Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-1-4-mothers-death-and-beginning-the-investigation [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [IGCSE](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse.md) › [English Literature](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature.md) › [Edexcel IGCSE](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse.md) › Mother's Death & Beginning the Investigation # Mother's Death & Beginning the Investigation English Lit: Edexcel IGCSE The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, topic 3.1.4 ## Christopher's Mother's Death Through Siobhan narrating from Christopher’s notebook, the audience begins to learn about his mother who **“died two years ago”**. ### Hospital flashback ![Hospital flashback](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/a2faa896-56bb-4606-ba33-917fb6876d6c/shutterstock_772762645.jpg) - After Siobhan recounts how Christopher returns home from school one day to find neither parent in, Stephens uses a flashback to recreate the exchange in which Ed tells Christopher that his mother **“has had to go into hospital”**. ### Heart problem ![Heart problem](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-08/9cb027eb-f332-4b6c-8dfb-3ea6677dbf08/human-heart-.png) - Ed tells Christopher that his mother has **“a problem with her heart”**, a line which takes on deeper significance after the revelations at the end of Part One. ### Short, blunt statements ![Short, blunt statements](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-08/fb589a4d-eacd-4a64-88e5-7137f59cc633/heart-attack-.jpg) - The short flashback scene in which Ed tells Christopher about the death of his mother is perhaps the most powerful scene in the play so far. - Ed breaks the news to his son in a succession of short, blunt statements (**“She’s had a heart attack… It wasn’t expected”**). ### Christopher's response ![Christopher's response](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/chemistry/3.1.1%20-%20Relative%20formula%20mass/question-mark-2123967_640-min.jpg) - Christopher’s response may be shocking to an audience. - He replies with what appears to be a complete lack of emotion, asking his father **“What kind of heart attack?”** and failing 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. ### Foreshadowing line ![Foreshadowing line](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-04/290b9642-e386-47a0-9afa-bb60f051d471/sorry-.jpg) - The final line in this flashback, Ed’s **“I’m really sorry”**, is another example of a line which takes on deeper significance after the truth about this episode is revealed at the end of Part One. ## Christopher Begins his Investigation Christopher’s investigation to find Wellington’s murderer takes him, and the audience, around his neighbourhood. Stephens creates comedy through Christopher’s interactions with the adults he encounters. ### Christopher's __"project"__ ![Christopher's __"project"__](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-08/556124c2-acbc-4a2a-a852-83af85a02aaf/project-.jpg) - In a short scene with Siobhan, Christopher reveals that he is going to make it his **“project”** to **“find out who really killed Wellington”**. Siobhan offers to help him when he comes to write it down. ### Mrs Shears and Reverend Peters ![Mrs Shears and Reverend Peters](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/8c10be82-6383-4d13-9da6-8bc7c017d735/detect-magnifying.jpg) - Christopher’s first enquiry takes him to Mrs Shears’ house, again revealing Christopher’s insensitivity – his inability to understand or empathise with others' feelings. Mrs Shears threatens to call the police. - He next visits Reverend Peters and has an amusing exchange about the existence of heaven. Christopher’s scientific knowledge of the universe leads him to doubt the existence of God or heaven. Flummoxed, Reverend Peters suggests they discuss this **“on another day when I have more time”**. ### Mr Thompson and Number 40 ![Mr Thompson and Number 40](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/8262521c-8fb0-4183-9cd3-09741b712480/Cheka-Detective-Secret-Police-.jpg) - Christopher makes enquiries of Mr Thompson and the nameless neighbour at Number 40. - Christopher’s formal approach to his investigation (__“Did you see anything suspicious on Thursday evening?”