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

CHAPTER 1, 2, & 3

1. Who is U.N. Owen? What do we learn about him in the novel’s opening pages?

U.N. Owen, supposedly, is the mysterious owner of Indian Island. (S)he invites Vera Claythorne, Emily Brent, General Macarthur, Dr. Armstrong, and Tony Marston to the Island.

2. Where does the story take place? Describe the primary setting of And Then There Were None with **__as much detail as possible.__**

In the first chapter, the story is based around 8 people invited to Indian Island, and their journeys to the Island. The story takes place in 1930's England.

3. How and why is Indian Island so important to the narrative (Story)?

The shape of the Island itself is important to the theme of the story because it goes along with the Native American Indian theme, which is centered around the poem mentioned in the story. The actual setting and mood of the story are important because they provide a base for the story to build finer details on. The eerie setting and mysterious happenings are the building blocks of the story.

4. Identify the ten guests who have been invited to Indian Island, giving their **__names and backgrounds__**. • Justice Wargrave- An old judge, known to the media as "The Hanging Judge" for his habit of sentencing prisoners to death. • Vera Claythorne- An ex-governess with a Coroner's Inquest (which she was acquitted of) haunting her past. • Phillip Lombard- A mercenary-for-hire who is the only one of the guests to have brought a gun. • Emily Brent- An old, shrewd woman disgusted with the state of modern society. • General Macaurthur- An old army general who thinks he is going to visit a friend. • William Blore- An ex-police man who thinks he has been hired to watch for trouble. • Dr. Armstrong- A doctor with a dark mistake in his past. • Anthony Marston- A young man with a love for fast cars and a dangerous lifestyle. • Mr. and Mrs. Rogers- A timid couple who act as house keepers for the house on Indian Island.

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?)

Justice Wargrave, because as a judge who has sentenced people to death countless times, he is probably more used to the idea of death, both justified and unnecessary.

Threatening?

Phillip Lombard, because he has a revolver. Even if he is not the killer, he could go insane or become extremely paranoid

Harmless?

Vera Claythorne, because she seems like a timid, quiet woman. Even if she has committed an act of murder in her past, she seems top regret it immensely.

6. Describe the poem Vera Claythorne finds on display above the mantel in her bedroom (in ch 2). What kind of poem is it?

While in her bedroom, Vera finds a poem about10 North American Indians who die in different ways, called "Ten Little Indians".

7. How are the poem’s meaning and imagery changed by its context in this novel?

The poem was originally be a humorous rhyming poem, but through the story, it becomes a sort of prophecy, or an all-knowing higher power.

8. How does the poem relate to the centerpiece of small china figures that first appears in the subsequent dinner scene (in Ch.3)?

The poem is called "Ten Little Indians", and the figures are ten small North American Indian figurines.

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.)

The death of each character is centered around the poem. For example, the poem writes that the last "little Indian" hung himself, and Vera Claythorne, the last person on the Island, hangs herself.

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.

-Dr. Armstrong is accused of accidentally killing a patient named Louisa Mary Clees. -Emily Brent is accused of causing the death of a young woman named Beatrice Taylor. -William Blore is accused of killing a man named James Landor. -Vera Claythorne is accused of allowing a boy named Cyril Hamilton to drown on her watch. -Phillip Lombard is accused of leaving 21 East-African tribesman to die. -General Macarthur is accused of sending his wife's lover to his death. -Anthony Marston is accused of running over two children in his car. -Mr. and Mrs. Rogers are accused of killing an old woman named Jennifer Brady. -Justice Wargrave is accused of murdering a man named Edward Seton.

CHAPTERS 4 & 5

11. Who dies at the end of chapter 4?

Anthony Marston dies, supposedly of a poisoned drink.

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 last thing he ever did was purpose a toast to crime, but he himself falls victim to it not long after.

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.

His wife is dead, and he has no one to go back to on the mainland.

The landscape of the island may be much more exciting to that of mainlan England.

He may have a feeling that he will die there, and it is unavoidable.

What is the general going through? Describe his state of mind – what it is, and what it might be.

I think the General is old and tired, and just wants to live out the rest of his life in quiet solidarity.

CHAPTER 6 & 7

14. How does Mrs. Rogers meet her demise in chapter 6?

She overslept too long, and then died in her sleep.

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.

Blore suspects her husband because she fainted after the gramophone record played, and he thinks that Mr. Rogers killed her because he was afraid she would give them away.

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 think that the two deaths are murders because they both happened so close together, and both people died under suspicious circumstances.

How does this conclusion relate to the absence of Mr. Owen?

The two of them conclude that Mr. Owen, or someone hired by him, is trying to kill them all. They also conclude that the murderer must be hiding on the island.

Why do Mr. Lombard and Dr. Armstrong then agree to enlist Mr. Blore in their search mission?

