The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time Study Guide

Chapter 2 1. What does the opening sentence It was 7 minutes after midnight suggest about the narrator? 2. Read the first paragraph closely. How does Haddon create an impression of what Christopher is like? (consider what he says and how he says it) 3. Describe your response to the opening scene in Mrs Shears garden. Were you shocked or did you find it humorous? Explain your response with reference to the text.

Chapter 3 1. What are the strengths and weaknesses of Haddons choice of narrator? 2. This chapter contains graphic elements as part of the narrative. What are they, and why has the author chosen to incorporate them? What does the use of these graphics tell us about Christopher?

Chapter 5 1. Christopher has chosen to number his chapters using prime numbers because he likes them. What does this tell us about the way Christopher operates in the world? 2. Why does Christopher like dogs? What does this suggest about his attitude to people? 3. Christophers description of events often contains very precise, fact-focused information. What is the effect of this on the telling of the story and your understanding of the character? 4. How does the dialogue shape the storys mood and meaning?

5. Christopher often responds to his world in a way that surprises and occasionally shocks. How does this information develop your understanding of Christopher? How does it challenge your assumptions about the world you live in?

Chapter 7 1. This is a murder mystery novel writes Christopher. How is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time like a murder mystery novel? How is it different? 2. A humorous and unique aspect of the novel is Christophers descriptions of the different characters. Discuss this statement in response to the description of Mrs Shears, Siobhan and Mr Jeavons (you might also like to refer to the descriptions of the police in chapter 11). How to the descriptions add humour to the novel?

Chapter 11 1. Describe what happens in this chapter and how this influences your response to the character of Christopher. What techniques does the author use to enable us to feel what Christopher feels? 2. Despite the seriousness of the event and the trauma Christopher feels, the mood quickly regains its humorous feel by the end of the chapter. How does the author achieve this?

Chapter 13 1. Although Christopher states This will not be a funny book, there are many aspects of the novel that are funny. How does the author create humour in the novel? 2. There are several chapters and sections which digress from the central narrative. Explain what these digressions are. Why have they been included? How do they add to your understanding of the story?

Chapter 17 1. How does Haddon use dialogue to emphasise the barrier between Christopher and others? Who communicates successfully with Christopher and who does not? (why?) 2. What is Christopher thinking about as he is driven to the police station? Why is this surprising and what does this emphasise about Christopher? 3. Christophers explanation of the solar system comes at an unexpected time in the storys development, but it fills a large part of the chapter. This information does not drive the narrative forward, nor is it a traditional refelction of character to reveal character through thoughts. Why do you think the author included this information and what is the effect? 4. Does the illustration of the Milky Way enhance your understanding of Christophers written explanation? Chapter 19 1. Christopher finally explains the numbering pattern of the chapters. Why do you think Haddon chose to delay the explanation until now? 2. Christopher believes that prime numbers are like life. They are very logical but you could never work out the rules, even if you spent your time thinking about htem. DO you agree? Why do you think Christopher would like to believe this?

Chapter 23 1. How does the use of humour affect your relationship with Christopher? Chapter 29 1. Christopher often explains to us what he does not understand about the world he lives in. How does he explain his differences? Are his explanations clear?

2. What does Christophers attitude to his name reflect about his character? Why do you think Christopher is never called Chris? How is this reinforced by Christophers references to mother and father rather than mum and dad?

Chapter 31 1. What do Christopher and his father do instead of hugging?

2. Christopher uses similes often and effectively. Find an example of one you like in this chapter and explain its use. 3. This chapter includes a footnote. In what kind of text are footnotes generally found? What is the effect? 4. Look at the final paragraph of this chapter how many sentences are there? How might you present this information? How does this technique enable Haddon to communicate Christophers inability to process detail and prioritise information?

Chapter 37 1. Christopher is logical and often emotionless yet he is also irrational and unable to control his extreme emotional responses. How does this chapter demonsrate this? 2. Christopher likes facts and control how does the existence of lies and fiction challenge him?

Chapter 41 1. The difference between Christopher and other people is highlighted in this chapter. He has different values, emotional responses and a different understanding of events. Explain these differences with references to and quotes from this chapter.

Chapter 43 1. Why is it ironic that Christopher likes it when his father does not look at him when he talks? How does Christopher effectively explain his response? How do you feel when people dont look at you when they talk to you?

