And+Then+There+Were+None+-+Chapter+Questions

__ CHAPTERS 1,2,&3 __ 1. Who is U.N. Owen? What do we learn about him in the novel’s opening pages? **U.N. Owen is the owner of the house. We learn that he has invited a bunch of people to Indian Island, saying it's for a get together with some mutual friends.**

2. Where does the story take place? Describe the primary setting of And Then There Were None with **__as much detail as possible.__** **This story takes place on Indian Island. It is set in the past (1935-1940), and the mood goes from being happy and cheerful as they embark on their journey to Indian Island, to curious about each other on the boat, to suspicious and afraid when they are in the house.**

3. How and why is Indian Island so important to the narrative (Story)? **Indian Island is so important to this story because it is the main setting in the story, it also has an aura of mystery around it regarding who owns it and what it is currently being used for. This is also the meeting point for all of the characters and where the plot begins to form.**

4. Identify the ten guests who have been invited to Indian Island, giving their **__names and backgrounds__**. • **Mr. Justice Wargrave - an old man who used to be a "hanging judge", he had convicted many men of being guilty when in fact they were innocent. He would persuade the jury to find the convicted to be guilty.** • **Vera Claythorne - An ex-governess who had a Coroner's Inquest in her past, was also at one point a care-giver. Once, this little boy who had been told not to swim out too far swam out there anyway, and although Vera swam to save him as fast as possible, he drowned before she could reach him.** • **Captain Philip Lombard - Doesn't say much about him but it hints that sometime in his past he had done some bad, illegal things.** • ** Emily Brent - An elderly spinster who had troubled dreams and a rambling diary, she seemed disturbed, and maybe even dangerous. She read the Bible constantly, which indicates that maybe something bad had happened in her past so she felt the need to make it up to god. ** • ** General MacArthur - The eldest of the individuals brought to the island, he was in the Great War and figured that his life had pretty much ended in the trenches. ** • ** Dr. Armstrong - A physician who was a convenient dispenser of sedatives and a diagnostician of causes of death. Also, many bored women would come to his office complaining about things that weren't actually there. ** • **Anthony Marston - The youngest of them, he is very confident. So far, we don't know much of his past.** • **Mr. Blore - An ex-C.I.D. who tries to pass himself off as an African colonial and lied about his name. This caused everyone else to be suspicious of him.** • **Mr. Rogers - The butler at the house. He had been there with his wife for a few days before everyone else got there.** • **Mrs. Rogers - a white, frightened cook who seems to be afraid of her own shadow.**

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?) **Emily Brent seems kind of sinister as in the description it says she has troubled dreams and a disturbed - maybe dangerous - mind.** **None of the rest of the characters seem particularly sinister.** Threatening? **At the moment they all seem threatening except for Vera Claythorne.** Harmless? **Vera Claythorne seems harmless because I doubt she could do much at the moment as she is so haunted by the boy that drowned.**

6. Describe the poem Vera Claythorne finds on display above the mantel in her bedroom (in ch 2). What kind of poem is it? **It's supposed to be a nursery rhyme but it's extremely violent and sinister. It basically talks about these 10 little Indian boys that manage to kill themselves somehow one by one.**

7. How are the poem’s meaning and imagery changed by its context in this novel? **The poem's meaning and imagery are changed because there are 10 people on the island, which could very well be a coincedence, but the poem is hanging in every perosn's room. There are also 10 Indian dolls, the ones that pop out of each other and become smaller and smaller. But this too, could also be a coincedence. This poem is definitely foreshadowing that something is going to happen soon.**

8. How does the poem relate to the centerpiece of small china figures that first appears in the subsequent dinner scene (in Ch.3)? **I just explained tha in the above paragraph, so I won't say it again to avoid sounding repetitive :P**

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. **- will come back to at the end of the novel**

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. **The "Voice" accuses the following people of commiting the following crimes:** **Dr. Armstrong - caused the death of Louisa Mary Clees on March 14th, 1925.** **Emily Brent - responsible for the death of Beatrice Taylor on November 5th, 1931.** **Mr. Blore - brought about the death of James Steven Landor on October 10th, 1928.** **Vera Claythorne - killed Cyril Ogilvie Hamilton on August 11th, 1935.** **Captain Philip Lombard - guilty of the death of 21 male members of an East African tribe sometime in February of 1932.** **General Macarthur - deliberately sent his wife's lover to his death on January 4th, 1917.** **Anthony Marston - guilty of the murder of John and Lucy Combes last November 17th.** **Mr. and Mrs. Rogers - brought about the death of Jennifer Brady on May 6th, 1929.** **Mr. Justice Wargrave - guilty of the murder of Edward Seton on June 10th, 1930.**

__ CHAPTERS 4&5 __

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

12. Look at the victim’s last words, and then explain the irony or black comedy of this particular murder, given these final comments. **The victim's last words were "The legal life's narrowing! I'm all for crime! Here's to it." He then raised his glass and took a gulp - and proceeded to choke to death.** **The irony in these last words were that he was talking about crime and how they all should be excited about this as it was a mystery, "positively thrilling", and then he gets murdered, or so we think.**

