Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

Summer Project: Create a photo album containing photos and information for any 10 of the following characters: Hercule Poirot, M. Bouc, Dr. Constantine, Mary Debenham, Mrs. Hubbard, Col. Arbuthnot, Princess Dragomiroff, Hector McQueen, Ratchett, Countess Andrenyi, Count Andrenyi, Cyrus Hardman, Antonio Foscanelli, Greta Ohlson, Hildegarde Schmidt, Edward Henry Masterman, Pierre Michel. Photo album must include a picture of what you believe the character may look like and a short paragraph describing the character’s importance in the novel. Example:

Hercule Poirot is a retired Belgian police officer turned private detective. In Murder on The Orient Express, Poirot does not always follow the law—he lets the real murderers go. While Poirot does not always obey the law, he always abides his conscience and his sense moral law. Poirot is smarter than any of the other passengers. Poirot's greatest task as a detective is to be the smartest person around; he must intellectually defeat the murderer. The characters purposefully attempt to confuse and fool Poirot. They set an elaborate set of clues and misleading evidence to veer him from the truth, but Poirot still wins. Poirot is over concerned with appearance especially his moustache. He is rather short, slightly snobby.

Study Questions:

1. To what city does Poirot first Travel in the book?

2. What does Poirot hear Mrs. Debenham say to Colonel Arbuthnot when he first meets he couple that makes him suspicious?

3. Why must Poirot return to London when he reaches the hotel?

4. How many stab wounds are found on Ratchett's body?

5. How does Poirot know the case is involved with Daisy Armstrong's murder?

6. What clues are found in Ratchett's compartment?

7. Who aboard the Orient Express smokes a pipe? 8. Who is the owner of the handkerchief?

9. At what time did Ratchett's watch stop?

10. What words did Poirot hear someone speak from Ratchett's room the night of the murder?

11. Who did Poirot see in the hallway the night of the murder?

12. In whose luggage is the Wagon Lit Conductor's Jacket found?

13. How does Hardman describe Ratchett's enemy??

14. Whose alibi helps Arbuthnot most?

15. What kind of justice does Arbuthnot endorse and thinks he carries out?

16. What is wrong with Mrs. Hubbard's story about locking the communicating door?

17. Why does Poirot not believe Ratchett took a sleeping draught on the night of the murder?

18. How is Hardman connected to the Armstrong case?

19. What is Hardman's profession?

20. What is strange about Countess Andrenyi's luggage?

21. Why does Poirot think multiple people inflicted the stab wounds?

22. What is suspicious about the group of people on the train?

23. Who is Sophia Armstrong's sister?

24. The memory of what store helps Poirot discover Mary Debenham's identity?

25. What is Greta Ohlsson real identity?

26. Who is the innocent passenger?