HERITAGE COLLEGE
Grade 9
ENGLISH
Literature Module - Novel
Compiled by G. Rose-Innes
Background to the book and author
Mark Haddonwas an author and illustrator of children's books, who one day decided to write a book for
adults instead. An image popped into his head – of a dead poodle in someone's front lawn, stabbed with a
pitchfork – and he thought it was just about the funniest thing in the world. Hmm, okay, Mark.
But before we give him the old "you're nuts" treatment, let's take a
look at what that turned into. From that image alone, Haddon
created the immensely successful The Curious Incident of the
Dog in the Night-Time. It has sold millions of copies (tens of
millions, really), won the prestigious Whitbread Award in 2003, and
today can be found in bookstores in just about every country in the
world.
So, what's it all about, then? Haddon's first foray into adult novels
tells the story of a fifteen-year-old boy named Christopher Boone,
who finds – you guessed it – a dead dog in his neighbor's yard. On
the back of most editions of the book, Christopher is described as
having Asperger syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder that
makes social interactions difficult and uncomfortable. While this
certainly seems to describe Christopher's experience in the world,
his disorder is actually never specified in the book. He himself only
says he has "Behavior Problems" (73.1).
A fan of Sherlock Holmes stories, Christopher decides to do some detective work of his own, and solve the
mystery of who killed the pup. Along the way, he discovers a whole lot more than he expected – both
about himself and about parts of the world he never knew existed.
But the book is a precious gem on its own, as Christopher jumps from advanced astrophysics to the
existence of God, from quadratic equations to his favorite animals at the zoo. Christopher's narrative voice
is unlike any in literary history, and, against all odds, he makes a wonderful guide for this fascinating
journey.
Mark Haddon has brought us a character who will force us to look at the world from a different perspective.
A perspective where the most complex mathematical formulas are common sense and an everyday
conversation is an impenetrable puzzle.
Getting out of our own heads is never a bad thing ……..
so take a seat, pick up the book, and enjoy the journey.
Do you agree with the above statement?
(Source: www.shmoop.com)
What are you expecting from this book?
The following audio and video soundtracks will be played to you in class.


Official Trailer - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time.flv
Interview with Mark Haddon.mp3
2
Activity 1 - What is Asperger Syndrome?
As soon as we meet a person we make judgements about them. From their facial expression, tone of voice
and body language we can usually tell whether they are happy, angry or sad and respond accordingly.
People with Asperger syndrome can find it harder to read the signals that most of us take for granted. This
means they find it more difficult to communicate and interact with others which can lead to high levels of
anxiety and confusion.
(Source: www.autism.org.uk)
*************************************
Activity: Report Writing (Assessment Task 1a – Transactional Writing)
You are required to research and write a report on Asperger syndrome.
In your report, refer to the following:



Explain what this syndrome is.
Refer to the main difficulties that people with Asperger syndrome share.
Possible causes of this syndrome.
You MUST adhere to the following:
 Length 150 – 200 words.
 The report must be written in your own words. (You will be severely penalised for plagiarism)
 Evidence of planning.
 Rough draft has been edited to ensure the final report has minimal spelling and grammar mistakes.
 Report writing structure and rules are applied.
 Refer to the following assessment rubric when tackling this task.
Assessment rubric for functional writing: Primary language (7 - 9)
Correctness of format
and appropriate length
Correct structure, tone,
style, register, spelling
and punctuation and use
of language
Adherence to topic
4
20 - 14
3
13 - 10
2
9-7
Total adherence to
format.
Correct length
Good adherence to
format.
Appropriate length
Partial adherence to
format.
Inappropriate length
Fully appropriate
structure and tone.
Integrated variation
of sentence types.
Clear and lucid use
of language with
few errors
Predominantly
appropriate
structure and tone.
Complete sentences
with mostly correct
use of grammar.
Variation of
sentence types used
Partially inappropriate
structure and tone.
Incomplete, rambling
sentences.
A number of
grammatical errors
Completely
inappropriate
structure and
tone.
Weak sentence
structure,
grammar.
Adheres largely to
the topic.
Achieves purpose
Mentions the topic
but doesn’t
successfully achieve
purpose
Only slight
reference to the
topic but doesn’t
achieve purpose
Total adherence to
topic.
