Characters
Who is the former police officer who arrives on Soldier Island under the name
William Henry Blore (Davis)
What is the name of the island where the ten guests are invited?
Soldier Island
What name is used by the mysterious person who invited the guests to Soldier Island?
U.N. Owen
How many people are invited to Soldier Island?
10
How many soldiers are mentioned in the nursery rhyme displayed in the house?
10
Who is the retired judge who receives an invitation to Soldier Island?
Justice Wargrave
How do the guests travel to Soldier Island?
By Boat
What object plays a mysterious recording that accuses the guests?
A gramophone
What do the guests expect when they first arrive on the island?
They expect to meet their hosts and enjoy a pleasant visit.
What nursery rhyme is connected to the mystery on Soldier Island?
The “Ten Little Soldiers” rhyme.
Who is the young woman hired as a secretary/governess and invited to the island by Mrs. Owen?
Vera Claythorne
Where is the location of Soldier Island?
What is Devon, England?
What does the recorded voice accuse each guest of doing?
Being responsible for someone's death.
What do the guests discover about Mr. and Mrs. Owen after arriving?
They have not arrived, and the guests do not actually know them personally.
What objects in the house represent the soldiers from the rhyme?
Ten small soldier figurines.
Which retired military general is one of the guests on Soldier Island?
General Mackenzie
What do the guests discover when they arrive at the island?
Their hosts, Mr. and Mrs. Owen, are not there.
Why are the guests shocked by the accusations on the recording?
The accusations reveal secrets about their pasts that they thought were unknown.
What happens when the guests hear the recording?
Each guest is publicly accused of causing someone's death. They guests are shocked and Mrs. Owens fainted.
What does the soldiers' rhyme suggest might happen to the guests?
They may disappear or die one by one.
Which character's past involves the death of two children named John and Lucy?
Anthony Marston
What feature of the island makes the guests especially vulnerable once they realize something is wrong?
Its remote location makes escape and communication with the mainland difficult.
What major question do the guests begin asking after hearing the recording?
Who is U.N. Owen, and why has this person brought them all to the island?
How does the mood of the story change after the recording is played?
The mood changes from a seemingly pleasant gathering to one of fear, suspicion, and uncertainty.
What literary device does the soldier's rhyme show in Act One?
It foreshadows the danger facing the guests and suggests that the events on the island may follow the pattern of the rhyme.