Wellington and Mrs. Shears

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Wellington’s death exposes the depth of Mrs. Shears’s attachment to her dog and becomes a catalyst in the adults’ conflicts.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

A Beloved Dog A Beloved Dog from "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time". Wellington in the Neighborhood A Familiar Presence Wellington belongs to Mrs. Shears and is known to Christopher as a large black poodle.

A Beloved Dog from "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time". Wellington in the Neighborhood A Familiar Presence Wellington belongs to Mrs. Shears and is known to Christopher as a large black poodle.

Wellington in the Neighborhood A Familiar Presence Wellington belongs to Mrs. Shears and is known to Christopher as a large black poodle. The dog is part of the neighboring household’s ordinary life. Christopher values dogs because he believes their behavior is direct and honest. An Attachment Revealed After the death, Mrs. Shears’s grief is immediate and intense. Her response shows that Wellington is not incidental to the people around him.

The Garden Fork The Garden Fork from "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time". A Violent Death Christopher’s Observation Christopher finds a garden fork embedded in Wellington and reasons that it probably caused the dog’s death.

The Garden Fork from "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time". A Violent Death Christopher’s Observation Christopher finds a garden fork embedded in Wellington and reasons that it probably caused the dog’s death.

A Violent Death Christopher’s Observation Christopher finds a garden fork embedded in Wellington and reasons that it probably caused the dog’s death. The instrument remains standing because its points penetrate the ground. The physical details establish the murder mystery’s central question. Grief and Suspicion Christopher embraces the still-warm dog, trying to comfort him and understand who could have acted this way.

Grief at the Door Grief at the Door from "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time". Mrs. Shears Confronts Christopher A Painful Misreading Mrs.

Grief at the Door from "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time". Mrs. Shears Confronts Christopher A Painful Misreading Mrs.

Mrs. Shears Confronts Christopher A Painful Misreading Mrs. Shears sees Christopher holding Wellington and shouts at him, mistaking the scene for an attack or disturbance. Her anger and panic frighten him. Christopher puts the dog down and curls against the wet grass to block the noise. Different Responses to Loss The scene shows grief emerging as rage for Mrs. Shears and sensory overwhelm for Christopher. Neither can immediately understand the other’s reaction.

The Shed Clue The Shed Clue from "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time". A Fork in the Shed A Possible Weapon Christopher looks through the locked shed window and sees a clean fork resembling the one found in Wellington.

The Shed Clue from "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time". A Fork in the Shed A Possible Weapon Christopher looks through the locked shed window and sees a clean fork resembling the one found in Wellington.

A Fork in the Shed A Possible Weapon Christopher looks through the locked shed window and sees a clean fork resembling the one found in Wellington. He infers that the murder weapon may have belonged to Mrs. Shears. The fork raises possibilities but does not identify the person who used it. Suspicion Redirected Christopher considers whether Mrs. Shears herself killed the dog, then rejects the theory because of her shocked reaction. The clue remains ambiguous.

Loss and Anger Loss and Anger from "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time". The Dog at the Center A Dispute Exposed Father(Ed Boone) says he killed Wellington after feeling rejected by Mrs. Shears.

Loss and Anger from "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time". The Dog at the Center A Dispute Exposed Father(Ed Boone) says he killed Wellington after feeling rejected by Mrs. Shears.

The Dog at the Center A Dispute Exposed Father(Ed Boone) says he killed Wellington after feeling rejected by Mrs. Shears. He describes the dog as a focus of resentment during an argument. Wellington’s death grows out of adult loneliness and anger rather than the motive Christopher first imagined. Consequences for the Living The killing damages Christopher’s trust in Father and confirms the seriousness of Mrs. Shears’s loss. The dog’s death changes several households.

Before the opening scene

Just after midnight at the beginning

Minutes after the discovery

The evening Christopher visits Mrs. Shears’s house

After Father’s confession