novel+study

CHAPTER 1, 2, & 3

1. Who is U.N. Owen? What do we learn about him in the novel’s opening pages? -He is the host for the party on indian island. No one knows who he is.

2. Where does the story take place? Describe the primary setting of And Then There Were None with **__as much detail as possible.__** -It is the luxurious modern house which is built on Indian island off the Devon coast.

3. How and why is Indian Island so important to the narrative (Story)? -It is the place where story starts and ends.

4. Identify the ten guests who have been invited to Indian Island, giving their **__names and backgrounds__**. -Mr Justice Wargrave - He's old man who used to be a judge, and he is also known as "Hanging judge". -Vera Claythorne - An ex-governess with a Coroner's Inquest in her past, she had been completely absolved of all guilt, she explained even the boy's mother hadn't blamed her. -Captain Philip Lombard - He was a soldier and he has a gun. -Emily Brent - A sixty-five-year-old spinster whose troubled dreams and rambling diary were the only indications of a disturbed-and perhaps dangerous mind. -General Macarthur - His life, as far as he was concerned, had ended in the trenches in the Great War. -Dr. Armstrong - At first the physician was a convenient dispenser of a sedatives and diagnostician of causes of death, but later the others remember that he was the only one who had easy access to poison. -Anthony Martson - Like a young, bronzed god, he came careening into their lives as if he would live forever. His stunning strength proved pitifully inadequate against that of his unknown adversary. -Mr. Blore(Davis) - The blunt, bearlike ex C.I.D. man tried to pass himself off as an African colonial, but when the game was up he amused himself by suspecting everyone else's motives. -Fred Narracott - The Devonshire boatman, like Charon ferrying the Styx, motored the doomed group to Indian Island. He felt it a queer business indeed, they seemed such a dull, ill-as-sorted lot. -Mr. and Mrs. Rogers - The stammering butler and white, bloodless cook for the strange gathering on Indian Island had been the perfect servants, as the others learned when circumstances forced them to fend for themselves.

5. Did any of these individuals – when you first encountered them in the introductory Cast of Characters, or in the following pages – strike you as especially sinister? (If so, which one and why?)

Threatening? -Mr. Justice Wargrave, because he had the blood of countless prisoners on his hands.

Harmless? -Mr and Mrs Rogers, because they just seem to be servants.

6. Describe the poem Vera Claythorne finds on display above the mantel in her bedroom (in ch 2). What kind of poem is it? -The poem is about ten little indians disappears one by one and its a Nursery Rhyme.

7. How are the poem’s meaning and imagery changed by its context in this novel? -In poem, the little indian boys killed themselves, but in this novel, the guests are murdered by someone.

8. How does the poem relate to the centerpiece of small china figures that first appears in the subsequent dinner scene (in Ch.3)? -When each figure is missing, each of characters is killed.

9. How does this poem relate to the larger plot or structure of the novel? (You may need to come back to this question after reading the rest of the novel.) -Each character is murdered the way that each indian boy killed themselves

10. In chapter 3, the ten guests are gathered for their after-dinner coffee when suddenly an “inhuman, penetrating” voice begins to speak to them, one which has been prerecorded on a phonograph record. What **exactly** does “The Voice” accuse **each** guest of doing? Be specific -Edward George Armstrong, that you did upon the 14th day of March, 1925, cause the death of Louisa Mary Clees. Emily Caroline Brent, that upon the 5th of November, 1931, you were responsible for the death of Beatrice Tay-lor. William henry Blore, that you brought about the death of James Stphen Landor on October 10th, 1928. Vera Elizabeth Claythorne, that on the 11th day of August, 1935, you killed Cyril Ogilvie Hamilton. Philip Lombard, that upon a date in February, 1932, you were guilty of the death of twenty-one men, mem0bers of an East African tribe. John Gordon Macathur, that on the 4th of January, 1917,you deliberately sent your wife's lover, Arthur Richmond, to his death. Anthony James Marston, that upon the 14th day of No-vember last, you were guilty of the murder of John and Lucy Combes. Thomas Rogers and Ethel Rogers, that on the 6th of May, 1929, you brought about the death of Jennifer Brady. Lawrence John Wargrave, that upon the 10th day of June, 1930, you were guilty of the murder og Edward Seton. Prisoners at the bar, have you anything to say in your defense?

CHAPTERS 4 & 5

11. Who dies at the end of chapter 4? -Anthony Marston

12. Look at the victim’s last words, and then explain the irony or black comedy of this particular murder, given these final comments. -He says, "I'm all for crime!" just as he was about to die. It's ironic because someone commits a crime on him by killing him

13. In part 5 of chapter 5, we learn the following about General Macarthur: “He knew, suddenly, that he didn’t want to leave this island.” Why do you think he knows this? Provide as many reasons as you can. -I think he realizes that he doesn't want to be an outcast in society and doesn't always want people to whisper about him. Also he may feel something sinister is happening on the island and knows he won't make it off alive. His conscience may also be bugging him because of what he did to Arthur Richmond.

