Class 11 English Notes Chapter 4 (Short Stories – The Adventure of the Three Garridebs) – Woven Words Book

Detailed Notes with MCQs of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Adventure of the Three Garridebs." This short story, featuring the famous Sherlock Holmes, is an excellent example of deductive reasoning, character study, and plot construction, making it important for your exam preparation.

Chapter 4: Short Stories – The Adventure of the Three Garridebs

Detailed Notes for Government Exam Preparation

1. Author and Context:

• Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930), a British writer best known for his detective fiction featuring Sherlock Holmes.
• Context: Part of the Sherlock Holmes canon, specifically from the collection "The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes," published later in Doyle's career. This story showcases Holmes's methods and his relationship with Dr. Watson.

2. Main Characters:

• Sherlock Holmes: The brilliant consulting detective. Displays his characteristic sharp observation skills, logical deduction, and knowledge of London's criminal underworld. Notably, he shows a rare display of deep emotion when Watson is injured.
• Dr. John Watson: Holmes's loyal friend, biographer, and assistant. Serves as the narrator, providing a grounded perspective through which the reader experiences the case. His injury is a pivotal moment in the story.
• Nathan Garrideb: An elderly, eccentric, and reclusive collector. He is deeply passionate about his varied collections (insects, fossils, coins, etc.) and lives a secluded life. He becomes an unwitting pawn in the criminal's scheme. He represents obsessive hobbyism and vulnerability.
• John Garrideb (Alias: 'Killer' Evans / James Winter): The antagonist. An American criminal posing as a lawyer from the US. He is manipulative, ruthless, and the architect of the elaborate hoax involving the inheritance. His true identity is revealed as James Winter, also known as 'Killer' Evans, who escaped prison after killing Rodger Prescott.

3. Plot Summary:

• The Premise: John Garrideb approaches Sherlock Holmes, claiming to be an American lawyer searching for two other men with the surname "Garrideb." He states that a millionaire named Alexander Hamilton Garrideb has left a $15 million estate, to be divided equally among three unrelated men named Garrideb, provided all three can be found.
• The First Two Garridebs: John Garrideb claims he is one, and he has located another, Nathan Garrideb, the elderly collector in London. He needs Holmes's help to find the third.
• Holmes's Suspicions: Holmes is immediately skeptical due to the unusual name and the bizarre condition of the will. He notes John Garrideb's Americanisms and finds his story slightly off.
• Nathan Garrideb: Holmes and Watson visit Nathan Garrideb, finding him completely absorbed in his collections and initially uninterested in the fortune, only becoming excited by the prospect of finding another Garrideb who might share his obscure interests.
• The "Third" Garrideb: John Garrideb produces a newspaper advertisement supposedly placed by him, which yields a response identifying a "Howard Garrideb" in Birmingham, described as an agricultural machinery constructor. John Garrideb plans to visit him.
• The Investigation: Holmes investigates John Garrideb. He discovers John Garrideb never placed the advertisement he showed Nathan. Holmes consults his criminal records and identifies John Garrideb as James Winter, alias 'Killer' Evans, a dangerous American criminal who shot Rodger Prescott, a counterfeiter, in London years ago. Prescott had lived in the same rooms now occupied by Nathan Garrideb.
• The Real Motive: Holmes deduces the entire inheritance story is a fabrication. Evans's goal is to get Nathan Garrideb out of his rooms for a significant period so Evans can search for something left behind by Prescott – likely counterfeiting equipment or plates hidden under the floorboards. The "trip to Birmingham" is the perfect excuse.
• The Climax: Knowing Evans will act while Nathan is supposedly away (though Holmes prevents Nathan from leaving), Holmes and Watson lie in wait in Nathan's darkened room. Evans arrives, pries open a floorboard revealing a small cellar containing a printing press and counterfeit money. As Holmes confronts him, Evans shoots, wounding Watson in the thigh. Holmes swiftly subdues Evans by striking him with the butt of his revolver.
• Resolution: Evans is arrested. The counterfeiting press is discovered. Nathan Garrideb is devastated, not by the loss of the non-existent fortune, but by the intrusion and the shattering of his quiet, ordered world. Holmes shows profound concern for Watson, highlighting their deep bond.

4. Themes:

• Deception and Appearance vs. Reality: The core of the plot revolves around John Garrideb's elaborate lie. Nathan Garrideb's harmless eccentricity contrasts sharply with Evans's deadly criminality.
• Greed: Evans's motivation is purely criminal greed – accessing the counterfeiting tools left by his former associate.
• Obsession: Nathan Garrideb's obsessive collecting makes him vulnerable and detached from reality, easily manipulated by Evans's story.
• Loyalty and Friendship: The deep bond between Holmes and Watson is emphasized, especially when Watson is injured. Holmes's reaction ("If you had killed Watson, you would not have got out of this room alive.") is one of his most human moments.
• The Power of Observation and Deduction: Holmes unravels the complex lie through meticulous observation (noting discrepancies in John Garrideb's story and appearance) and logical reasoning.