Because they need all the help they can get for the search, and the General and Wargrave are too old and fragile to help.

What and where do they plan to search?

They plan to search for U.N. Owen all across the island.

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."

It leaves them to conclude that the murderer is one of them. This could give them extreme anxiety, and paranoia. It also means that they probably will try to either distance themselves from each other, or group together for protection.

18. What sort of threshold has been crossed, and how is the story different from this point on?

The threshold that has been crossed is one of sanity; the characters have gone from a normal mental state, to one of extreme paranoia and insanity. As the story advances, their condition will worsen.

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 the inquest is Justice Wargrave. I think that this appointment seems fitting because he has presided over numerous cases before and has the most experience with criminals.

How do the other six characters react to this leader’s questions and conclusions?

They all seem somewhat disappointed as none of them have been eliminated as suspects.

How do they react to one another’s accusations?

They act surprisingly calmly to the accusations, considering the circumstances.

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?

Justice Wargrave and Emily Brent seemed the most likely to be guilty, because they sound like they have the least respect for life.

Vera Claythorne seems the most innocent, because she is so timid.

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 think that in the depths of her mind, Ms. Brent knew that causing the death of Beatrice Taylor was an evil thing to do, but her extreme religious devotion had gotten in the way of her thinking about it. But considering the situation she is in, she is starting to think rationally.

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 six figures, which indicates that someone has been killed again.

23. How has Mr. Rogers been killed?

He was hit in the head with an 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?

This does make some sense because the psychological state of the characters could be so bad that they could unconsciously be forcing themselves to act as normal as possible, when in reality, they are extremely paranoid and nervous.

25. Read the conclusion of chapter 11 and then comment on the thoughts and fears these characters are experiencing.

CHAPTER 12 & 13

26. How is Miss Brent murdered, and why is Dr. Armstrong immediately suspected of committing this crime?

Emily Brent is killed with a lethal injection of potassium cyanide, and Dr. Armstrong is the only person who has a syringe.

27. What telltale item in the doctor’s possession turns up missing?

His syringe.

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

His 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.

This suggests that everyone is acting less & less human-like with every passing minute. This is probably because people of gone mad after seeing so much death around them.

30. Is this similar to how you yourself would behave if placed in this horrific situation? Explain why or why not.

I would try not to act this way, but considering the extremely horrific things happening, I might lose control of my myself and act this way anyhow.

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?

The items reappear when Justice Wargrave is killed. They are used to dress him up as a judge.

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.”

Edward Seton would find this funny because it is ironic that the Judge sentenced many people to death, and then was murdered.

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?

Because the other characters have been eliminated from the story, the author has more space to focus deeply on the remaining characters.

What do we learn from the private thoughts of these two characters?

We learn that they are both innocent, and have gone mad because of death.

How do their ideas and impressions in chapter 14 advance the story?

The plot line advance because it leaves only Claythorne and Lombard left, making the reader think it is one of them who is the murderer.

34. What happens to Dr. Armstrong? How and when does he disappear?

The doctor disappears in the night, and is found dead in the water the next day.

35. How is Mr. Blore murdered, and why do Miss Claythorne and Mr. Lombard suspect that Dr. Armstrong is Mr. Blore’s killer?

Blore is murdered by having his head smashed in. They suspect the Doctor because he disappeared the night before.

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 that the killer was Lombard, because Vera Claythorne seemed too innocent.

37. Who kills Philip Lombard?

Vera Claythorne kills Lombard in an act of desperation, when she is convinced he is the murderer.

38. Who, ultimately, is responsible for the death of Vera Claythorne?

One could say that Justice Wargrave was the person responsible for her death, as he set up the stool and noose which was meant for Vera Claythorne to kill herself with. But one could also argue that Vera Claythorne was responsible for her own death, as it was her own psychological uneasiness which made her choose suicide.

EPILOGUE

39. Look again at the book’s Epilogue. Who are the detectives in charge of solving these crimes?

The detectives in charge are Inspector Maine and Sir Thomas Legge.

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.

The detectives are able to determine how everyone is murdered, but are unable to determine who did it, because none of the deaths looked like suicides, and it was impossible for anyone else to be on the island.

40. Who is the murderer? How is his or her identity revealed?

The murder is Justice Wargrave. His identity is revealed when a confession he wrote was found.

41. Who is the mysterious Mr. Owen?

U.N. Owen is a fictional character created by Wargrave.

42. Were you satisfied with the novel’s conclusion? And were you surprised by it?

I was satisfied, but only somewhat surprised. Wargrave seemed like they most likely person to be the murderer.

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.

Yes, because it addressed all the killings, and the methods in which they happened.

Define the term “red herring”.

A distraction designed to throw people off the course of the truth.

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?

The fake murder of Wargrave is the main red herring, and the seaweed in Vera Claythorne's room is a smaller red herring used do aid the larger one.