The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time Chapter questions

Chapters 1 - 37 How is Christophers mystery different from normal mysteries? (7)

Why does Christopher dislike metaphors? (29)

Why does he have no problem with similes? (31)

Why cant Christopher lie? (37)

Chapters 41 67 What makes a good day or a black day for Christopher? (47)

How did Christophers mother die? (53)

What clue does Christopher not understand what his father means by other peoples business? (59)

Why doesnt Christopher believe in heaven? (61)

Why does Christopher dislike talking to strangers? (67)

Who is Christophers prime suspect in the murder case? Why? (67)

Chapters 71 97 Why did Christopher use to think that his mother and father would get divorced? (73)

What does Christopher say about the truth? What does his attitude tell us about him? (73)

Why do you think that Christophers father doesnt like Mr Shears? (79)

Why is it important that Christophers father makes him promise not to do detecting? (79)

Why does Christopher think that he would make a good astronaut? (83)

Why does Christopher tell Siobhan that his book isnt a proper book? (89)

How does Christopher get around his promises to his father? (97)

What does Christopher learn about his mother? (97)

Chapters 101 127 Why, according to Christopher, are numbers not straight-forward? (101)

Do you think Mr Jeavons is right about why Christopher likes maths?

Do you think that Christopher understands the phrase let sleeping dogs lie? How is it relevant that his father says this to Rhodri? (103)

What does some hardness, perhaps of the eye mean? (107)

How does Christopher say that he is similar to Sherlock Holmes?

Christopher identifies with Sherlock Holmes, can you identify with the narrator of this book?

Why is Christopher not sad about his mothers affair? (109)

How does Christopher use his memory to interpret situations? (113)

How are his memories/thoughts different from most peoples?

Why is Christopher surprised when his dad grabs him? (127)

Chapters 131 149 Why does Christopher think it is a little silly not to like yellow and brown? Why does Christopher need rules? (131)

What does Christopher say that loving someone means? (137)

Why does Christopher say that sometimes people want to be stupid and they do not want to know the truth? (139)

Why is it important that we make a distinction between the author of a book and its main character?

Why cant Christopher immediately accept what he discovers in the letter? What alternative does he put forward to the truth? (149)

Chapters 151 167 Why is Christopher sick when he realises that his mother is alive? (157)

How does Christopher explain what feelings are? Do you agree with him? Why? (163)

Go back through the book so far and find the clues that Christopher missed or misinterpreted. (167)

Can you find any read herrings? What are they?

Does the murderer fit Christophers criteria for a murderer?

List some of Christophers fathers character traits.

What reasons does Christophers dad give for killing Wellington? How does this relate to Christophers opinion that dogs are important too.

Chapters 173 181

Why does Christopher think that the name of the star constellation Orion is silly? (173)

What does Christopher realise that he will never be able to do? (179)

How does Christophers diagram of options for what to do next on pg 162/63 show that he doesnt understand relationships?

Why does Christopher have trouble with new places? (181)

Chapters 191 199 What aspects of being in the train station does Christopher not like? (191)

Why do you think that Christopher does not understand colloquial language such as quid?

Why does Christopher like structure in his day? (193)

How does Christopher escape the policeman? Why do you think that no one who finds him tells the policeman where he is? (197)

Does Christopher believe in God? Why or why not? (199)

Chapters 211 227 Why doesnt Christopher know that he is in danger on the tracks? (227)

Do Christophers mother and Mr Shears have a happy relationship? Why do you think this?

Chapters 229 233 Do you have a favourite dream? Why do you think that this dream is included in the book? (229)

How is the breakdown of Christophers good day/ black day system significant? (233)

In the end, who do you think that Christopher should be living with? Why?

Why does Mr Shears and Christophers mothers relationship break down?

How is Christopher different from how he was at the start of the novel?

What about the end of the book parallels the first chapter?