13. Comedy that uses satire or sarcasm to lighten unpleasant or taboo subjects is called black (or dark) humor. How can Christopher’s interviews be considered black humor? Chapter 79 14. What is Mrs. Alexander’s reaction when Christopher tells her about his mother’s heart attack and death? Chapters 151-157 15. How does Christopher’s mother explain her decision to leave? 16. How does Christopher’s father explain the deception or his dishonesty of saying that his mother was dead? Chapter 167 17. What happens when Christopher’s father holds up his open hand to comfort or assure Christopher of his love? Chapters 197 and 199 18. When the policeman catches Christopher on the train, the officer is really loud and holding his “breathing knees.” What does this action reveal about the officer, and what does the telling of it reveal about Christopher? 19. What is funny about the sequence of events when the train starts moving? How was this kind of event foreshadowed earlier in the book? Chapters 211 and 223 20. What is the point of showing all the signs at the station, both as they are written and as Christopher begins to see them? Chapter 227 21. How does Christopher’s mother when she first sees him at the front door? 22. Describe what happens when Christopher’s father shows up to the mother’s house? Chapter 233 23. Why does Christopher say he has to go back to Swindon? What does this illustrate or show about Christopher? 24. Why does Christopher go outside at 2:07 a.m., and what happens to make him go back in? 25. What happens the night after Christopher gets home, and what can you infer or conclude about the relationship between Christopher’s mother and Roger? 26. What two events help stabilize or calm Christopher’s life as the story ends? 27. What is Christopher’s long-term plan?
13. Comedy that uses satire or sarcasm to lighten unpleasant or taboo subjects is called black (or dark) humor. How can Christopher’s interviews be considered black humor? Chapter 79 14. What is Mrs. Alexander’s reaction when Christopher tells her about his mother’s heart attack and death? Chapters 151-157 15. How does Christopher’s mother explain her decision to leave? 16. How does Christopher’s father explain the deception or his dishonesty of saying that his mother was dead? Chapter 167 17. What happens when Christopher’s father holds up his open hand to comfort or assure Christopher of his love? Chapters 197 and 199 18. When the policeman catches Christopher on the train, the officer is “breathing really loud and holding his knees.” What does this action reveal about the officer, and what does the telling of it reveal about Christopher? 19. What is funny about the sequence of events when the train starts moving? How was this kind of event foreshadowed earlier in the book? Chapters 211 and 223 20. What is the point of showing all the signs at the station, both as they are written and as Christopher begins to see them? Chapter 227 21. How does Christopher’s mother when she first sees him at the front door? 22. Describe what happens when Christopher’s father shows up to the mother’s house? Chapter 233 23. Why does Christopher say he has to go back to Swindon? What does this illustrate or show about Christopher? 24. Why does Christopher go outside at 2:07 a.m., and what happens to make him go back in? 25. What happens the night after Christopher gets home, and what can you infer or conclude about the relationship between Christopher’s mother and Roger? 26. What two events help stabilize or calm Christopher’s life as the story ends? 27. What is Christopher’s long-term plan?