Theme

The curious incident of the dog in the night-time is a very unique novel with many themes. Some of the larger ones of the book are Stability, Perspective and Mystery/Discovery.

Mystery/Discovery: The curious incident of the dog in the night-time is a mystery novel. Christopher one night finds Wellington-one of his neighbor’s dog-dead. The dog was found speared by a garden fork, obviously murdered. Christopher then decides that he is going to do some detective work to figure out who killed Wellington. Through the beginning of the book the reader follows Christopher and his investigation, trying to figure out who killed Wellington. But then, the novel shifts more from mystery to discovery. During his investigation, Christopher discovers things which he never expected, and which isn’t solely about Wellington either. Christopher finds out that his father was to blame for the death of the dog and also, that his mother is not dead. Christopher learns that the reason his mother left is because she was having an affair and that his father knew the whole time but was lying to him by saying she was dead. Throughout the book, Christopher finds out that there is more to his family then what it seems.

Stability: Christopher is a very finicky character. For Christopher to live happily and comfortably he needs order and stability. That level of stability shatters when Christopher finds Wellington dead. Christopher is deeply troubled by the death of the dog and he becomes engrossed in the story of Wellington and solving the case. He even goes outside of his comfort zone by talking to his neighbors in an attempt to learn more about the night Wellington was killed. This constant search for order and stability follow Christopher throughout the book; especially when he discovers that his father has been lying to him for years. Christopher has a lot of trouble dealing with betrayal and the fact that things seem to be falling apart that he runs away to find his mother. In the end, Christopher starts living with his mother and does well on his A-level exams. He also begins to mend the relationship he has with his father. Christopher starts to regain some the stability and order in his life.

Perspective: This book is written by Christopher’s perspective, in first person. Christopher has a different way of looking at things and way of thinking. He is a very logical person; his reasoning and way of approaching things are always from a logical sense. He sees things from a more scientifically or mathematical point of view. This differs greatly from the average person. People’s emotions tend to influence their way of thinking, and they tend to see things from a more personal level. With Christopher narrating the novel, the reader has a chance to see the world from a new perspective.

Questions

1. Who did you think killed Wellington before the killer was revealed?Why?

2. Was the ending of the novel what you expected it to be? Explain

3. How does your view on the world differ from Christopher's?

4. Do you think Christopher and his father's relationship will ever be the same as it was before?

5. What was your favourite part of the book? Why?

6. If you were in Christopher's situation, would you have run away to London too?

7. What do you think is the biggest theme of the novel? why?

8. What do you think happens to Christopher and his family after the novel?

9. How do you think the feel of the novel would differ if Christopher was more representative  of an average boy?
10. How do the themes of the novel relate to one another?

By: Sarah B

Plot Questions

1. Did Christopher want his father to be punished for killing Wellington?
2. How does Mr. Shear react to Christopher wanting to live with his mother and him
3. If you were Christopher, would you have forgiven his father if he had sincerely apologized?
4. If you were Christopher, and you had just discovered that your father had been keeping  your mother's letters from you, while you thought she was dead, how would you feel or react to that situation?
5. What was Christopher's dream job and what did he end up wanting to be instead?
6. How did Christopher react to his father admitting that he had killed Wellington?
7. How did Christopher react when he finished reading his mother's fifth letter?
8. Why did Christopher's father get him a dog? 
9. What did Christopher name the dog, and why?
10. How does Christopher search for his book after his father had confiscated it? (When and where does he look?)


Jameel Walji

Plot

Christopher is the main character and is a fifteen-year-old boy with autism, and lives with his father, Ed. He explains that his mother, Judy, died two years ago. He discovers the dead body of Wellington, a neighbour’s dog, speared by a garden fork. Mrs Shears, Wellington’s owner, calls the police, and Christopher becomes a suspect. When a policeman touches him, he hits the policeman, and is arrested, then released with a caution. He decides to investigate the dog’s death, even though his father had ordered him to stay out of other people’s business. Throughout his adventures, Christopher writes them down in a book. Also, Christopher attends a special needs school due to his autism and has a close relation with his teacher Siobhan. During his investigation, Christopher meets people who he has never before never met before, even though they live on the same street, including the elderly Mrs Alexander, who informs Christopher that his mother had an affair with Mr Shears and had been with him for a long time.

