Characters/Relationships
Who is Christopher’s main teacher and trusted adult at school?
Siobhan
From whose perspective is the novel told?
Christopher Boone
What unusual system does Christopher use to number his chapters?
Prime numbers
Name one major theme explored in the novel.
Family, truth, trust, independence, communication, belonging or difference
What breed of dog is Wellington?
A poodle
Why does Christopher initially believe his mother is dead?
His father tells him that she died
Give one feature of Christopher’s narrative voice.
Literal, logical, precise, factual, emotionally restrained or highly detailed
What is the name of the technique where letters are included within the novel?
Epistolary form
Why is truth particularly important to Christopher?
He relies on truth to make the world predictable and understandable
What does Christopher decide to investigate at the beginning of the novel?
Who killed Wellington
How does Christopher’s relationship with his father change after he discovers the letters?
Christopher loses trust in him after discovering that his father lied about his mother and killed Wellington
How does first person narration shape the reader’s understanding of Christopher?
It places the reader inside Christopher’s distinctive perspective and allows us to experience events through his logic and interpretation
Why does Haddon include diagrams, maps, lists and mathematical problems?
They represent Christopher’s way of organising and understanding the world and make his perspective central to the form of the novel
How does the novel explore belonging through Christopher’s experiences?
Christopher often struggles with social expectations but seeks safety, acceptance and independence within family, school and society
Why are the letters from Christopher’s mother structurally important?
They reveal the truth about his mother and become a major turning point in the novel
How does Siobhan help Christopher communicate and navigate the world around him?
She gives him clear explanations, rules and strategies and encourages him to write the book, helping him interpret situations he finds confusing
What effect is created when Christopher describes highly emotional events using factual or unemotional language?
The contrast can intensify the reader’s emotional response while revealing Christopher’s distinctive way of processing experience
Explain how metafiction is used in the novel.
Christopher comments on the process of writing the very book the reader is reading, making the novel self aware
How does Haddon explore the relationship between independence and fear?
Christopher desires independence but unfamiliar environments and uncertainty cause intense anxiety, so his growth involves acting despite that fear
Why is Christopher’s journey to London important beyond simply moving from one place to another?
It symbolises increasing independence, resilience and confidence as Christopher navigates an unfamiliar world alone
Evaluate the significance of Christopher rebuilding some trust with his father by the end of the novel.
It suggests that trust can be damaged yet gradually rebuilt through honesty, patience and consistent actions, while recognising that their relationship remains complex
How does Haddon use Christopher’s distinctive voice to challenge the reader’s assumptions about what is considered “normal”?
By allowing readers to experience events through Christopher’s logic, Haddon makes unfamiliar behaviours understandable and encourages readers to question conventional expectations about communication and behaviour
Explain how the unusual structure of the novel contributes to its textual integrity.
The prime numbered chapters, diagrams, digressions, letters and metafiction consistently reflect Christopher’s perspective, linking form with character and meaning
How does the novel suggest that belonging does not necessarily require conformity?
Christopher does not become socially conventional. Instead, he develops greater confidence while retaining his distinctive identity, suggesting that belonging can involve acceptance rather than sameness
Christopher ends the novel believing he can “do anything”. Why is this statement significant?
It marks Christopher’s growth from uncertainty and dependence towards confidence and self belief, making his achievement in mathematics, travel and solving the mystery symbolic of broader personal development