reason
that John Garrideb did not like the idea of including Holmes in the plan was that he feared that it
would result in the revelation of the material facts. Having a detective on such a mission was
like hurting your own foot with axe yourself.

Q4 Who was Roger Presbury and how was John Garrideb connected with him?

Answer. Roger Presbury was the man that was shot by John Garrideb over a game of cards.
His face was similar to the tenant residing in Nathan Garrideb's house who owned the printing
press. This was the central place of the entire episode. Thus, Roger Presbury was connected
with John Garrideb as the printing press where the entire plan was executed belonged to him.

Q5 How did Holmes guess that John Garrideb would go to 136, Little Ryder Street? Did he
expect to find what he ultimately did before he went there?

Answer. Holmes was the detective that was included in the plan unintentionally. It was well
known as it's dangerous to get the involvement of a detective into such a shady matter. But
Holmes being the smart one, won their confidence that the whole matter was of least interest to
him. Thus, he guessed the exact place where John Garrideb was heading to. They expected to
see John fully involved and engrossed in the execution of the plan.

Q1 It was worth a wound—it was worth many wounds—to know the depth of loyalty and love
that lay behind that cold mask’—how does this comment throw light on the kind of relationship
between Holmes and Watson?

Answer. This statement was made by Watson on the revelation of the considerate face of
Holmes. The detective figure was considered stern and unemotional, but it was to Waston's
wonder that he helped on being shot on the thigh. It was a rare occasion when the face of
professionalism was off from Holmes's face and he considered a human effort to provide
assistance to Watson. Thus, Watson states that it was worth many wounds to know the reality of
what lay behind the cold mask. Now the relation between the both was not sharing cold waves
rather that had an affectionate element.

Q2 The cleverest of criminals leave behind clues to their crime.

Answer. This is a universally true statement that even the cleverest of the criminals leave
behind clues to their crime. This statement carries various shreds of evidence. The plan that
was made by John Garrideb was a full proof plan according to him and he had closely verified
all the elements leaving no chance behind for the risk element. But still, there were many
loopholes in his plan that were caught one after the other by Holmes, contrary to what he had

thought. Some of them include pretending to be American but looking British followed by the
errors in the advertisement. Thus, it is never a foolproof plan that the eyes of a detective cannot
unveil.

Q3 How did Holmes’ digressions sometimes prove in the end to have a bearing on the matter
on hand? Discuss this with reference to all the apparently irrelevant points he was trying to
gather information from.

Answer. It was clearly seen in the story that Holmes did not choose straightforward questions to
gather information. It is the main trait in the detectives that they gather information from the
sources by jotting down the points from derived information. This was exactly the technique that
Holmes had adopted in this chapter to unveil the mastermind plan of John Garrideb. Some of
the instances include asking about the nationality of an individual in comparison to the way one
has dressed up. Holmes would ask irrelevant questions that the person would not understand
directly and end up giving the most vital information. The detailed inspection of each and every
element while connecting the points in the mind itself is the key used to deviate the victim and
gather information.

Q1 Examine the structure of the short story 'TheAdventure of the Three Garridebs’ with the help
of this framework

Answer.
♦ ​The narrator of the story
The narrator of the story discloses the elements in a non-descriptive manner giving a
clue of the ending at the beginning itself.
♦ ​Introduction of the topic of the story
The topic of the story is introduced by the narrator in the starting itself partially. It makes
understanding easier. Though individual understanding is an important element here.
♦ Introduction of the main characters in the plot
The main characters are introduced only when they are addressed by their respective
names.
♦ Development of the plot
The plot develops with the unfolding of the character of the Garrideb that is partially
disclosed and the reader has to wait to understand the entire context.

♦ Climax

The climax of the story can be fairly judged by the reader. The narrator provides enough
elements that make the reader under the climax.

♦ Resolution of the mystery.
It is a comical tragedy as the revelation of the real face of Holmes turns the perspective
of the reader. His involvement was considered a questionable element but that turns out
differently.

Page : 54 , Block Name : Appreciation

Q2 Examine the subtle humour in the narration of the story that lightens the gravity of the
subject matter.

Answer. The subtle humour in the narration of the story is related to the element of Holmes
character. All through the story, he gathers shreds of evidence in a way that are lesser-known to
others. Just by discussing the dressing sense of the individuals he reveals most of the
information. Another element of humour is the empathy that is shown by Holmes towards the
end of the story that is not expected, thus that changes the entire perspective. Therefore, the
way that Holmes behaved throughout the story is an example of the subtle humour that how
irrelevantly he manages to get all the desired information and by jotting the points in the mind
solves the entire case.

Page : 54 , Block Name : Appreciation