One Book, One College
The Curious Incident of
the Dog in the Night-Time
Themes of the Book and Reference List
|
|
One Book, One College
The Curious Incident of
the Dog in the Night-Time
Themes of the Book and Reference List |
At heart, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a coming-of-age story. Christopher sets off to solve Wellington’s murder but, in the end, overcomes obstacles and learns about the larger world. Like other coming-of-age stories, such as Catcher in the Rye and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Curious Incident asks the reader to follow the main character from the world of youth to the world of adults. Along the way, we see both worlds with a new perspective.
Adventure and
Detective Stories
Like other famous adventurers like Sherlock Holmes, Don Quixote, Robinson Crusoe, Indiana Jones and even Lara Craft, Christopher must overcome obstacles that are external and internal on his adventure. The adventure and detective genres of stories strike a chord in readers. Often the hero faces insurmountable challenges as he or she attempts to set the world right and ensure that good prevails over evil. The Curious Incident twists these genres into something new.
While Christopher finds comfort within mathematics, many of us find this discipline to be foreign, overly complex, and stressful. Through Christopher, we can see how mathematics can describe our world from understanding the nature of the galaxy to making logical decisions on where to live. Whether we know it or not, mathematics is the tool that dictates our lives. From the chips in our computers, to statistics about economy, to engineers who plan our roadways, the power of mathematics is all around us.
The disintegration of the family comes to play an important role in The Curious Incident. The pressures of marriage and raising a disabled child are often too much to bear for some parents. Issues related to single parents or separated parents raising children impact the ways we define and understand family relationships.
In The Curious Incident, Christopher attends a special-needs school. In some ways, Christopher’s experiences at school are like anyone’s. In other ways, Christopher’s experiences are very different. In any case, school plays a major role in the lives of children in modern society. Teachers are or have been mentors, advocates, and guides to all of us in some way. Yet, Christopher’s views of education and his views of knowledge might be slightly different than the views held by many students.
DisAbilities
|
|
Back to Curious Main Page |