__) is humourous and mirrors the question/answer interrogations Christopher will have read in detective stories or seen on TV. - Comedy is also created from Christopher failing to see the humour in Mr Wise’s joke about policemen __“getting younger”__. Christopher, confused, simply __“walks away”__. ### Mrs Alexander ![Mrs Alexander](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-08/a3155c7c-8ca4-4fa8-854d-f2347c6d8b88/battenburg-cake-.jpg) - Mrs Alexander is perhaps the most significant interviewee. She offers Christopher sympathy, kindness and a piece of Battenberg cake. ### Warnings ![Warnings](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-08/2d1cd189-10be-414c-90d0-760be354c0a3/warning-.jpg) - Throughout his interviews, Christopher is given warnings by the various 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. ### Warnings (cont.) ![Warnings (cont.)](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-08/0e83a097-8cb7-4904-8e26-970a751370e4/adultworld-adults-men-women-.jpg) - Throughout, there is a sense that Christopher’s neighbours know more about Wellington’s death than they are prepared to tell Christopher, linking to a key theme in the play: Christopher’s problematic relationship with the adult world. ### Dramatic irony ![Dramatic irony](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/dba21160-f61c-4b6a-8481-cd589b9f1cfe/crime-scene-clue-murder-.png) - In a moment of dramatic irony, Christopher comes close to the truth (without knowing it) when he tells Siobhan that __”most murders are committed by someone who is known to the victim”__. ## Test yourself on Mother's Death & Beginning the Investigation - What is Ed's language like when he tells Christopher about his mother's death? - How does Christopher respond when his father tells him about his mother's heart attack? - Which question does Christopher use during his investigation, showing his formal approach to the matter? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/36b9c16b-ef8e-44b2-a41f-f08361a4bbde/section/2d23d832-3add-4567-962f-3ed00258f292/session) - Previous topic: [3.1.3 The Police Station & Ed's Entry](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-1-3-the-police-station-and-eds-entry.md) - Next topic: [3.1.5 Ed's Frustrations & Revisiting Mrs Alexander](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-1-5-eds-frustrations-and-revisiting-mrs-alexander.md) ## English Lit: Edexcel IGCSE The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time contents ### 1 Introduction & Context - 1.1 Novel & Play - [1.1.1 Mark Haddon's Novel (2003)](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/1-1-1-mark-haddons-novel-2003.md) - [1.1.2 Simon Stephens' Adaptions (2012)](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/1-1-2-simon-stephens-adaptions-2012.md) - 1.2 Christopher's Autism - [1.2.1 Christopher's Autism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/1-2-1-christophers-autism.md) - [1.2.2 End of Topic Test - Introduction & Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/1-2-2-end-of-topic-test-introduction-and-context.md) ### 2 Form, Structure & Language - 2.1 Dramatic Devices - [2.1.1 Writing About the Text as a Playscript](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/2-1-1-writing-about-the-text-as-a-playscript.md) - [2.1.2 Dramatic Devices](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/2-1-2-dramatic-devices.md) - 2.2 Genre & Structure - [2.2.1 Genre](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/2-2-1-genre.md) - [2.2.2 Structure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/2-2-2-structure.md) - 2.3 Language - [2.3.1 Language](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/2-3-1-language.md) - [2.3.2 End of Topic Test - Form, Structure & Language](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/2-3-2-end-of-topic-test-form-structure-and-language.md) ### 3 Text Summary & Analysis - 3.1 Part One - [3.1.1 Discovering the Dead Dog & Christopher's Autism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-1-1-discovering-the-dead-dog-and-christophers-autism.md) - [3.1.2 The Policeman & Siobhan](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-1-2-the-policeman-and-siobhan.md) - [3.1.3 The Police Station & Ed's Entry](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-1-3-the-police-station-and-eds-entry.md) - [3.1.4 Mother's Death & Beginning the Investigation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-1-4-mothers-death-and-beginning-the-investigation.md) - [3.1.5 Ed's Frustrations & Revisiting Mrs Alexander](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-1-5-eds-frustrations-and-revisiting-mrs-alexander.md) - [3.1.6 Remembering Judy & "Fight" Scene](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-1-6-remembering-judy-and-fight-scene.md) - [3.1.7 Judy's Letters](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-1-7-judys-letters.md) - [3.1.8 Ed's Confession](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-1-8-eds-confession.md) - [3.1.9 End of Topic Test - Part One](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-1-9-end-of-topic-test-part-one.md) - [3.1.10 End of Topic Test - Part One 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-1-10-end-of-topic-test-part-one-2.md) - 3.2 Part Two - [3.2.1 Preparing to Run Away & Train Station](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-2-1-preparing-to-run-away-and-train-station.md) - [3.2.2 On the Train & Arriving in London](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-2-2-on-the-train-and-arriving-in-london.md) - [3.2.3 On the Tube & Arriving at Judy's House](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-2-3-on-the-tube-and-arriving-at-judys-house.md) - [3.2.4 Policeman, Ed Visits & Tensions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-2-4-policeman-ed-visits-and-tensions.md) - [3.2.5 Back in Swindon & New Beginnings](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-2-5-back-in-swindon-and-new-beginnings.md) - [3.2.6 The End & Maths Appendix](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-2-6-the-end-and-maths-appendix.md) - [3.2.7 End of Topic Test - Part Two](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-2-7-end-of-topic-test-part-two.md) - [3.2.8 End of Topic Test - Part Two 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/3-2-8-end-of-topic-test-part-two-2.md) ### 4 Themes - 4.1 Themes - [4.1.1 Independence](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/4-1-1-independence.md) - [4.1.2 Parenting](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/4-1-2-parenting.md) - [4.1.3 Order & Disorder](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/4-1-3-order-and-disorder.md) - [4.1.4 End of Topic Test - Themes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/4-1-4-end-of-topic-test-themes.md) ### 5 Recap: Main Quotes - 5.1 Part One - Quotes - [5.1.1 The Dead Dog & Christopher's Autism - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/5-1-1-the-dead-dog-and-christophers-autism-quotations.md) - [5.1.2 The Policeman & Siobhan - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/5-1-2-the-policeman-and-siobhan-quotations.md) - [5.1.3 The Police Station & Ed's Entry - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/5-1-3-the-police-station-and-eds-entry-quotations.md) - [5.1.4 Mother's Death & Investigation - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/5-1-4-mothers-death-and-investigation-quotations.md) - [5.1.5 Ed's Frustrations & Mrs Alexander - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/5-1-5-eds-frustrations-and-mrs-alexander-quotations.md) - [5.1.6 Remembering Judy & "Fight" Scene - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/5-1-6-remembering-judy-and-fight-scene-quotations.md) - [5.1.7 Judy's Letters & Ed's Confession - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/5-1-7-judys-letters-and-eds-confession-quotations.md) - 5.2 Part Two - Quotes - [5.2.1 Preparing to Run Away & Train Station - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/5-2-1-preparing-to-run-away-and-train-station-quotations.md) - [5.2.2 On the Train & Arriving in London - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/5-2-2-on-the-train-and-arriving-in-london-quotations.md) - [5.2.3 On the Tube & Judy's House - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/5-2-3-on-the-tube-and-judys-house-quotations.md) - [5.2.4 Policeman, Ed Visits & Tensions - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/5-2-4-policeman-ed-visits-and-tensions-quotations.md) - [5.2.5 Back in Swindon & New Beginnings - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/5-2-5-back-in-swindon-and-new-beginnings-quotations.md) - [5.2.6 The End & Maths Appendix - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/5-2-6-the-end-and-maths-appendix-quotations.md) - 5.3 Themes - Quotes - [5.3.1 Independence - Quotes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/5-3-1-independence-quotes.md) - [5.3.2 Parenting - Quotes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/5-3-2-parenting-quotes.md) - [5.3.3 Order & Disorder - Quotes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-literature/edexcel-igcse/5-3-3-order-and-disorder-quotes.md)