Chapter 16 / XVI

Journal Questions:

1. FRIZZLE MY SCHIZZLE. In the nursery rhyme, the next victim "got frizzled up" which means to burn. Another word for to burn somebody is to trick somebody, as in "Oooo, burn!"

How does Vera trick Lombard? Also, what will happen to Lombard's corpse if it's left out in the open sun? (one paragraph)


2. VERA SENSES HUGO IN THE ROOM. What two lines of text tell us that Vera believed that Hugo was in her bedroom at the time of her hanging? Do you think he was there? Was anyone there, really? How do you think the noose got there in the room, conveniently waiting for her? (one or two paragraphs)


3. AND THEN THERE WERE... NONE? There are no suspects left. What? That's it? How can that be?

Speculate on who you think was the murderer and how the murderer might have been planned and executed the grand scheme. (at least one big paragraph)


4. EMOTIONAL SOFT SPOTS. Everyone has certain vulnerabilities, or parts of their personalities where they are emotionally sensitive. Clearly Vera had hers. Someone appears to have not only known her weaknesses, but to have manipulated her with them.

What was she sensitive to? What specific manipulations by the killer triggered Vera's descent into madness? In other words, what did U.N. Owen do to get her to go over the edge? (one very detailed paragraph)


Epilogue


1. THE ELEVENTH VICTIM. Yet another victim ends up dead, beyond the "Indian Island Ten." Who was the eleventh victim? What details do we learn about his or her death? Using your inference skills, why do you think this person was targeted? (one paragraph)

2. THE INCREDIBLE MOVING CHAIR. According to the police report, the chair that Vera stood on, and then kicked out from under herself, was found neatly placed against the wall. What does this important detail tell us about her death and the identity of the murderer? (one paragraph)

3. MAINE AND LEGGE'S CONCLUSIONS. The two investigators draw some interesting conclusions about who the murderer is by shedding light on such details as:

- what happened to Isaac Morris
- who Elmer Robson was
- who recorded the gramophone record
- how the boy scouts were involved
- the seaweed on the chair
- and what ever happened to Edward Seton

Who do THEY think, then, "dunnit?" (short answer)


Manuscript

1. YEAH, RIGHT... WHATEVER, AGATHA. To make a good mystery work, the author has to sustain the belief of the readers by creating a world that feels entirely plausible, realistic, and full of verisimilitude.

Do you believe that this story stretches credibility to the point of breaking any sense of reality? Or do you believe this story is grounded in reality enough as to feel possible? Explain your answer with several reasons to support your belief. (one paragraph)