Achieves purpose
fully
Date: __________________
1
6-0
Very limited
adherence to
format.
Far too long/
much too short
Mark:
/ 20
*************************************
3
Activity 2 – Book Trailer Production
The following audio and video soundtracks will be played to you in class.
Official Trailer - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time.flv
Student Trailer - The curious incident of the dog in the night-time.flv
Student Trailer - The curious incident of the dog in the night-time (2).flv
This is a group activity. In this activity, your group will be producing a video recording of the trailer for the
film production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time.
This is meant to be a fun and creative project. You are not being assessed on your ability to perform and
act, but rather your ability to work as a team and the manner in which you use your voice in the narration
of the story. For those students who struggle at presenting orals in front of a class, this is a perfect
opportunity to use your voice to its ultimate without the pressure of performing in front of an audience.
The following guidelines should be followed in producing this recording:






Length: 7-10 minutes long
This is a group activity – each member of the group must play a role in the production of the video.
Each member of the group must have an equal talking part in the video.
The video must include a credit list of group members' names and the roles they played in
producing the trailer. Remember to include, not only character roles played but also the technical
and organisational roles, such as, producer, director, cameraman etc.
You may include music to add effect.
You may choose to focus on one scene or multiple scenes from the story.
The following assessment rubric will be used to assess your individual contribution to the activity:
Task 2c
Contribution to
Team Work
(individually assessed)
Use of voice
enunciations; Use of
language
4
3
2
1
30 - 21
20 - 15
14 - 11
10 - 0
Excellent team work. Cooperative participation and
added positive value to the
group activity.
Participated well in the
team.
Some evidence as
working with the team
but mainly worked on
your own
Minimal participation and
contribution made to
team work.
Excellent voice control.
Clear enunciation and
diction. Excellent command
of the language.
Clearly a capable speaker
with adequate voice
control. Language used
appropriately
Capable speaker with
lapses in audibility and
voice control.
Inappropriate register
and poor enunciation.
Excellent interpretation of
character. The tone used
portrayed the character and
the scene within the story in
an excellent manner
The voice clearly
interpreted the character
being portrayed.
There was sufficient
evidence that the tone of
voice used was portraying
the character and
situation in the story
Very little evidence that
the character was being
displayed through the
tone of voice used.
The video was an excellent
portrayal of the essence of
the story. It was directed in
a logical and clear manner.
The video showed excellent
creativity by the group.
Portrayed the essence of
the story. It was directed
logically and clearly.
Creativity was used in the
production
The video captured the
basic story. It the direction
and production, It was not
always clear and logical.
The video did not achieve
its purpose as a trailer for
the story.
(individually assessed)
Interpretation of
character through
the use of voice
(individually assessed)
Video production
and direction
( group assessed)
Date: ………………………………
Mark:
4
/ 30
Themes
Order and Logic
Christopher likes for things to be in a very particular
order. He doesn't mind the lady who lives next door,
moving in after his mom dies, just as long as she keeps
the jars in the kitchen ordered according to size. He's
also very logical about the world - (He tells a priest
there's no such thing as God because nothing can exist
outside of the universe, for one. These two factors –
order and logic –unite in the realm of mathematics,
where Christopher is happiest. Bottom line: The Curious
Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time reminds us life is
pretty chaotic (and that's so not okay with Christopher).
How does this illustration depict Christopher's feelings
and reaction to the world when order and logic does not
prevail?
The following extracts from the book illustrate the theme of Order and Logic.
Quote #1
I do not like people shouting at me. It makes me scared that they are going to hit me or touch me and I do
not know what is going to happen. (5.5)
1. The first part of this is pretty inarguable – none of us wants to be shouted at or hit, right? But then
Christopher takes a pretty big leap, suggesting that he needs to always know what's going to
happen, and what everyone around him is going to do next. Now that's a recipe for disaster.
Quote #2
Then the police arrived. I like the police. They have uniforms and numbers and you know what they are
meant to be doing. (11.1)
2. This naturally implies that Christopher has difficulty with most other people because, well, he
doesn't know what "they are meant to be doing," and that makes him nervous.
