Study Questions & Essay Topics
Study Questions
1. Discuss the
narrative techniques that Christie uses to create and maintain suspense
throughout the novel.
2. Discuss
the weaknesses of Dr. Armstrong, William Blore, Philip Lombard,
and Vera Claythorne, and explain how Wargrave exploits these weaknesses
as he carries out his plot.
3. What do
you make of Christie's decision to violate the standard rules of
mystery writing by making it nearly impossible for us to solve the
mystery of
And Then There Were None by ourselves?
How does the unusual plot affect the experience of reading the novel?
Suggested Essay Topics
1. Discuss the role of the poem
“Ten Little Indians” in And Then There Were None. Why
does the murderer choose to follow the poem so closely? What effect
does this have on the characters?
2. Discuss how Christie portrays
social hierarchies. What commentary is she making on her society's
class system?
3. Do you think that Wargrave
acts justly? Why or why not?
4. Discuss the various alliances
that form throughout the novel—particularly those between Blore,
Armstrong, and Lombard; between Armstrong and Wargrave; and between Vera
and Lombard. How do these alliances affect events? What makes them
break down?
5. Discuss the order in which
the characters die. Why do some live longer than others? Do you
think this is this entirely by design? Does the murderer ever seem
to lose control of the situation?
