Mrs Richard – Literary Class LLCER - Reading Notebook – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time – 2023.

The Revelation and The Runaway

 Check your understanding : tick true or false, and justify your answer.
True False
a. Eileen Shears was Ed Boone’s lover. □ □
 ................................................................................................................................................................
b. Ed Boone proposed to Eileen. □ □
 ....................................................................................................................................................................
c. Ed Boone killed Wellington out of jealousy. □ □
 ....................................................................................................................................................................
d. Christopher forgives his father. □ □
 ....................................................................................................................................................................

 Focus on the narrative technique: who speaks during this chapter, and how ? What effect does it
create?
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 How does Christopher react? How are his feelings conveyed?

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 In drama, a monologue is a long speech during a conversation, while a soliloquy is

when a character makes a speech alone, revealing his or her thoughts.

Is Father’s speech a monologue or a soliloquy? Explain.

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The runaway (chapter 191, 211)

 Chapter 191 : who are the characters here ?
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 What does Christopher intend to do ? Why ?

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Mrs Richard – Literary Class LLCER - Reading Notebook – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time – 2023.

 Focus on the beginning of the sentences : what do you notice ? What does it reflect ?
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 Check your understanding : tick true or false, and justify your answer.
True False
a. Christopher is sitting at the railway station. □ □
....................................................................................................................................................................

b. He has been waiting for his father for hours. □ □

 ....................................................................................................................................................................

c. A lady was worried about his situation. □ □

 ....................................................................................................................................................................

d. Christopher is lost. □ □
 ....................................................................................................................................................................

Look at that painting by Norman Rockwell, called The Runaway. Describe the scene briefly.

Toolbox :
Policeman = police officer= state trooper (US)
Counterman
Hobo= vagabond
Runaway: fugueur
In profile
Bundle: paquet
Kerchief (bundle): foulard / fichu
Cloth (bundle): tissu
Stick
Stool: tabouret
Gaze at: fixer / contempler
Local eater: resto
Menu board
Pie case

Adjectives:
Comforting
Bemused; déconcerté
Recognizable
Reassuring
Calm / quiet

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Mrs Richard – Literary Class LLCER - Reading Notebook – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time – 2023.

Norman Rockwell is surely the most famous American press illustrator in the world. Born in New York, 1894, and
died in Massachusetts, 1978, he is rightly called the “storyteller” of America. Indeed, his works trace the history of
the United States in the 20th century. Known for having produced hundreds of covers for The Saturday Evening
Post magazine, he is less well known for his talents as a painter. Indeed, each of his illustrations was previously
executed in the form of a painting. Discreet and not seeking notoriety, he said little about his life and activities.

This chapter is the perfect example of what can be called an initiatory journey, the translation of a
concept in French literature, “Voyage Initiatique”. This type of narrative includes a character who has to
face obstacles, trials and new experiences that they will have to overcome in order to grow from
childhood to adulthood.

That’s why The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time can be considered as a coming of age
story.

Joseph Campbell theorized this concept in 1949, in The Hero with A Thousand Faces, saying that
many stories follow the same pattern: the hero/heroine has to undergo a certain number of steps so that
he can return home as a transformed person. (see p.7)

One of these steps is called the Road of Trials. Let’s see how this concept can be related to Christopher
onboarding the train and taking the Underground for the first time.

In this chapter, Christopher will have to overcome many obstacles and things that scare him, just like
Frodo. Sometimes he finds a way, sometimes he fails.
Match each obstacle with its outcome/solution :

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Mrs Richard – Literary Class LLCER - Reading Notebook – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time – 2023.

 Check your understanding : put the events into the correct chronological order.

…… – The man with the diamond patterns on his socks helps Christopher.

…… – Toby bites Christopher.

…… – Toby runs off.

…… – Toby escapes again.

…… – Christopher waits in the Underground.

…… – The man shouts at Christopher angrily.

…… – The train enters the station.

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Mrs Richard – Literary Class LLCER - Reading Notebook – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time – 2023.

 In literature, there are many devices that create humour : slapstick (embarrassing
situation), incongruity, play-on-words, surprise, irony, or exaggeration.

In this extract, spot the devices used here to generate humour.

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 Check your understanding : tick true or false.

True False
a. Christopher throws himself into his mother’s arms. □ □
b. Christopher is aggressive because his mother lied to him. □ □
c. Roger is worried about Christopher’s coming. □ □
d. Christopher is no longer concerned with Toby. □ □

All ends well that ends well (chapter 233)

 What is Father’s goal in this conversation ?

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 Quote two things making Christopher happy.

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 To what extent is the gift symbolic ? What is its role in the “father and son project” ?
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 Translation lab : Let’s practice different translation techniques !

1. Observe the following sentences and their translations :

a. Then, he rubbed the sides of his Puis, il se frotta les tempes avec le
forehead with his fingertips. bout des doigts.
b. He bent down and put his hands Il se pencha et mis les mains dans la
inside the box. boîte.

What do you notice ?

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Mrs Richard – Literary Class LLCER - Reading Notebook – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time – 2023.

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2. Translate these sentences :

c. He washed his hands.

 .......................................................................................................................................................................

d. She combed her hair.

 .......................................................................................................................................................................

e. She got a flower tattoo on her shoulder.

 .......................................................................................................................................................................

 Check your understanding : tick true or false.

True False
a. Christopher refuses to speak to his father because he lied to him. □ □
b. Father gives Christopher a dog to reopen dialogue and reconcile with him. □ □
c. Christopher fails his Maths A level test. □ □
d. Father and Mother live together again. □ □

 Explain how this ending corresponds to the saying “All is well that ends well” :
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