curious incident essay examples

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

By mark haddon, the curious incident of the dog in the night-time essay questions.

How significant is it to the novel that Christopher has learning difficulties?

Think about how significant Christopher's perspective is to how the story is and to its structure. What is Haddon able to conceal/reveal by using Christopher? What light does it shed on the other characters in the novel, and on mankind in general? Discuss how Christopher's overcoming of his particular challenges adds another layer of drama to the actual plot of the story.

What is Siobhan's role in the novel?

Think about her role in how Christopher's story unfolds - it is she who encourages him to write the novel and her perspective on novel writing comes up throughout. Does her voice give us any comment on novel writing in general? What is her purpose? Would this novel exist at all without her? In a way, she is Haddon's true authorial voice poking through the facade of Christopher's narration.

Discuss the meta fictional elements of this novel and why they are significant

Christopher states directly that he intends to write a mystery novel, and the tropes of the classic mystery are explained to us even as he does his detecting. But aside from the mystery Christopher sets out to solve, he also ends up being part of a larger mystery not of his design. How much control does Christopher have over the events that unfold and how are h feelings documented in the novel we are reading?

Discuss the first person narrative employed by Haddon to portray the novel from Christopher's perspective.

Discuss other novels written in the first person - how is it used differently here? Does it work well in this novel? Why? Perhaps talk about how the other characters may feel removed from Christopher because of his condition and relationship with the world and discuss how the structure and the technique of writing in this novel comments on that. Compare to other novels with developmentally disabled narrators, such as Flowers for Algernon and The Sound and The Fury .

Discuss Christopher's relationship with space

You will need to have specific examples for the question: find all the examples where he talks about the sky and about space and discuss the relevance of this in relation to the novel as a whole. Does it reflect Christopher's ambition and intelligence? Does it reflect man's advancement in science? Why does the sky and the stars make him feel calm? Relate these points to his other habits and routines. How does this information inform the telling of the novel?

Is there any way in which The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time could be described as a classical tragedy? Discuss.

Compare Christopher's lack of knowledge with the lack of knowledge often found in tragedies. Oedipus tries to end the plague of infertility that hits Thebes and when the oracle tells Creon that King Laius' murderer must be brought to justice in order for the pestilence to cease, Oedipus looks elsewhere for the murderer. Oedipus is 'detecting' and as he does, he realizes that the answer to the mystery is in his own house. The same is true for Christopher. How far does this constitute a tragedy, and what difference does it make that Christopher's perspective is an unusual one?

Do you think this novel is more naturally a children's novel?

This answer asks for you to be creative. You must discuss literary terms, you must address the style of the writing and you must point out what effect this has on the reader. Is it a 'simple' novel? Does it deal with complex issues? If yes, how does it deal with these issues? What is the tone of the novel and how does the writer engage his reader. How do we empathise with Christopher?

How far do you think Christopher's condition limits or enlightens his perspective on life?

This is a broad question and one which requires specific detail. Identify specific scenes in which Christopher behaves unusually according to generally accepted patterns of behavior, and discuss whether these incidents allow him to see more clearly or limit his understanding. The fact that he doesn't realize his mother is alive may be one example, but also address that many other characters are inveigled as well. Compare Christopher's philosophy of truth-telling to his father's.

How does Haddon build tension in this novel?

Focus on technical details in terms of the structure of the novel and the writing style - what information does he hide from Christopher, so that it will be revealed to us at a more useful juncture. Also incorporate a personal response. Examples may include Christopher losing Toby on the tube tracks, or a more general level of tension throughout the novel in terms of his detective work.

Does this novel fulfill expectations that Christopher builds at the start by labeling it a 'detective novel'?

First you may want to define a 'detective novel', perhaps using examples from other novels (a reference to Sherlock Holmes would obviously be very helpful). Analyze the structure of the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time and assess how it progresses, builds tension and keeps our interest. How significant is it that Christopher solves one mystery and finds another. How far does the fact that it is all documented in this novel in real time create a sense of immediacy?

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

why do you think Christopher‘s dad is having this kind of reaction? Why would he care so much? If Christopher was poking around and other businesses?

Reaction to what in particular? Where in the story are you referring to?

List the problems caused by Christopher's condition.

Christopher fixates on specific topics. Numbers would be an example.

Christopher is unable to empathize.

Social Skills

The ability to discern the feelings of others.

Did you find story funny? Why?

This is asking for your opinion rather than mine. I think there is humor in this but it is dark and ironic humor.

Study Guide for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time study guide contains a biography of Mark Haddon, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
• The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time Summary
• Character List

Essays for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time is the story of an autistic boy who tries to solve a murder mystery. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon.

• Coming of Age in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
• The Mark of Isolation in Adolescence
• The Importance of the Father in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
• Realistic Infinitism in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
• The Curious Relationship Between Facts and Truth in Mark Haddon's Novel

Lesson Plan for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

• Introduction

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time Essay

Introduction, haddon’s techniques, works cited.

In literature, many authors have well used writing techniques that capture the reader and create a desire within to read their work. With this, novel authors have used variety of writing skills varying from dramatic openings to use of fictional techniques to convey their ideas. Others have also used distinctively interesting characters at the center of their literature. However, mark Haddon, in his novel “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night- time”, uses distinctive techniques to make his work interesting and outstanding.

On top of the normal and expected techniques by most readers, he uses extraordinary ones capturing many readers in a distinctive way. This essay seeks to find out and explain the distinctive techniques used in the Haddon’s novel, which draw many readers into its world. It will also see the ways in which these techniques remain outstanding.

Mark Haddon can be termed as a well-gifted narrative author, with highly creative ways to capture readers into his work. He captures the reader from the beginning, makes him feel like he is playing part in the narrative, and finally leaves him delighted and encouraged to reread the narrative.