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.
 * He knows this because he doesn't want to have to go back to all of his problems on the mainland. Back to all of the stares and the whispering, and the wife who doesn't really love him. He thinks of the island as a peaceful place, a place of rest, and realises that he doesn't want to go back to chaos. **

What is the general going through? Describe his state of mind – what it is, and what it might be. **The general is going through many different things at the moment. There are moments of depression, anxiety, loss, despair, hope, etc. Potentially, this war of emotions inside him could lead to him becoming a manic-depressive (also known as bipolar disorder) which could further lead to some bad decisions being made.**

__ Chapter 6&7 __ 14. How does Mrs. Rogers meet her demise in chapter 6? **Mrs. Rogers dies in her sleep of apparent heart failure/disease.**

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 immediately suspects that Mrs. Rogers was killed by her husband because he might be trying to cover up the fact that he actually was the one who killed her. This abrupt accusation may lead the others to believe that Mr. Blore is the one who killed her. Also, he has many good points about why Mr. Rogers may have done it. He states that the two were accused of murder and got away with it, and judging by how scared Mrs. Rogers looked, she might've let it slip at any second, so he had to kill her in order to keep the murder a secret. At the same time, it is highly unlikely that a husband would kill his wife (especially those two), but you never know. Maybe Mr. Rogers is bipolar.**

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 both deaths must have been a murder because it doesn't seem likely that Anthony Marston would've committed suicide, but if he did, then it doesn't make sense that Mrs. Rogers would've ALSO committed suicide. Two suicides in 12 hours seems highly unlikely. If Mrs. Rogers committed suicide though, then Marston must've been murdered, but by who? So they conclude that the two must've been both murdered.**

How does this conclusion relate to the absence of Mr. Owen? **It directly relates to the absence of Mr. Owen because if Mr. Owen isn't on the island, then who (or what) is doing the killing?**

Why do Mr. Lombard and Dr. Armstrong then agree to enlist Mr. Blore in their search mission? **The two men agree to enlist Mr. Blore in their search mission because he seems resourceful, watchful, and intelligent. Especially compared to the other people left on the island, he seems like the best option. The woman would get frightened, and the other men left seem a bit peculiar.**

What and where do they plan to search? **They plan to search the whole island, the house, everyone's rooms, any weird closets, trapdoors, etc. Everywhere.**

__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." **This statement is saying that one of the 8 people left on must be the killer. It is also saying that everyone is a suspect here. This statement could possibly be saying that it is not a human that is killing people, maybe its the work of a paranormal being? Just a thought.**

18. What sort of threshold has been crossed, and how is the story different from this point on? **From this point the story will change drastically. Everyone has realized that they have been invited here to basically get murdered. So now, instead of the niceties, everyone will be suspicious of one another. Also, everyone will be on their guard waiting for the next murder and hoping it's not them.**

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? **The leader of this is Mr. Wargrave, which is fitting because he's the one questioning everyone, and he's a judge. But while he's questioning everyone, no one is questioning him. Coincidence? I think not.**

How do the other six characters react to this leader’s questions and conclusions? **The other 6 characters react to the leader's questions and conclusions with astonishment and anger. When each one is questioned, they all answer defensively.**

How do they react to one another’s accusations? **Everyone is accusing everyone. No one has any real idea of who the murderer is. They all act surprised, angry at being accused of doing such a thing, and immediately get defensive.**

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 point, going from what the narrator is hinting at, Dr. Armstrong seems to be the most likely to be guilty. But, from my own suspicions, I still say the guilty person is most likely Dr. Armstrong, Mr. Wargrave, or Emily Brent. I'm fairly sure that Mr. Lombard and Vera Claythorne are most likely to be innocent. **

__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. **I believe that Miss Brent is haunted by thoughts of Beatrice Taylor, and her guilty conscience comes over her at times - like right here. I believe she was taken over by her conscience instead of thinking rationally and she wrote this down without really knowing what she was writing. Miss Brent follows the Bible as if her life depends on it, and she believes that everything that happens is God's will. Besides this, I'm kind of stumped as to __why__ this has happened to her. Maybe it's the author's way of bringing her farther into the list of who might be guilty, by suggesting that her troubled mind may be possessed and she is doing** **things without knowing afterwards that she's done it - just like any good paranormal story would say.**

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? **There are only 6 china figures in the dining room, which tells us that Mr. Rogers has in fact been killed, and isn't hiding out waiting to kill them.**

23. How has Mr. Rogers been killed? **Mr. Rogers has been killed by an axe to the head.**

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? **This does make sense to me because everyone is so afraid of each other now that they are all acting polite and friendly as to not start an argument. They also are really realizing that they are currently dining with a murderer.**