Chapter 47 1. Mr Jeavons says Christopher is a very clever boy because he is so observant. His mother says he is a good boy because he does not tell lies. Christopher disagrees with both of them why? Who is right? 2. Christopher has a very sophisticated vocabulary and occasionally quotes Latin. How do these displays of intelligence impact on your response to Christophers character? Why do you think the author has highlighted this aspect of Christophers intelligence?

Chapter 53 1. Christopher does not display any of the expected signs of distress or mourning. What does he do and what does this tell him about his ability to connect emotionally with others? How does the end of the chapter reinforce this? 2. Christopher often talks about his teacher, Siobhan. What role does Siobhan play in Christophers life? What do we learn about Christopher through Siobhan? 3. Christopher continues his investigation of the murder despite instructions from his father not to. How does Christophers logic free him to do what he wants? What is your response to discovering that Christopher does not always do what he is told?

Chapter 61 1. What does Christopher believe and why is it appropriate for a character such as Christopher? What is your own response to his attitude and explanation?

Chapter 67 1. How is Christophers personality suited to his task. What problems does he face? 2. In this chapter Christopher forces himself to interact with others. What do these interactions reveal about Christopher? Comment on Haddons treatment of these scenes.

Chapter 71 1. Christopher dismisses his fellow students in the opening sentence of this chapter. All the other children at my school are stupid. What is your response to this? 2. Comment on Christophers plans for his future. Are they realistic? How does this affect your understanding of Christopher?

Chapter 73 1. This chapter communicates the enormity of Christophers behavioural problems. How does it achieve this? How does this chapter develop a central idea in the novel?

Chapter 79 1. Christopher promises to stop doing these things. How does this promise develop the storys suspense?

Chapter 83 1. How does Christophers belief that he would be a very good astronaut reflect his understanding of the world?

Chapter 89 1. Christopher has two Black Days. What do we learn about the connection between Christophers sense of order and his emotions?

Chapter 97 1. When Christopher sees 5 red cars in a row he believes he will have a super good day and that something special will happen. How does this belief change his behaviour? 2. Christopher learns something unexpected from Mrs Alexander. What does he learn? Is this scene realistic? Why has Haddon chosen to include it?

Chapter 101 1. What is the message of the Monty Hall Problem described in this chapter? Why does the Monty Hall Problem appeal to Christopher?

Chapter 103 1. Siobhan encourages Christopher to include some descriptions of thingsso that people could read them and make a picture in their own head. Read Christophers description. What does he write about? Is his writing effective? How is it unique?

Chapter 107 1. Why does Christopher like murder mystery novels, such as The Hound of the Baskervilles? 2. What connection does he believe he has with Sherlock Holmes?

Chapter 109 1. Christopher has a very distinctive way of retelling conversations. Describe his technique with references to the text. Why does he do

this, and what is the effect? How is it different to the language used to introduce normal literary dialogue? 2. Christopher does not feel sad about his mothers affair with Mr Shears. Why not? How doe we respond to people who do not display the emotions expected of them? 3. Haddon often juxtaposes exciting and/or emotional moments with very mundane descriptions of events. Explain the effect, using an example from his chapter.

Chapter 113 1. How effective is Christophers explanation of his memory? What are the benefits and disadvantages of such a memory? 2. The pictures in my head are all pictures of things which really happened. What can other people do that Christopher cannot? How might this limit him?

Chapter 127 1. What impact might Christophers lack of humour have on his ability to connect with others? 2. What happens in this chapter? How does it affect your opinion of Christopher and his father?

Chapter 131 1. How does the opening of this chapter connect and contrast to the events in the last chapter? 2. How does Christophers dislike of brown and yellow make his life simpler? How are his decision-making techniques different to other peoples decision making techniques?

Chapter 137 1. Is Christophers father able to effectively communicate with Christopher? Explain your response with reference to the text. 2. What does Christophers understanding of love tell us about his ability to understand emotion? What might be the problems with Christophers version of love? 3. How does Christophers memory test map of the zoo add to our appreciation of Christophers emotional detachment?

Chapter 139 1. Christopher includes the case of the Cottingley Fairies because it shows sometimes people want to be stupid and they do not want to know the truth why might this be?

Chapter 149 1. Christopher displays some very good detecting skills in this chapter what are they? 2. What do we realize when Christopher finds the letter? Why doesnt Christopher draw the same conclusion?

Chapter 151 1. What does Christopher explain about mysteries in this chapter? Is it a convincing explanation? Chapter 157 1. Why does the author choose to include so many of Christophers mothers letters in this chapter? What do we learn about Judy Boone and her relationship with her son? Do these letters affect your opinion of her? 2. How do the graphic elements (the signature and the stamp) add to your experience and understanding o the situation?

