5.1.4

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

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

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.
Ed: <b>"I'm really sorry"

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

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

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.
Jump to other topics
1

Introduction & Context

1.1

Novel & Play

1.1.1Mark Haddon's Novel (2003)1.1.2Simon Stephens' Adaptions (2012)
1.2

Christopher's Autism

1.2.1Christopher's Autism1.2.2End of Topic Test - Introduction & Context
2

Form, Structure & Language

2.1

Dramatic Devices

2.1.1Writing About the Text as a Playscript2.1.2Dramatic Devices
2.2

Genre & Structure

2.2.1Genre2.2.2Structure
2.3

Language

2.3.1Language2.3.2End of Topic Test - Form, Structure & Language
3

Text Summary & Analysis

3.1

Part One

3.1.1Discovering the Dead Dog & Christopher's Autism3.1.2The Policeman & Siobhan3.1.3The Police Station & Ed's Entry3.1.4Mother's Death & Beginning the Investigation3.1.5Ed's Frustrations & Revisiting Mrs Alexander3.1.6Remembering Judy & "Fight" Scene3.1.7Judy's Letters3.1.8Ed's Confession3.1.9End of Topic Test - Part One3.1.10End of Topic Test - Part One 2
3.2

Part Two

3.2.1Preparing to Run Away & Train Station3.2.2On the Train & Arriving in London3.2.3On the Tube & Arriving at Judy's House3.2.4Policeman, Ed Visits & Tensions3.2.5Back in Swindon & New Beginnings3.2.6The End & Maths Appendix3.2.7End of Topic Test - Part Two3.2.8End of Topic Test - Part Two cont....
4

Themes

4.1

Themes

4.1.1Independence4.1.2Parenting4.1.3Order & Disorder4.1.4End of Topic Test - Themes
5

Recap: Main Quotes

5.1

Part One - Quotes

5.1.1The Dead Dog & Christopher's Autism - Quotations5.1.2The Policeman & Siobhan - Quotations5.1.3The Police Station & Ed's Entry - Quotations5.1.4Mother's Death & Investigation - Quotations5.1.5Ed's Frustrations & Mrs Alexander - Quotations5.1.6Remembering Judy & "Fight" Scene - Quotations5.1.7Judy's Letters & Ed's Confession - Quotations
5.2

Part Two - Quotes

5.2.1Preparing to Run Away & Train Station - Quotations5.2.2On the Train & Arriving in London - Quotations5.2.3On the Tube & Judy's House - Quotations5.2.4Policeman, Ed Visits & Tensions - Quotations5.2.5Back in Swindon & New Beginnings - Quotations5.2.6The End & Maths Appendix - Quotations
5.3

Themes - Quotes

5.3.1Independence - Quotes5.3.2Parenting - Quotes5.3.3Order & Disorder - Quotes

Practice questions on Mother's Death & Investigation - Quotations

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    What is Ed's language like when he tells Christopher about his mother's death?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    How does Christopher respond when his father tells him about his mother's heart attack?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    Which question does Christopher use during his investigation, showing his formal approach to the matter?Multiple choice
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The Police Station & Ed's Entry - Quotations

Ed's Frustrations & Mrs Alexander - Quotations