MANUSCRIPT & 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?

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?

3. MAINE AND LEGGE'S CONCLUSIONS. The two investigators draw some interesting conclusions about who the murderer is.  What information do they provide for the following details?

- 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.

So, in the final analysis, who do THEY think, then, "dunnit?"

4. 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.

Chapter XV

1. ZOO LANDERS. What did Vera mean when she said, "We're the zoo." Elaborate, explain and support your point with details. 

2. SIMPLY DIVINE. Vera tells Lombard that his whole situation could be divine retribution by speaking of the supernatural and of other-worldly, heavenly visitors punishing them.   What does divine retribution mean?  How could the situation be considered to be divine retribution within the context of the story?

3. THE BLORE CONUNDRUM. How was Blore killed? In your opinion is it possible for either Vera or Lombard to have committed this murder? What conclusions can you draw about the murder at this point in the story?

Chapter XVI

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?

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. 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?

Chapter XIV

1. THE ORDER OF THE DEATHS. Examine the order of who died. There is a definite pattern.

Part of Agatha Christie’s genius is how the order of the deaths seems to be based upon the severity of the crimes they committed. The victims who were deemed by the killer to be “less severe” were murdered first, and the victims who were deemed “more severe” were killed most recently.

Predict the future death order based upon the severity of the crimes of those four who are remaining alive, explaining in detail your reasoning. In other words, if the pattern holds, who should die next? Who should die last? Provide a justification for your order based upon how the crimes are growing increasingly severe.

2. BLORE STARTS TO FEEL GUILT. In the beginning Blore barely remembered his alleged murder victim, Landor. Now he can recall every feature of his face and thinks about the man’s wife and daughter. What brought about this change? Would this change have happened if he hadn’t been in the situation he now finds himself?

3.  VERA FACES THE TRUTH.  Vera finally admits to killing Cyril out of love for Hugo.  What was she hoping to accomplish?  Why did it not turn out the way that she thought it would?  What was the error in her plan?

4.  THE RETURNING REVOLVER.  Lombard finds his revolver has been returned.  How could it have gotten there?  How does this new information change the story?  Who put it back and why?

CHAPTER XIII

1. PLANTING SEA PLANTS. Who do you think had the opportunity to put seaweed in Vera’s room? What was the point of doing that? What was her reaction? (one paragraph)

2. DRESSING FOR THE PART. How was Wargrave’s body made up to look like a judge? How does this connect back to the rhyme? (one paragraph)

3. SOMETHING FISHY GOING ON. In what sense is the term “red herring” from the rhyme used to have a double meaning? (one paragraph)

Chapter XII

JOURNAL QUESTIONS - WARGRAVE TAKES ACTION. 

What two steps does Wargrave want to take to ensure the safety of the five remaining guests?

What gets locked up and where?  Why is this information so very important in order to understand the story?

Which two characters were chosen to guard the keys?  Why those two?  What was the reason or logic behind the selection of the key holders?  

CHAPTER XI –

LOMBARD DISSES BLORE

 1. In what way does Lombard insult Blore when he voices his opinion that Blore is not the murderer?

2. What specific qualities does Lombard believe that Blore is lacking?

3. What chances does Lombard give Blore of surviving?

CASTING CALL

 Sometimes it helps to imagine modern, popular actors playing the roles of characters in a book you are reading in order to get beyond just names on a page and to be able see the characters as people.

4.  What actors would you cast for each of the ten, primary characters? Think about the character’s age, gender, personality, and previous roles, as well as the professions of each character.

For example, one student in class suggested that Lombard could be George Clooney and some else saw Wargrave as Morgan Freeman.