3. How does Christopher respond to the discovery of the letters and their contents? What doe we learn from this? 4. Why did Christophers father hide the truth about Christophers mother? How does this affect your response to Christophers father?

Chapter 163 1. Most of Christophers digressions include graphics or illustrations to help us understand. Why are there no illustrations in this explanation? 2. Christopher believes that feelings are just having a picture on the screen in your headand if it is a happy picture they smile and if it is a sad picture they cry. Is this an accurate understanding of what feelings are and how they work? Why might Christopher believe his theory?

Chapter 167 1. Why did Christophers father kill Wellington? How does the author communicate the messiness of the human experience in this section? 2. Christophers father explains that Mrs Shears cared more for that bloody mutt than for me, for us. In what way is Christopher not so very different from other people? 3. What is your response to Christophers reasoning that Father had murdered Wellington. That meant he could murder me, because I couldnt trust himbecause he had told a lie about a big thing? How does the structuring of the sentence reflect the development of Christophers logic? 4. The murder mystery is solved in this chapter, yet the narrative tension of the novel remains. Why? How is this emphasized by the chapters closing sentence?

Chapter 173 1. Christophers truth is correct when he says that constellations such as Orion are nothing but stars, nuclear expolosions millions of miles away. What does Christopher lose by seeing nothing but the truth?

Chapter 179 1. Christopher is forced to make some difficult decisions in this chapter. What techniques does Christopher use to make a decision? How has the author communicated Christophers thought processes and emotions? 2. List the many challenges Christopher faces in this chapter. Note what he does to deal with and overcome them, and the language techniques Haddon uses to communicate these experiences.

Chapter 181 1. What do we learn about Christopher in this chapter? How does this enhance our understanding of his ordeal? 2. Christopher refers to other people and the way they think as silly. Why is he so critical or dismissive of others? What is your reaction to his criticism?

Chapter 191 1. This policeman speaks very differently to the previous officer we encountered. What is Christophers response to him? What is yours? 2. In the first section of the book Christopher is in a familiar (and relatively safe) environment. What do we realize in this second section of the novel?

Chapter 193 1. Why does Christopher like schedules? Why has this chapter been placed in this section of the story?

Chapter 197 1. The novel utilizes paragraph length, sentence structure, broken sentences and repetition to create a sense of Christophers mental state. Explain this in reference to the first page in this chapter.

Chapter 199 1. What is the purpose of this chapter? Do you agree with Christopher?

Chapter 211 1. Christopher faces many more challenges what does he do to overcome them? How does the author communicate this? 2. And I thought I can do this because I was doing really well and I was in London and I would find my mother. What is your response to Christophers journey so far? What is your response to Christophers confidence?

Chapter 223 1. In the middle of all the drama, this chapter is included. Why? What is the effect on the narrative development and our understanding of Christopher? Chapter 227 1. What does Christopher realize about the underground and how does this give him courage? 2. What does the incident with Christophers pet rat, Toby, illustrate about Christopher?

3. What are the reactions to Christopher of (a) the man with the diamond patterned socks (b) the lady with the guitar case to Christopher? How would you react? 4. Christopher finally finds his mothers home. Did you expect him to be successful? Why/why not? 5. Why does Mother make a loud wailing noise like an animal on a nature program on television when she discovers Christopher had been told she was dead? How effective is Christophers choice of simile? 6. Christophers mother wants to hold Christophers hand Just once. Just for me. Will you? Why does she want to hold his hand? Christopher refuses how do you feel about this and why? 7. A number of highly emotional events take place that evening how does Christopher react? 8. How do you feel about Christophers father, Ed, and mother, Judy, in this chapter?

Chapter 229 1. Describe Christophers favourite dream. Why is it his favourite? What is your response to this? Why has Haddon included this chapter and how does it enhance your understanding of the novels ideas and character?

Chapter 233 1. In rewarding fiction the central character usually develops or changes through experience. What does the incident a the shopping centre indicate about this central character? How does the central character add toyour understanding of relevant ideas in the novel? 2. Mr Shears asks Christopher Dontyou ever, ever think about other people for one second, eh? Does Christopher ever think of other people? What evidence is there for this?

3. Why is it so important to Christopher that he takes his Maths A Level examination? What is the relevance of Christophers mothers failure to recognise this? 4. The novel ends on a positive note. What is your response to the closing paragraph? How would you like the novel to end?