Analysis on the novel "The Curious Case of the Dog in the Night Time"
Key Facts full title · The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time author · Mark Haddon type of work · Novel genre · Mystery novel; Family drama; Children’s book language · English time and place written · Early 2000s, Oxford, England date of first publication · 2003 publisher · Vintage Contemporaries, a division of Random House Publishing Inc. narrator · The novel’s mildly autistic protagonist, Christopher John Francis
Boone, narrates in the first-person.
point of view · Christopher John Francis Boone speaks in the first person. We are to understand the book as his written account of the murder of his neighbor’s dog, Wellington. Structurally, the novel alternates between a chapter advancing the narrative, and a chapter in which Christopher discusses ideas or concepts worth noting.
tone · Conversational and matter-of-fact. tense · Past tense setting (time) · 1998 setting (place) · In and around Swindon, England, with a trip to London,
England.
protagonist · Christopher John Francis Boone major conflict · Christopher’s investigation of Wellington’s murder leads him to uncover a number of secrets about his parents, causing him to lose his trust in
Father and to set out to London in search of Mother.
rising action · As Christopher investigates Wellington’s murder, he learns that
Mother and Mr. Shears had an affair, that Father and Mrs. Shears also had an affair, that Mother is alive and Father has been lying about her death, and that
Father killed Wellington because he was angry with Mrs. Shears.
climax · After a harrowing journey on his own to London in which he must overcome the limits of his condition, Christopher reunites with his mother.
falling action · Christopher moves in with Mother, successfully completes his
A-level test in math, and begins to reestablish trust with Father. He recalls all that he has accomplished over the course of the novel and sets out a series of goals for the future.
themes · The
Boone, narrates in the first-person.
point of view · Christopher John Francis Boone speaks in the first person. We are to understand the book as his written account of the murder of his neighbor’s dog, Wellington. Structurally, the novel alternates between a chapter advancing the narrative, and a chapter in which Christopher discusses ideas or concepts worth noting.
tone · Conversational and matter-of-fact. tense · Past tense setting (time) · 1998 setting (place) · In and around Swindon, England, with a trip to London,
England.
protagonist · Christopher John Francis Boone major conflict · Christopher’s investigation of Wellington’s murder leads him to uncover a number of secrets about his parents, causing him to lose his trust in
Father and to set out to London in search of Mother.
rising action · As Christopher investigates Wellington’s murder, he learns that
Mother and Mr. Shears had an affair, that Father and Mrs. Shears also had an affair, that Mother is alive and Father has been lying about her death, and that
Father killed Wellington because he was angry with Mrs. Shears.
climax · After a harrowing journey on his own to London in which he must overcome the limits of his condition, Christopher reunites with his mother.
falling action · Christopher moves in with Mother, successfully completes his
A-level test in math, and begins to reestablish trust with Father. He recalls all that he has accomplished over the course of the novel and sets out a series of goals for the future.
themes · The