5. Literary Style and Techniques:

• First-Person Narration: Watson's perspective provides immediacy and allows the reader to follow the investigation alongside him, often sharing his initial confusion.
• Suspense: Doyle builds suspense gradually – Holmes's initial skepticism, the peculiarity of the case, the investigation into Evans's past, and the final confrontation.
• Characterisation: Vivid portrayal of the eccentric Nathan Garrideb and the ruthless Killer Evans contrasts effectively.
• Red Herring: The entire inheritance plot acts as a massive red herring, diverting attention from Evans's true motive.

6. Significance for Exams:

• Understand the sequence of events and the logic behind Holmes's deductions.
• Be able to identify the true motive of 'Killer' Evans versus the fabricated story.
• Analyze the characters, particularly Nathan Garrideb's eccentricity and vulnerability, and Evans's manipulative nature.
• Recognize the key themes, especially deception and the importance of the Holmes-Watson relationship.
• Note the significance of the setting (Nathan's cluttered rooms) reflecting his character and hiding the criminal secret.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):

1. According to the story presented by John Garrideb, what was the main condition set in Alexander Hamilton Garrideb's will to claim the inheritance?
   (a) Proving direct descent
   (b) Locating a hidden treasure map
   (c) Finding two other unrelated men named Garrideb
   (d) Donating the money to a specific charity

2. What was Nathan Garrideb's primary passion and occupation?
   (a) Practicing law
   (b) Collecting various artefacts and specimens
   (c) Investing in the stock market
   (d) Writing detective novels

3. What initially made Sherlock Holmes suspicious of John Garrideb's story?
   (a) John Garrideb's refusal to pay Holmes's fee
   (b) The extreme rarity of the surname "Garrideb"
   (c) Nathan Garrideb's warning about John
   (d) A coded message John Garrideb accidentally dropped

4. What alias did the criminal known as 'Killer' Evans use when interacting with Holmes and Nathan Garrideb?
   (a) Howard Garrideb
   (b) Alexander Hamilton Garrideb
   (c) John Garrideb
   (d) Rodger Prescott

5. What was the real reason John Garrideb (alias Killer Evans) orchestrated the elaborate Garrideb inheritance scheme?
   (a) He genuinely believed the will was real.
   (b) He wanted to share a fortune with Nathan Garrideb.
   (c) He needed access to Nathan Garrideb's rooms for his own criminal purposes.
   (d) He was hired by the real heirs to find other Garridebs.

6. Who was Rodger Prescott, mentioned in Holmes's investigation?
   (a) The millionaire who wrote the will
   (b) The previous tenant of Nathan Garrideb's rooms, killed by Evans
   (c) The third Garrideb found in America
   (d) A Scotland Yard inspector assisting Holmes

7. How did John Garrideb plan to get Nathan Garrideb out of his rooms?
   (a) By convincing him to travel to America
   (b) By sending him on a fake trip to Birmingham to meet the "third" Garrideb
   (c) By arranging a long holiday for him
   (d) By having him temporarily arrested on false charges

8. What object of significance did Killer Evans retrieve from under the floorboards in Nathan Garrideb's room?
   (a) The genuine will of Alexander Hamilton Garrideb
   (b) A map leading to buried treasure
   (c) Stolen jewels hidden by Prescott
   (d) A counterfeiting press and fake banknotes

9. What event in the story prompts a rare display of strong emotion from Sherlock Holmes towards Watson?
   (a) Watson solving a part of the case
   (b) Watson getting injured by Killer Evans
   (c) Watson deciding to publish the story
   (d) Watson expressing doubt about Holmes's methods

10. What is Nathan Garrideb's reaction upon learning the truth about the inheritance and John Garrideb?
    (a) Relief that he doesn't have to change his life
    (b) Anger at John Garrideb for the deception
    (c) Excitement about the discovery of the printing press
    (d) Deep disappointment and heartbreak over the disruption to his world

Answer Key:

1. (c)
2. (b)
3. (b)
4. (c)
5. (c)
6. (b)
7. (b)
8. (d)
9. (b)
10. (d)

Study these notes carefully, focusing on the plot details, character motivations, and underlying themes. Understanding how Holmes pieces together the puzzle is key. Good luck with your preparation!