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Observations about Her Writing Style






The question is often asked why Christie became internationally popular, and has remained popular, in so many different cultures and languages? Here are some ideas for you on this.

We know that she had an uncontested genius for constructing complex plots.

She wrote that her problem was not having a shortage of new ideas for her novels. To the contrary, she would have 5 different stories in her mind at the same time, requiring tremendous intellectual ability and energy to stay focused on one project.

In her stories, Christie did not stimulate readers' interest in the cultural values of her day, which can date a writer's work. Her stories remain as fresh and interesting today as when she wrote them. She used a broad range of imaginative and atypical characters, which did not mirror the norm in society. Thus, for example, she would write about a young woman who was a solid breadwinner, or a woman over 60 who can dominate the life of family and community, or a murderess who was just as handsome, hard headed, and ambitious, as any man.

Christie had the insight and genius to create her great detective, Poirot, in her very first novel. There is something very clever about Poirot. He presents an image of a funny little man, with an egghead and moustache, who is a former policeman and possesses an outstanding intellect. However, you will note that he otherwise has no family, or nation, or class. His background is never developed or explained. Only in a very limited sense is he developed as a character. He serves instead as an efficient device or tool for Christie logically and uneventfully to tell her story without developing a new person which would distract her readers.

Similarly, Christie has developed a stereotypical friend in Captain Hastings, who serves another role in her stories. Since most of her stories deal with the upper middle class in British society, she uses Hastings, with his cultural and class connections, to gain Poirot access to the drawing rooms and the upstairs corridors and other intimate settings necessary for his investigations.

Her other well known character, Miss Marple, was introduced in The Tuesday Night Club in 1927 and was based on women like Christie's grandmother and her " cronies". Miss Marple, an elderly spinster, is a typical English character, but when Poirot uses logic and rational methods, Marple relies on her feminine sensitivity and empathy to solve crimes. Her motto is: “The young people think the old people are fools, but the old people know the young people are fools.”

She was born and lived in the village of St. Mary Mead. Both Poirot and Marple did not have any family life, but Poirot also travelled much. Marple was featured in 17 novels. The BBC TV series starring Joan Hickson ran 1984-87.

Christie never wrote a novel or short story featuring both Poirot and Miss Marple. In a recording, recently re-discovered and released in 2008, Christie revealed the reason for this: " Hercule Poirot, a complete egoist, would not like being taught his business or having suggestions made to him by an elderly spinster lady".

 

I) What was Christie's reputation as a detective novelist?

2) Was Christie lacking in ideas for her stories? Why or why not?

3) What in Christie's writing style keeps her stories fresh and new?

4) Were Christie's characters consistent with the roles normally played by men and women in society? Why or why not?

5) Who is the most famous of the characters in her novels and short stories?

6) In what book did Christie first develop the role of Hercule Poirot?

7) What is so clever about the role of Poirot in Christie's books?

8) What do we know about Poirot's family, nationality, and class in society?

9) Who was Captain Hastings?

10) In what way did Christie use the role of Hastings to tell her detective stories?

11) What kind of character is Ms Marple?

12) Why did Agatha Christie never write a novel featuring both Poirot and Miss Marple?

 

 


UNIT 1






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