What is the general going through? Describe his state of mind – what it is, and what it might be. -I think the General's conscience is getting to him. He no longer feels like having people talk about him behind his back.

CHAPTER 6 & 7

14. How does Mrs. Rogers meet her demise in chapter 6? -She dies in her sleep. It is supposed that she was poisoned.

15. Why does Mr. Blore immediately suspect that Mrs. Rogers was killed by her husband, the butler? Explain Mr. Blore’s accusation, pointing out its strengths and shortcomings. -Mr. Blore suspects it was Mr. Rogers because he feels that Mr. Rogers believed his wife wouldn't be able to keep the secret of how they killed the old lady. Also Mr. Rogers was the only one with his wife all night and he behaved strangely when she fainted.

16. In part 3 of chapter 7, Mr. Lombard and Dr. Armstrong discuss the two deaths that have occurred thus far. Why do they conclude that both deaths must have been acts of murder? -They conclude that it's not right that two people would commit suicide within 13 hours of each other. Also it was strange that the Indian figurines kept disappearing and that they both died exactly how the poem said.

How does this conclusion relate to the absence of Mr. Owen? -They realize there must be someone else who is doing all these strange things, so it must be Mr. Owen.

Why do Mr. Lombard and Dr. Armstrong then agree to enlist Mr. Blore in their search mission? -They decide he would be "a good man in a pinch."

What and where do they plan to search? -They plan to search over the whole island including the shoreline and the house. They are looking for caves for people to hide in, and in the house they are looking for secret rooms or passageways. They find nothing.

CHAPTER 8 & 9

17. Reread the last sentence of chapter 8. Identify the possible as well as the inevitable implications of this last sentence – for the plot of this novel and the fate of its characters. "There was no one on the island but their eight selves." -They all become paranoid because they realize that one of the eight people on the Island is the killer.

18. What sort of threshold has been crossed, and how is the story different from this point on? -Everybody becomes suspicious of everybody else. All characters become very paranoid and the mood of the story changes to more cautious.

19. After the murdered body of General Macarthur is discovered, the seven remaining characters participate in an informal yet serious court session to “establish the facts” of what has transpired since their arrival at Indian Island. Who is the leader of this parlor-room inquest? Does this appointment seem fitting? Why or why not? -Mr Justice Wargrave becomes the unofficial leader. He suits the position because he used to be a judge and knows more about important facts and unimportant facts than any other character.

How do the other six characters react to this leader’s questions and conclusions? -None of the characters are pleased to answer Mr. Wargave's questions, but they feel it necessary and so they go along with it. Also they generally all agree with the conclusion Mr Wargrave has made.

How do they react to one another’s accusations? -All character's become tense and show their disagreement. None like to be accused of such horrible things.

20. In your view, who seemed most likely to be guilty at this point in the narrative, and who seemed most likely to be innocent? -At this moment, I believe Emily Brent is the most suspicious, and Vera Claythorne the least.

CHAPTER 10 & 11

21. In part 4 of chapter 10 we encounter Miss Emily Brent at work on her diary. She seems to be nodding off while sitting at the window and writing in her notebook. “The pencil straggled drunkenly in her fingers,” we read. “In shaking loose capitals she wrote: THE MURDERER’S NAME IS BEATRICE TAYLOR... Her eyes closed. Suddenly, with a start, she awoke.”

What do you make of this passage? What does it mean? Why would Miss Brent jot down such a statement? Think about what you have learned about Miss Brent’s background, mentality, spiritual outlook, and idea of right and wrong when answering these questions. -Emily Brent is subconsciously realizing that if she hadn't forced Beatrice out and that hadn't made her commit suicide, Emily might not have been on the island and might not eventually get killed. She wrote Beatrice Taylor is a murderer because the cycle of events that happened after she kicked Beatrice out led to Emily Brent possibly getting killed.

22. As chapter 11 begins, what is different about the arrangement of the china figure Indians in the dining room? How many are now in the table’s centerpiece – and what does this number tell you? -Now there are only 6! It tells you someone else must have been killed, and because Mr Rogers is missing they assume it must him.

23. How has Mr. Rogers been killed? -He was hit in the head with a big axe.

24. At the end of this chapter, everyone is having a hearty breakfast, being “very polite” as they address one another, and “behaving normally” in all other ways. Does this make sense to you? Explain why or why not. What else is going on? -I think everyone is trying to act as though nothing is happening. They are all trying to mask their fear. It makes sense to me because I would try to act as normal as possible even if I was scared that I was going to be killed.

25. Read the conclusion of chapter 11 and then comment on the thoughts and fears these characters are experiencing. -Each character is starting to feel the pressures and tension of not knowing who the killer is and not wanting to die. The Killer on the other hand is excited and amused and thinking about what to do next, while also hoping no one has found him out!