25. Read the conclusion of chapter 11 and then comment on the thoughts and fears these characters are experiencing. **Some people are thinking about how worried they are and are wondering who's next, but some people are thinking things like "would it work? Maybe if I had time..." or "Fool, he believed every word I said!" which could both be the thoughts of a murderer. We don't know who is thinking what, though... so all we know still is that one of them is for sure the murderer.**

__CHAPTER 12 & 13__

26. How is Miss Brent murdered, and why is Dr. Armstrong immediately suspected of committing this crime?
 * Miss Brent is murdered by a syringe filled with a lethal dose of potassium cyanide, causing her to die immediately by asphyxiation. **

27. What telltale item in the doctor’s possession turns up missing? **The hypodermic syringe used to kill Miss Brent is not where he claims it is.**

28. What item originally in Mr. Lombard’s possession also disappears? **The revolver that Mr. Lombard brings to the island is also missing.**

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. **They were looking more like bestial types because their own survival instinct was mixing with their extreme paranoia and fear of each other. The civilized, normal group that had first arrived is no longer so civilized. Now they have circles under their eyes, are jumpy, and very, very watchful. Their behaviour is that of a continuously hunted animal, stressed and terrified of being murdered.**

30. Is this similar to how you yourself would behave if placed in this horrific situation? Explain why or why not. **This is probably similar to how I would've reacted in this situation. I like to think that I would've just taken rations from the kitchen and locked myself in my room until no one was left or someone came to rescue me. But in this case, if the murderer doesn't get killed, at some point, I would have to come out of my room. Then, at that point, I would've been killed. It's also hard to say exactly what I would do, because it's different saying what you would do, and what you actually do when you're paralyzed with fear.**

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? **These items reappear on Mr. Justice Wargrave when he is sitting in the chair dead, with a bullet through his head. The curtain is used as a robe and the wool is used to make a crude judge's wig. Very theatrical.**

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 was remembering what had happened to Edward Seton, who had been brought to Mr. Wargrave's court. Seton was going to be declared innocent by the jury, so Mr. Wargrave persuaded them to see him as guilty and sentenced to death. This could mean that perhaps Mr. Lombard knew something about the judge that the rest of them did not. **

__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? **Agathe Christie probably begins to focus on her characters this way at this time because the suspense is growing rapidly and she wants to throw the suspicion from her readers around a little, and begins to maybe change what they think.**

What do we learn from the private thoughts of these two characters? **We learn that Vera played a part in the child's drowning, she pretended to go out and save him but purposely didn't. We also learn that as Blore was trying to remember Landor, he remembers Landor's face and is afraid for some reason.**

How do their ideas and impressions in chapter 14 advance the story?
 * As the author begins to focus more on the characters, we learn more about them and their murderous thoughts, it keeps us guessing as to who really is the killer. **

34. What happens to Dr. Armstrong? How and when does he disappear? **Dr. Armstrong disappears one night and is found the following morning washed up by the sea. We conclude that he was thrown or pushed into the sea.**

35. How is Mr. Blore murdered, and why do Miss Claythorne and Mr. Lombard suspect that Dr. Armstrong is Mr. Blore’s killer? **Mr. Blore is murdered by a large marble block dropped on his head. Claythorne and Lombard suspect Armstrong because he has gone missing, so they think he is hiding.**

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 the murderer was either Lombard or someone else who was still hiding on the island.**

37. Who kills Philip Lombard? **Vera Claythorne.**

38. Who, ultimately, is responsible for the death of Vera Claythorne? **Herself. Her conscience forces her to actually hang herself, just as the murderer had hoped.**

__ 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 successfully figured out how each person was killed and that the murder was one of the 10 people on the island. They do not, however, figure out that Mr Wargrave was the killer. Thye are stumped as to who was the killer the proper sequence in which the murders occurred.**

40. Who is the murderer? How is his or her identity revealed? **The murderer is the judge. His identity is revealed by the message that he sent in a bottle.**

41. Who is the mysterious Mr. Owen?
 * Ultimately, Mr. Wargrave is Mr. Owen. **

42. Were you satisfied with the novel’s conclusion? And were you surprised by it? **I was satisfied with the novel's conclusion, although I was mildy surprised by it. I didn't expect Claythorne to hang herself, but I did suspect that someone else was alive with Lombard and Claythorne.**

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 ending seemed fine to me for a mystery novel. The murderer's confession was eerie, and is not really justifiable for someone with a sane mind. Wargrave must have been planning this whole thing out for an extremely long time, and was completely mental.** Define the term “red herring”. **A red herring is a false 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? **I'm shocked that even the doctor was fooled by the piece of clay or whatever was used to fake the gunshot wound.** **Excellent, detailed responses! Comprehensive and thorough.** **50/50**
 * **When Wargrave was "shot"**
 * **Edward Seton was actually guilty of his crime; thus, his death was not Wargrave's fault.**
 * **When Dr. Armstrong is killed, his verse of the rhyme is "four little indian boys went out to sea; a red herring swallowed one and then there were three." Everyone in the house takes a "red herring" literally, meaning he was swallowed by "a fish" (the sea), and none of them think of a red herring as being a false clue.**