Quote #3
This made me feel a lot calmer because it is what policemen say on television and in films. (17.2)
3. We can understand that Christopher is reassured by the fact that policemen behave in the way he
expects. But this almost suggests that he considers the fictional world on TV more "real" than the
world in which he actually lives and breathes
Quote #4
The rule for working out prime numbers is really simple, but no one has ever worked out a simple formula
for telling you whether a very big number is a prime number or what the next one will be. If a number is
really, really big, it can take a computer years to work out whether it is a prime number. (19.6)
4. What's wrong with this mathematical picture? We thought Christopher was all about logic and order,
so shouldn't he hate prime numbers? They're just about the least-orderly things around. Even
computers can't predict where they're going to show up! What makes prime numbers different,
such that they don't make him uneasy like other unpredictable things?
5
Comprehension Questions
The followingquestions must be completed timeously during the reading of this novel. All questions must
be answered in full sentences. Check your answers for any grammar, spelling or punctuation errors.
CHAPTERS2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13 & 17
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
What emotion was expressed in the first face picture that Siobhan shared with the narrator?
According to the narrator, what four moods does the dog have?
For how long is the narrator hugging the dog when he hears screaming?
Why does the narrator like the grass?
How does Siobhan tell the narrator to begin his book?
Why do you think the narrator did not understand the joke 'His face was
drawn but the curtains were real'
CHAPTERS 19, 23, 29, 31 & 37
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Why does the narrator say he uses prime numbers?
Why does the narrator say prime numbers are considered military material?
What drawing is the narrator carrying with him at the police headquarters?
What is one of the reasons the narrator gives for finding people confusing?
How does the narrator explain the difference between a metaphor and a simile?
CHAPTERS 41, 43 & 47
1. What words describe the demeanour of the narrator's father on the ride home from the police
headquarters?
2. Why is the narrator's father frustrated by the time they reach home from the police headquarters?
3. Why does the narrator say that he will not bother his father after his father admits to being sad?
4. The type of day the narrator has depends on the number of cars he passes on the way to school.
What are the two types of days that he has?
CHAPTERS 53, 59 & 61
1. What was on the front cover the card the narrator sent to his mother while she was in the hospital?
2. Why does the narrator decide to investigate the death of the dog despite his father's admonishments?
3. What example does the narrator give of his father breaking the rules?
CHAPTERS 67 & 71
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What does Father decide to do on Saturday instead of taking the narrator on a weekly trip?
What fear does the narrator overcome while trying to solve the mystery of the dog's death?
Which of the following is not one of the three reasons the narrator deduces for killing a dog?
Why was Mrs Gascoyne initially not going to allow the narrator to take the A-level exam?
Name the figurative language used in the phrase 'stranger danger'.
CHAPTERS 73 & 79
1.
2.
3.
4.
What made the narrator think at one time that his parents were going to get a divorce?
What does the narrator say caused much of the stress in his parents' relationship?
What type of listing does the narrator include in chapter 73?
How does the narrator's father describe Mr Shears?
6
CHAPTERS 83& 89
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What profession does the narrator tell his readers he would be good at?
In chapter 89, what Joseph Conrad book does Siobhan tell the narrator about?
Why doesn't the narrator think he could make his story into a short novel?
When the narrator sees four yellow cars in a row, what type of day does that signal for him?
In chapter 89, why does the narrator keep his eyes closed on his way to school on the third day?
CHAPTERS 97 & 101
1.
2.
3.
4.
In chapter 97, where does the narrator go after he arrives home from school?
What does Mrs Alexander reveal to the narrator about Mr Shears?
How does Mrs Alexander respond when the narrator asks if Mrs Shears killed his mother?
What concept, which appeared in a newspaper column, does the narrator explain in chapter 101?
CHAPTERS 103 &107
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What type of business does Father own?
According to the narrator, what colour is Gobi Aloo Sag?
What does the narrator have to do to the Gobi Aloo Sag before he can eat it?
What is the narrator's favourite book?
In Chapter 103, where does the narrator go to watch the clouds make pictures?
CHAPTERS 109 & 113
1. What is the setting of Chapter 109?
2. In Chapter 109, who tells the narrator, "...sometimes we get sad
about things and we don't like to tell other people that we are sad
about them."
3. What does the narrator compare his memory to?
4. What does the narrator's memory have that is similar to a
soundtrack?
5. What memory of his mother does the narrator recall in Chapter 113?
CHAPTERS 127 & 131
1. What type of video does the narrator watch while waiting for his father to get home?
2. In Chapter 127, how does the narrator respond to his father grabbing him after Father finds the book
on the kitchen table?
