Death On The Nile

Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie

• Genre: Mystery; detective fiction; crime
• Originally Published: 1937
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 660L; adult
• Structure/Length: Novel divided into chapters; approximately 256 pages; audiobook approximately 7 hours and 59 minutes
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: Death on the Nile is a classic detective novel by Agatha Christie. The central conflict revolves around Hercule Poirot, the renowned Belgian detective on vacation in Egypt. While on a Nile cruise, a murder occurs, and Poirot finds himself entangled in a complex web of motives and suspects. As he investigates the murder, he uncovers secrets, deceit, and a web of interconnected relationships. The novel explores themes of love, jealousy, and the consequences of past actions. Agatha Christie's storytelling is known for its intricate plots, well-developed characters, and brilliant detective work.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Themes of murder, deception, and crime investigation

Agatha Christie, Author

• Bio: British author known as the "Queen of Mystery" for her prolific contributions to the detective fiction genre; Christie is celebrated for her iconic detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple.
• Other Works: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (1926); Murder on the Orient Express (1934); Agatha Christie's novels have been adapted into numerous films, TV series, and plays and continue to captivate readers with their clever mysteries.

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• The Seductiveness of Evil
• The Danger of Loving “Too Much”

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

• Gain an understanding of Agatha Christie’s life and the literary and historical contexts of the novel.
• Discuss paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of The Seductiveness of Evil and Loving “Too Much.”
• Think critically about what detectives do by completing a murder mystery task.
• Evaluate the themes, symbols, and motifs of the play in structured essay responses on the role of class, the novel’s historical and political background, and other topics.