His father, discovers the book and takes it away from Christopher, after an argument between them. While searching for the confiscated book, Christopher uncovers a ton of letters which his mother wrote to him, dated after the date of her supposed death. He is so thoroughly shocked by his father lying about his mother’s death that he is unable to move, curls up on the bed, vomits and groans for several hours until his father returns home. Ed realizes that Christopher has read the letters and cleans him up. Ed then confesses that he had indeed lied about Christopher's mother’s death and also that it was he who had killed Wellington. He said it was a mistake due to his anger after a he had an argument with Mrs Shears. Christopher, having lost all trust in his father and fearing that he may try to kill him since he had already killed the dog, runs away. Guided by his mother’s address from the letters, he heads to London, where his mother lives with Mr Shears.

After a while, he finally finds his way to his mother’s home, and waits outside until she arrives. Judy is delighted that Christopher has come to her. She cannot believe that Ed would tell Christopher that she was dead. Mr Shears doesn’t want Christopher living with them and never did. Moreover, very soon after arriving, Christopher wants to return to Swindon in order to take his mathematics A-level. His mother leaves Mr Shears, their relationship having broken down because of the conflict and his rejection of Christopher. Christopher and his mother then move into a rented room in Swindon. After an argument with Ed, she agrees to let Ed visit Christopher for daily brief visits. Christopher is still terrified of his father and hopes that his father  will be arrested for killing Wellington. The story ends by Ed giving Christopher a pet dog, which Christopher names Sandy because of its colour, because Toby, Christopher's pet rat, had died, and Ed promises to rebuild his trust with Christopher “no matter how long it takes”. Christopher says that he will continue to take A-level exams and that he will go to University. He completes his first A-level exam at high grades, and he he has the ultimate goal of becoming a scientist, despite his previous goal of becoming an astronaut. The book finishes with Christopher being excited about his future, having solved the mystery of the murdered dog, gone to London, England on his own, finding his mother and achieving amazing grades on his A-level exam. Christopher continues to live with his mother and he occasionally visits his father's place.


Jameel Walji

Character

Character

The main character from the novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is Christopher John Francis Boone. Christopher is fifteen years old and lives with his father Ed Boone and his pet rat Toby.  Christopher is autistic and so he goes to a “special school,” for kids with mental disabilities. At his school he sees his friend Siobhan, who teaches him how society works. Also, she is also someone who Christopher can talk to. Christopher despises the colors brown and yellow. However, loves the color red.  He is amazing at math and communicating with animals but has difficulty with communicating with humans.   In the novel he tries to communicate with people on his street but has a hard time because he feels they are strangers. He meets Mrs. Alexander and tries to “chat” with her. Christopher is an amazing teenager with a lot of bravery and courage.


Questions

1. If you could be any character who would you be? Why?
2. If you were Christopher would you want to try and find out who killed Wellington?
3. Why do you think that Christopher is better with communicating with animals then people?
4. If you were Siobhan would you let Christopher continue with investigating or would you tell him to stop because his dad wants him to?
5. How do you think Christopher personality changed from the begging towards the end?
6. What do you think the relationship between Christopher and his father are like?
7. Why does Christopher find it hard for him to be touched by his father? What do they do instead of hugging?
8. Do you think that without Siobhan that Christopher would not have been able to communicate with people?
9. Why dose Christopher instantly forgives his father for get mad at him? Would you of forgiven him?
10. If you were Christopher would you find it hard to write the story because he has a hard time communicating with others?

By: Chelsea Gaudet

Setting

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a novel written around the character Christopher John Francis Boone. Christopher lives with his father at 36, Randolph street, Swindon, England. Swindon is a small town. Towards the beginning of the book the setting is very reflective of Christopher's introverted personality. As you read you are able to get a sense of his every day life which consists of going to school and going home spending most of his time in his room, either on the computer or feeding his rat Toby. Christopher goes to a special needs school because he has autism. Christopher likes small spaces where he can be alone, and sits in the airing cupboard beside the boiler. He also goes to the corner store to buy treats and keeps them in his own special cupboard that only he's aloud to touch. As you read on the setting no longer reflects Christopher's insular life as he goes to London, England. Other settings include, Randolph street, the garden, Mrs Shears's lawn, the train station, the train, the underground, his mother's flat and the room which she rents when they move back to Swindon.

Questions

1. What time do you think the book is set in? Explain 
2. What type of school does Christopher attend?
3. What condition do you think Christopher and his dad keep the house in? (Clean? Messy?) Explain
4. How do you think Christopher would be different if he had grown up in a bigger city with more going on?
5. What is Christopher's address?
6. What does Christopher's dad say about Swindon? 
7. How do you think Christopher handled getting to London? Do you think you would be able to make the trip from Swindon to London by yourself?
8. How was London different from Swindon? What affect did this have on Christopher? 
9. What is Christopher's mothers address in London?
10. Where do you think Christopher will live when he's older? Do you think he would chose the hustle and bustle of big city life?

-Storm Bero