And Then There Were None

1. General Impressions 

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• Did you know anything about And Then There Were None before reading it? If so, did this impact your experience of the novel?
• What was your favorite part of the book, and why? Your least favorite?
• Have you read other books by Agatha Christie? How does this novel compare to ones featuring the private investigators for which she is famous (Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, etc.)?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection 

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• Did knowing the characters’ responsibility for the deaths of innocents impact how you felt when the characters themselves were murdered? In your opinion, is taking a life ever justified, or is death always a tragedy and killing always wrong?
• Justice Wargrave arranges the deaths of the various characters in order of ascending culpability. Do you agree with his assessment of the characters’ relative guilt? What does guilt mean to Justice Wargrave, and how does this compare to your own views?
• Several of the characters committed their crimes for either love or money. Why do you think these are such potent motivators of impulsive or even immoral behavior? Or do you think other forces can be equally powerful?
• As people begin dying, the characters must evaluate the trustworthiness of those around them. How do you gauge whether a person is honest and reliable when you’ve only recently met them? What factors might impede your ability to do so, especially in a high-stakes situation like the one in And Then There Were None?

3. Societal and Cultural Context 

 Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• How do the novel’s male characters view the story’s three women (Vera Claythorne, Mrs. Rogers, and Emily Brent)? Do their opinions prove correct? What point do you think Christie is making about gender stereotypes?
• The title and text of And Then There Were None have changed since its publication to avoid referencing the racist lyrics of the original nursery rhyme. How have other elements of the novel—such as its portrayal of imperialism, addiction, unwed motherhood, etc.—held up over time? Do changing attitudes on these and other issues cause you to judge any of the characters differently than you think Christie intended?

4. Literary Analysis 

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• Why do you think Christie chose to reveal the murderer’s identity as she did? Justice Walgrave has the final word, but does this mean readers are supposed to take his claims at face value? How does knowing that his crimes have come to light impact your understanding of the book?
• How does Christie adapt her style as she inhabits the perspectives of different characters? Does the narrative voice associated with any of the characters change throughout the novel? How do those changes reflect their evolving mental state?
• Besides isolating the characters, how does the novel’s island setting contribute to the work’s atmosphere? Consider especially the role that water and storm imagery play in the novel.
• Consider the novel’s depiction of moral conscience. Does the novel suggest there is any particular virtue simply in recognizing that one has done wrong?
• What is the effect of juxtaposing a nursery rhyme against the violent events of the narrative? Why else might Christie have used the nursery rhyme as a structuring device?

5. Creative Engagement 

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• Christie uses animalistic imagery to characterize Justice Walgrave and Philip Lombard, likening them to a reptile and a wolf, respectively. If you were comparing the other characters to animals, which animals would you choose, and why?
• Create a playlist that captures the book’s mood, aiming to include as many songs from the era when the novel takes place (the 1930s) as you can. Discuss your choices.
• Imagine you are writing a prequel to And Then There Were None. Which character’s backstory would you most want to tell, and why? How would your account differ from or expand on the one Christie presents in the novel?

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