The Pattern of the Nursery Rhyme

How the sequence of deaths strictly follows the verses of the Ten Little Indians, creating a sense of inevitability.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

Verse by Verse

The Rhyme as Fate The First Verse "Ten little Indian boys went out to dine; One choked his little self and then there were nine." Anthony James Marston died by choking on cyanide. The Second Verse "Nine little Indian boys sat up very late; One overslept himself and then there were eight." Ethel Rogers died in her sleep. The Third Verse "Eight little Indian boys travelling in Devon; One said he'd stay there and then there were seven." John Gordon Macarthur was killed by a blow on the head, and he had said he would stay on the island. The Fourth Verse "Seven little Indian boys chopping up sticks; One chopped himself in halves and then there were six." Thomas Rogers was killed while chopping wood. The Fifth Verse "Six little Indian boys playing with a hive; A bumblebee stung one and then there were five." Emily Caroline Brent was injected with cyanide, and a bee was present. The Sixth Verse "Five little Indian boys going in for law; One got in Chancery and then there were four." Lawrence John Wargrave, the judge, was shot (or so it seemed). The Seventh Verse "Four little Indian boys going out to sea; A red herring swallowed one and then there were three." Dr. Edward George Armstrong was the red herring, drowned. The Eighth Verse "Three little Indian boys walking in the Zoo; A big bear hugged one and then there were two." William Henry Blore was killed by a marble bear. The Ninth Verse "Two little Indian boys sitting in the sun; One got frizzled up and then there was one." Philip Lombard was shot (frizzled), perhaps a reference to the sun. The Tenth Verse "One little Indian boy left all alone; He went and hanged himself and then there were none." Vera Elizabeth Claythorne hanged herself.

August 8th-11th