Mother's Death & Investigation - Quotations

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Mother's Death and the Investigation - Quotations

Key quotations from Part One:

Explanations: Christopher's mother

“Died two years ago”.
She's “has had to go into hospital”.
She has “a problem with her heart”.
- This line takes deeper significance later on in the novel.
“She’s had a heart attack… It wasn’t expected”
- Ed breaks the news to his son about his mother's death in a succession of short, blunt statements.

Christopher's response

“What kind of heart attack?”.
Fails to acknowledge his father’s guidance that “now isn’t the moment” for such questions.
- This short, powerful exchange reveals the severity of Christopher’s condition: he appears to be detached and emotionless, unable to process the information that his mother has died, or respond in an appropriate manner.

Illustrative background for Ed: <b>"I'm really sorry"

Illustrative background for Ed: <b>"I'm really sorry" ?? "content

Ed: "I'm really sorry"

The final line in this flashback takes on deeper significance after the truth about this episode is revealed at the end of Part One.

Christopher's investigation

“Did you see anything suspicious on Thursday evening?”
- Christopher’s formal approach to his investigation is humourous and mirrors the question/answer interrogations Christopher will have read in detective stories or seen on TV.

Warnings from adults

Number 10 suggests he should speak to his father and advises him to “be careful”.
When Christopher tells Siobhan that Mr Shears is his “prime suspect”, her single-word response, “Christopher”, can also perhaps be interpreted as a warning not to continue with his enquiries.

1Introduction & Context

1.1Novel & Play

1.1.1Mark Haddon's Novel (2003)

1.1.2Simon Stephens' Adaptions (2012)

1.2Christopher's Autism

1.2.1Christopher's Autism

1.2.2End of Topic Test - Introduction & Context

2Form, Structure & Language

2.1Dramatic Devices

2.1.1Writing About the Text as a Playscript

2.1.2Dramatic Devices

2.2Genre & Structure

2.2.1Genre

2.2.2Structure

2.3Language

2.3.1Language

2.3.2End of Topic Test - Form, Structure & Language

3Text Summary & Analysis

3.1Part One

3.1.1Discovering the Dead Dog & Christopher's Autism

3.1.2The Policeman & Siobhan

3.1.3The Police Station & Ed's Entry

3.1.4Mother's Death & Beginning the Investigation

3.1.5Ed's Frustrations & Revisiting Mrs Alexander

3.1.6Remembering Judy & "Fight" Scene

3.1.7Judy's Letters

3.1.8Ed's Confession

3.1.9End of Topic Test - Part One

3.1.10End of Topic Test - Part One 2

3.2Part Two

3.2.1Preparing to Run Away & Train Station

3.2.2On the Train & Arriving in London

3.2.3On the Tube & Arriving at Judy's House

3.2.4Policeman, Ed Visits & Tensions

3.2.5Back in Swindon & New Beginnings

3.2.6The End & Maths Appendix

3.2.7End of Topic Test - Part Two

3.2.8End of Topic Test - Part Two cont....

4Themes

4.1Themes

4.1.1Independence

4.1.2Parenting

4.1.3Order & Disorder

4.1.4End of Topic Test - Themes

5Recap: Main Quotes

5.1Part One - Quotes

5.1.1The Dead Dog & Christopher's Autism - Quotations

5.1.2The Policeman & Siobhan - Quotations

5.1.3The Police Station & Ed's Entry - Quotations

5.1.4Mother's Death & Investigation - Quotations

5.1.5Ed's Frustrations & Mrs Alexander - Quotations

5.1.6Remembering Judy & "Fight" Scene - Quotations

5.1.7Judy's Letters & Ed's Confession - Quotations

5.2Part Two - Quotes

5.2.1Preparing to Run Away & Train Station - Quotations

5.2.2On the Train & Arriving in London - Quotations

5.2.3On the Tube & Judy's House - Quotations

5.2.4Policeman, Ed Visits & Tensions - Quotations

5.2.5Back in Swindon & New Beginnings - Quotations

5.2.6The End & Maths Appendix - Quotations

5.3Themes - Quotes

5.3.1Independence - Quotes

5.3.2Parenting - Quotes

5.3.3Order & Disorder - Quotes

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