The idea of a storm rolling in / storm brewing / winds picking up, is a symbol that creates story motif. A motif is a repeated symbol that creates a theme. What theme could the storm help create?
Themes could focus on fear, madness, chaos, uncertainty, etc.
"Crossing the room he (Rogers) locked the door to the pantry. Then going through the other door to the hall he pulled the door to, locked it and slipped the key into his pocket." Why use such imagery in this scene?
Author wanted us to visualize the safety precautions Rogers was taking this evening to keep everyone safe.
Create a sentence about the story that contains alliteration.
Make sure it has the same sound repeated at least 3 times within close proximity of each other.
What type of literary device can be seen at the end of ch. 10 when Rogers hides the figures and says "No more china-soldier tricks tonight. I've seen to that..." (foreshadowing, flashback, cliffhanger, imagery?)
cliffhanger - leaves reader wondering what will happen next
"Then we'll eliminate ourselves and concentrate on our five fellow prisoners." What type of figurative language? (simile, metaphor, personification, alliteration)
metaphor - comparing guests to prisoners (trapped)
On pg 144, the color "scarlet" was mentioned twice - to describe the missing shower curtain and matching bathroom tiles. This color is a symbol. What color is it and what does this color typically represent?
red - death, blood, anger
"He's an old man and he's been presiding over the court of law for years. That is to say, he's played God Almighty for a good many months every year." What type of figurative language?
metaphor - comparing the judge to God (judging people)
"Outside the rain poured down and the wind howled in great shuddering gusts against the windowpanes." What type of figurative language?
personification - the wind howled
"The pencil straggled drunkenly in her fingers." What type of figurative language?
personification - pencil acting drunk (shaky/wobbly)
Why do you think Agatha Christie chose "china figures" to represent the characters? What do you know about china figures?
China is fragile. Easy to break, much like the characters. Inisght fear and they are breaking/ cracking (going crazy).