Haddon uses narrative in the first person is by itself a distinct technique that woos many readers (Mark). He puts the reader into the shoes of the narrator through the language he uses. On top of this, he uses a very distinct narrator who is a young boy of 15 years age who is autistic (Haddon 4).

Inasmuch as a novel is meant to entertain, Haddon opens the mind of the reader, insights and inform him about autistic children. He not only speaks about them but shows the reader how their brains work. He also uses the autistic person to portray this, which is very interesting and an outstanding technique. Information on autism is not familiar with many. The technique to mix entertainment with insights and information captures the reader to hold to the novel all through.

In the general view, he uses a child as the narrator of the story. He speaks through the mouth of this young boy, making the focus of the narrative change from Haddon to Christopher an autistic child. The voice of the child pulls the attention of the reader since it’s rare and appeals for more concern.

Inasmuch as many novels seek to portray the overcoming of a disability, Haddon uses an opposite technique (Mark). He uses a character with a disability and one who co-exists with it to the end. In other words, he uses a technique that makes the reader feel in a totally different world.

It separates the reader from the normal to the abnormal and unexpected. Everything that Christopher says has a lot of sense considering his condition. This reader’s effect receives an opposition from the people who surround Christopher who tend to ignore whatever he says (Haddon 110). This thus leads to drawing the reader to develop a curiosity that is maintained throughout the narrative.

He uses Asperger’s syndrome to support the point of using disability. This syndrome is basically a disorder representing disability. Haddon shows Christopher as one who has lost basic and important felling. He can only laugh and cry. This as a result interferes with the smooth relationship they had with his dad.

In addition he remains without a friend through the narrative. This therefore makes one feel emotional detachment of Christopher and tends to support his side, which always seems to lose throughout the narrative. On the other hand, Christopher’s condition touches on family relationships, which create an automatic attachment with the reader. Haddon therefore manages to carry the reader into the world of the novel and holds the reader to the end of the novel.

The title of the book (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night- time) is enough to make the reader develop some curiosity. One would basically be carried by the fact it is a curious incident of a dog in the night time. Haddon does not use day time. The use of night time completely makes one have multiple guesses of what the incident would be.

In addition the use of dog and not a cow makes the reader have in mind million of incidents that a dog can be involved in at night. This lays a foundation from which many questions will be answered by reading the novel, thus capturing the reader’s curiosity into the world of the novel.

According to the pace of flow of events set at the beginning of the book, one would expect the murder mystery to be solved in the final pages. Haddon surprises the reader when such mystery is solved at an unexpected point. This gives time for the narrative to pick a higher pitch with raise in emotions and expands the restrictions of Christopher’s difficulty.

It is after the disclosure of mystery when more unexpected characters appear, offering more opposition to Christopher (Haddon 50). The reader hopes things get better for Christopher; they at this point get worse increasing the reader’s attention to the narrative.

Haddon also uses ‘detection’ theme to keep the reader parallel to the narrator thus holding the reader. The whole idea of the narrative is to detect the murder mystery. On the other hand the reader authentically tends to detect what Christopher will do, by reading his mind. Christopher all through believes something is wrong with the people surrounding him.

Haddon’s techniques remain outstanding to date since hardly are there authors using similar techniques. His techniques remain distinct. However, it is important to note that Haddon’s novel has not come to being through much research but through his experiences in life. It is more distinct when you write your own experience and no other people’s experience.

Mark Haddon story is distinct, moving and very entertaining and interesting. The techniques he uses in his work are rare and hardly found in other stories and narratives. No other author has shown such techniques as Haddon. The all work together to capture the reedier into the world the novel.

Moreover, even if not all, at least one of these techniques will make a reader desire to read the work. After beginning to read one gets tied into the narrative emotionally, thus feeling to hold throughout the narrative. Haddon avoids fulfilling the reader’s expectation through Christopher.

He makes sure that the reader plays part in the narrative. All these techniques empower each other thus drawing the reader into the novels world. More authors should endeavor to use such techniques since they not only capture many people, even those who are not avid readers, but also educate.

Haddon, Mark. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. London: Jonathan Cape, 2003. Print.

“Mark Haddon Interview.” DNA learning center . Cold Spring Habor Laboratory, n.d. Web.

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• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2019, December 10). The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time/

"The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time." IvyPanda , 10 Dec. 2019, ivypanda.com/essays/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time/.

IvyPanda . (2019) 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time'. 10 December.

IvyPanda . 2019. "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time." December 10, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time/.

1. IvyPanda . "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time." December 10, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time." December 10, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time/.

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The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Mark haddon, everything you need for every book you read..

Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

Curious Incident: Introduction

Curious incident: plot summary, curious incident: detailed summary & analysis, curious incident: themes, curious incident: quotes, curious incident: characters, curious incident: symbols, curious incident: theme wheel, brief biography of mark haddon.

Historical Context of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Other books related to the curious incident of the dog in the night-time.

• Full Title: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
• Where Written: Oxford, England
• When Published: 2003
• Literary Period: Contemporary fiction, Postmodernism
• Genre: Novel
• Setting: Swindon, in Wiltshire, England, and London, in the late twentieth century
• Climax: Christopher realizing that his mother is alive, and his father admitting he killed Wellington.
• Antagonist: Christopher’s father, Ed Boone, and society as a whole
• Point of View: First person

Extra Credit for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Christopher’s stage debut. Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time has been adapted for the stage and began its run in London’s West End in 2013.

Don’t judge a book by its cover. The novel has been marketed to readers of all ages, and was even published in two versions with different covers—one for children, and one for adults.