Random things to consider:
- There is some confusion as regards/concerning the function/job/role of the main character:
>> narrator? publisher? writer? author? protagonist?
Deducing from the footnotes (pages 5/22), we understand that this is deliberate : the author (Mark Haddon of course) wants to confuse the reader.
- In the opening chapters, there is an almost constant to-and-fro between "I like" and "I don't like".
>> Can you draw a list of feelings associated with "I like", and those associated with "I don't like"?
In contrast with this simple depiction of his feelings, he is knowledgeable and capable of very precise and clear explanations.
- Christopher can only report what he sees and how he interprets it. Yet/However, he finds it hard to read other people's emotions.
>> How does the reader deal with this and work out (= manage to understand) the other characters' feelings?
>>> This contributes to making us question the narrator: is he a reliable narrator?
(Can you be a credible narrator when you have superstitious beliefs? >> cf. p. 31, chap. 47)
- Structure:
The chapters alternate between what is happening to Christopher in the story in the present, and information about him, or memories of the past.
>> Why did Mark Haddon choose this alternating structure?
>>>Why is it useful to have background information about Christopher?
>> Christopher says "This is a murder mystery novel" (p.5)*, "This will not be a funny book" (p.10), "I do not / cannot tell lies" (p. 24), "everything I have written here is true".
>>> All in all, we can say at the end of these opening chapters, that many elements work together to confuse the reader. Contrary to what Christopher seems to appreciate above all else, things are not straightforward at all.
* What kind of story do you think it will be?
- crime fiction?
- story about growing up?
- story about an unusual boy's life?
- story for adults? for children?
- There is some confusion as regards/concerning the function/job/role of the main character:
>> narrator? publisher? writer? author? protagonist?
Deducing from the footnotes (pages 5/22), we understand that this is deliberate : the author (Mark Haddon of course) wants to confuse the reader.
- In the opening chapters, there is an almost constant to-and-fro between "I like" and "I don't like".
>> Can you draw a list of feelings associated with "I like", and those associated with "I don't like"?
In contrast with this simple depiction of his feelings, he is knowledgeable and capable of very precise and clear explanations.
- Christopher can only report what he sees and how he interprets it. Yet/However, he finds it hard to read other people's emotions.
>> How does the reader deal with this and work out (= manage to understand) the other characters' feelings?
>>> This contributes to making us question the narrator: is he a reliable narrator?
(Can you be a credible narrator when you have superstitious beliefs? >> cf. p. 31, chap. 47)
- Structure:
The chapters alternate between what is happening to Christopher in the story in the present, and information about him, or memories of the past.
>> Why did Mark Haddon choose this alternating structure?
>>>Why is it useful to have background information about Christopher?
>> Christopher says "This is a murder mystery novel" (p.5)*, "This will not be a funny book" (p.10), "I do not / cannot tell lies" (p. 24), "everything I have written here is true".
>>> All in all, we can say at the end of these opening chapters, that many elements work together to confuse the reader. Contrary to what Christopher seems to appreciate above all else, things are not straightforward at all.
* What kind of story do you think it will be?
- crime fiction?
- story about growing up?
- story about an unusual boy's life?
- story for adults? for children?