The ABC Murders

The ABC Murders

• Genre: Fiction; mystery
• Originally Published: 1936
• Reading Level/Interest: College/Adult
• Structure/Length: 35 chapters; approx. 252 pages; approx. 6 hours on audio
• Protagonist and Central Conflict: Christie’s famed protagonist Hercule Poirot, a clever private detective, contends with a serial killer choosing victims and locations by the first letter in their names. Poirot is intent on finding the murderer based on the clues left behind.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Murder; abusive relationships; violence

Agatha Christie, Author

• Bio: 1890-1976; born in Devon, England; homeschooled by her mother; studied voice and piano in Paris at 16; served as a nurse during WWI; introduced famous character Hercule Poirot in first published novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1921); wrote over 70 detective and mystery novels in her lifetime, many adapted to stage plays and film; earned the Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master Award in 1955; credited as being the best-selling mystery novelist of all time; received a knighthood for her literary contributions; awarded the title of Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1971
• Other Works: The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1921); Murder on the Orient Express (1934); Death on the Nile (1937); And Then There Were None (1939); Evil Under the Sun (1941); A Pocket Full of Rye (1953); Sleeping Murder (1976)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Unit:

• Age and Youth
• Genius, Madness, and Reason
• Chance, Choice, and Fate

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Unit, students will:

• Gain an understanding of the literary and historical contexts regarding British mysteries that impact Christie’s narrative.
• Study paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of Age and Youth; Genius, Madness, and Reason; and Chance, Choice, and Fate.
• Brainstorm and interrogate alternate endings that demonstrate logical consistency based on textual details.
• Examine and appraise the plot and character details to draw conclusions in structured essay responses regarding point of view, Poirot’s outsider status, and more.