CHAPTER 12 & 13

26. How is Miss Brent murdered, and why is Dr. Armstrong immediately suspected of committing this crime? -She is injected with Cyanide with a hypodermic syringe. Dr. Armstrong is the only one who has a hypodermic syringe in his possession

27. What telltale item in the doctor’s possession turns up missing? -The Hypodermic Syringe.

28. What item originally in Mr. Lombard’s possession also disappears? -The revolver.

29. Five people are still alive as chapter 13 begins. In the second paragraph, we read: “And all of them, suddenly, looked less like human beings. They were reverting to more bestial types.” Explain this behavior, and provide several example of it by referring to the text of the novel. -All the characters have decided there is no point in hiding the inevitable fear and so they each release their stress in their own ways. For example Vera sits "huddled in a chair," and looks like "a dazed bird."

30. Is this similar to how you yourself would behave if placed in this horrific situation? Explain why or why not. -No if i was in this situation I would probably try to find a way to not be in the house or seperate myself from the group because you wouldn't know who the killer was.

31. Earlier in the narrative, both a ball of gray wool and a red shower curtain suddenly go missing. How and where do these items reappear? -When they found the judge in a chair with a bullet through his head he had a ball of gray wool on his head and they made it look like hair, and then the red shower curtain was put around him as if he were dressed up like a judge again.

32. At the end of chapter 13, Mr. Lombard exclaims, “How Edward Seton would laugh if he were here! God, how he’d laugh!” Identify the implied, potential, and literal meanings of this “outburst [that] shocked and startled the others.” -Mr. Lombard exclaims this as he seemed to loose his mind. He wanted to sense humor in this horrific situation.

CHAPTER 14- END

33. The narrative of And Then There Were None seems to become more detailed – and carefully descriptive and deliberately paced – as it draws to a close. In chapter 14, for instance, we encounter extended interior monologues involving Miss Claythorne and ex-Inspector Blore. Why do you suppose the author begins to focus on her characters in this way, and at this moment in the tale? -There are few characters left, and to create a more mysterious ending, she focuses on Vera because no one suspects her of being the killer, and Mr Blore, because he could potentially be the killer.

What do we learn from the private thoughts of these two characters? -We learn that Vera actually did, in a way, help in the result of the boy's death. Also that Blore was trying to remember Landor, and finally remembers his face and is frightened!

How do their ideas and impressions in chapter 14 advance the story? -By focusing in on each character more you begin to realize all of them have a killing instinct and it keeps you thinking about who may be the killer.

34. What happens to Dr. Armstrong? How and when does he disappear? -He disappears at night before Blore dies, and he dies from drowning.

35. How is Mr. Blore murdered, and why do Miss Claythorne and Mr. Lombard suspect that Dr. Armstrong is Mr. Blore’s killer? -He was crushed by the clock that looked like a bear from Miss Claythorne's bedroom.

36. When you reached the point where Miss Claythorne and Mr. Lombard are the only two characters remaining, which one did you think was the murderer? Or did you suspect someone else? Use quotes from the novel to support your answer. -I thought Mr. Lombard was the murderer because he was the one who had the revolver and there is no way to kill a person without any weapon for Miss Claythorne.

37. Who kills Philip Lombard? -Vera Claythorne.

38. Who, ultimately, is responsible for the death of Vera Claythorne? -She is responsible for her own death

EPILOGUE

39. Look again at the book’s Epilogue. Who are the detectives in charge of solving these crimes? -Sir Thomas Legge and Detective Maine.

Are they able to come up with any answers? Evaluate their success, identifying the points on which they are correct and those on which they are incorrect in their reconstruction of the events on Indian Island. -They figured out how each person was killed and that it must have been one of the 10 people on the island. They do not, however, figure out that Mr Wargrave was the killer.

40. Who is the murderer? How is his or her identity revealed? -Mr Justice Wargrave is the murderer. He is revealed through a letter he writes and puts in a bottle. He believes it won't be found but it is.

41. Who is the mysterious Mr. Owen? -Mr Justice Wargrave

42. Were you satisfied with the novel’s conclusion? And were you surprised by it? -I didn't expect the judge to be the murder because he was the one who was in charge and always getting his thoughts and things in, and if you were a killer you would want to have more of a low profile then he was showing.

43. Did you, as a reader and an armchair detective, find the ending fully credible and plausible? Did the murderer’s “confession” seem fitting and appropriate to you? Explain your answers. -The murderer's confession was actually for his credit on this incredible crime mystery.

Define the term “red herring”. -A Red Herring is a fake clue.

44. And Then There Were None is generally seen as one of the best mystery novels ever published. What are the clues in this mystery? What are the red herrings? -At the end when Vera and Lombard were the only ones on the island, Lombard had told Vera that he was the murderer and he was the one who killed Blore.

These questions are AMAZINGLY well done...perhaps too well? 50/50