3. On reflection, what does the narrator recall about his mother?
4. What colours does the narrator say he does not like?
5. How does Mrs Forbes respond to the narrator's dislike of the two colours?
CHAPTERS 137 & 139
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Where does the narrator's father take him for an outing?
Which one of the following it not one of the narrator's favourite animals?
In Chapter 137, why does Father apologize to the narrator on Saturday?
Why does the narrator like Sherlock Holmes?
Why does the narrator not like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle?
CHAPTERS 149& 151
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
What does Siobhan ask the narrator about at school on Monday?
Why does the narrator want to get his book back from Father?
What does the narrator's mother apologize for in the letter?
What mystery does the narrator say scientists will solve someday?
Where did Uncle Terry encounter a ghost?
What reason does the narrator give for having a pond at school?
What information does the narrator include on the graph in Chapter 151?
What type of formula does the narrator write?
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CHAPTERS 157& 163
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Why did the narrator refuse to go to the toilet?
After the six days, what does the narrator do when he returns home from school?
In the first letter, what trip does the narrator's mother refer to?
What does mother try to explain in the second letter the narrator reads?
What term does the narrator give to the phenomenon in which eyes move from point to point without
really seeing what is in between the two points?
6. What is in the Smarties box?
7. What does the narrator compare peoples' brains to?
8. What does the narrator use Chapter 163 to do?
CHAPTERS 167 & 173
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Why did Father kill the dog?
How does the narrator view his father after he reveals that he killed the dog?
How does the narrator close out Chapter 167?
According to the narrator, why is Orion called Orion?
Why does the narrator say you can join Orion to bits of Lepus, Taurus, or Gemini?
CHAPTERS 179 & 181
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What happens when the narrator goes to Mrs Shears' house?
Why does the narrator decide he cannot live with Siobhan?
How does the narrator decide to travel to his mother's house?
Why does the narrator say he does not like new places?
What term does the narrator define as "the same word for bumping off something and carrying on in
almost the same direction"?
6. In retrospect, what does the narrator say he lied about in Chapter 13?
CHAPTERS 191&193
1. Why did the narrator feel giddy and sick at the train station?
2. What does the narrator do when he shuts his mind down?
3. What does the stranger help the narrator do before getting on
the train?
4. Why does the narrator like timetables?
5. For what day does the narrator provide a sample timetable?
6. What time does the narrator go to bed on his sample timetable?
7. What does the narrator conclude about time at the end of
Chapter 193?
CHAPTERS 197&199
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What is the setting of Chapter 197?
Why is the narrator's experience with the toilet on the train traumatic?
Where does the narrator hide as the train approaches Didcot Parkway?
Why does the narrator say people believe in God?
According to the narrator, if everyone in the world was tossing coins, eventually how many heads in a
row would someone get?
6. How does the narrator say people should think?
7. Why does the narrator say that half an eye is very useful?
8. What does the narrator say will happen when humans evolve into another animal?
8
CHAPTERS 211&223
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What nickname do the three young men on the train give to the narrator?
When the narrator returns to his original seat on the train, what does he find is missing?
How does the narrator figure out that he is in London?
Who helps the narrator find the subway tunnel that he will take?
Where does the narrator hide after he gets down in the subway tunnel and sees all of the people in the
tube?
6. What does the narrator do when a man urges him to hurry up in the train station?
7. According to the narrator, why does Siobhan say that people go on holidays?
CHAPTERS 227&199
1.
2.
3.
4.
What sound does the narrator compare the train's arrival to?
What happens to Toby while Christopher and Toby are in the train station?
What does the narrator sketch while on the train?
In Chapter 227, what is Mother doing when she arrives to her home and Christopher is awaiting her
arrival?
CHAPTERS 229&233
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
In Chapter 229, what happens in the narrator's dream?
What makes the narrator's dream in Chapter 229 special?
What illustration does the narrator include in Chapter 229?
What is not one of the things that the narrator says he can stay home and do if he doesn't want to go
anywhere?
How does the narrator feel when the dream is over?
Why does Mother lose her job?
Who supervises the narrator while he takes his A-level exams?
What is the gift that Father gives to the narrator at the end of the book?
What grade does the narrator get on each section of his A-level exams?
9