Basic Information

Abbreviation: SPEC (J. F. Christ, 1947)
Word length: 9,880 (C. E. Lauterbach, 1960)
First published: Strand Magazine, February 1892

Discussion Questions

• What about the will benefits the sisters, Julia and Helen Stoner, but puts their stepdad, Dr. Grimesby Roylott, at a disadvantage?  Why is this important?
• Who does Dr. Roylott allow on his property?
• What kinds of animals does Dr. Roylott keep?
• Before her untimely death, what was it that Julia kept hearing?
• What did Julia say to Helen as she was dying?
• What are the eerie similarities between the circumstances of Julia’s death and the position in which Helen finds herself now?
• Who barges into 221B shortly after Helen leaves?
• What modern modifications to Julia’s old room did Holmes note as being functionally peculiar?
• What things did Holmes find odd in Dr. Roylott’s room?
• What is the speckled band?
• Why is Dr. Roylott’s occupation significant to this case?