How to Get a Grade 9 in The Sign of Four – Key Quotes, Themes and Top Tips
If you’re aiming for a Grade 9 in your GCSE English Literature exam, you’re in the right place. The Sign of Four by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is packed with mystery, tension, and unforgettable characters, making it a brilliant text to study. In this guide, we’ll cover the top themes, essential quotes, and give you grade-boosting analysis that will impress any examiner.
Contents
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Overview of The Sign of Four
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Top Tips for Getting a Grade 9
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Key Themes and How to Write About Them
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The Best Quotes to Learn (and Why They Matter)
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Sample Analysis: How to Write Like a Top Student
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Final Exam Tips and Techniques
1. Overview of The Sign of Four
The Sign of Four (published in 1890) is the second Sherlock Holmes novel written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It follows the famous detective and his loyal companion, Dr Watson, as they investigate a mysterious case involving a missing treasure, betrayal, colonial greed, and a pact made in prison.
The story is fast-paced, full of intrigue, and packed with deeper social themes. That’s why exam boards love it — and why you need to go beyond just the plot to analyse themes, context, and language.
2. Top Tips for Getting a Grade 9
Before we dive into quotes and themes, here’s what examiners are really looking for in top-level responses:
✅ Interpretation – Don’t just describe what happens; explain what it means.
✅ Contextual awareness – Link your ideas to Victorian society and attitudes.
✅ Language analysis – Zoom in on word choices and techniques like imagery or tone.
✅ Multiple interpretations – Offer different readings of the same quote or moment.
✅ Structure – Start with a clear point, provide evidence, and explain your ideas.
Always remember the PEEL structure:
Point → Evidence → Explain → Link to context or effect.
Let’s apply that to some key themes.
3. Key Themes and How to Write About Them
Theme 1: Imperialism and Empire
One of the most important themes in The Sign of Four is British imperialism. The novel was written during the height of the British Empire, and this affects both the plot and the characters.
How to write about it:
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The treasure comes from India, showing how wealth was extracted from colonised lands.
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Tonga, the Andaman Islander, is portrayed as a savage – reflecting racist Victorian attitudes.
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Jonathan Small’s backstory shows how the British exploited foreign lands but also how greed can corrupt everyone.
Top quote:
“It is a romance!” cried Sherlock Holmes. “An injured lady, half a million in treasure, a black cannibal…”
Grade 9 tip: Discuss the irony in Holmes calling it a “romance” when the case involves racism and murder. Link this to Victorian exoticism and the dehumanisation of other cultures.
Theme 2: Justice and Morality
Sherlock Holmes represents a new kind of justice – one based on logic and observation rather than emotion or traditional authority.
How to write about it:
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Holmes solves crimes the police can’t, showing the power of rational thought.
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Small claims his theft was fair, raising questions about moral justice vs legal justice.
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Watson’s narration adds emotion and human perspective to Holmes’ cold logic.
Top quote:
“You really are an automaton – a calculating machine.”
Grade 9 tip: Analyse how this metaphor suggests Holmes lacks human feeling. Then contrast that with how Watson views justice emotionally, such as when he sympathises with Mary Morstan.
Theme 3: Love and Relationships
While it’s a detective story, The Sign of Four also explores human connection – especially through Dr Watson and Mary Morstan.
How to write about it:
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Watson falls for Mary, but he doubts himself because of the treasure.
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Holmes rejects romance, saying love would interfere with logic.
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Victorian ideas of masculinity, duty, and marriage all influence these relationships.
Top quote:
“I cannot love where I respect not.”
Grade 9 tip: This quote can be explored in the context of Victorian ideals of women, and how Mary’s purity and gentleness contrast with the greed of the male characters.
Theme 4: Science, Logic and Rationalism
Sherlock Holmes is almost a symbol of scientific thinking – using deduction, observation and evidence to uncover the truth.
How to write about it:
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Holmes constantly explains his reasoning, showing that knowledge is power.
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Conan Doyle was a doctor himself, so the emphasis on logic reflects his profession.
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The contrast between Holmes and the bumbling police (especially Athelney Jones) highlights his superiority.
Top quote:
“When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”
Grade 9 tip: Explain how this quote reflects empirical reasoning. It can also be linked to the Victorian belief in progress and human understanding.
4. The Best Quotes to Learn (and Why They Matter)
| Quote | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| “A client to me is a mere unit, a factor in a problem.” | Shows Holmes’s detachment and scientific mindset. |
| “Women are never to be entirely trusted.” | Reflects sexist Victorian attitudes – challenge this! |
| “The dividing line between sanity and insanity is thinner than one might think.” | Useful for analysing Jonathan Small and moral ambiguity. |
| “There is something positively inhuman in you at times.” | Use to show contrast between Holmes and Watson. |
| “Great powers bring great responsibilities.” | A moral theme that can be applied to empire, knowledge, and even love. |
5. Sample Analysis: How to Write Like a Top Student
Here’s a sample Grade 9 paragraph using a key quote:
Question: Explore how Conan Doyle presents the theme of imperialism in The Sign of Four.
In The Sign of Four, Conan Doyle presents imperialism as both alluring and morally corrupt. When Holmes describes the mystery as “a romance! … a black cannibal,” the juxtaposition of romantic language with dehumanising racial stereotypes reveals the contradictory nature of the British Empire. The word “romance” suggests excitement and adventure, reflecting Victorian fascination with exotic lands. However, the description of Tonga as a “black cannibal” shows how colonial subjects were reduced to violent caricatures. Conan Doyle may be criticising or at least exposing the racist assumptions of the time. Furthermore, the treasure, sourced from India, symbolises the exploitation of colonised nations for British gain. By the end, the treasure is lost in the Thames – perhaps a symbolic act of cleansing or a warning about the futility of greed driven by empire.
Why this is Grade 9:
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Explores the language used in the quote (juxtaposition, tone).
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Links to context (Victorian views on empire and race).
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Offers more than one interpretation (critical vs romantic view).
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Draws in symbolism (treasure lost = moral lesson).
6. Final Exam Tips and Techniques
✅ Learn 8–10 quotes really well – but understand them, don’t just memorise them.
✅ Think about structure – how Conan Doyle builds suspense, shifts tone, and reveals clues.
✅ Write practice paragraphs and ask your teacher or a friend to give you feedback.
✅ Use context wisely – don’t just dump facts about empire or the Victorians; connect them to what’s happening in the text.
✅ Stay calm in the exam – read the question carefully, plan your answer, and stick to your point.
Bonus: 3 Quick Revision Tricks
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Create Flashcards: One side has a quote, the other has theme + analysis.
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Use Mind Maps: Put a theme in the centre and branch out with examples and quotes.
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Teach It to Someone Else: Explaining it helps you understand it better.
Final Thoughts
The Sign of Four is more than just a detective story – it’s a mirror to the values, fears and contradictions of Victorian Britain. If you can show that you understand not just what happens, but why it matters, you’ll be well on your way to getting that Grade 9.
So focus on the themes, learn those killer quotes, and write with confidence and insight. Sherlock Holmes would approve.
If you found this guide helpful, share it with a friend revising for their GCSE English Lit exam. Still stuck? Drop your questions below, and we’ll crack the case together!