Death On The Nile

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Agatha Christie is remembered as one of the most important and prolific writers of mystery novels. What other mystery authors or novels have you encountered? What are some tropes and/or literary devices you associate with the mystery genre?

Teaching Suggestion: Make sure to discuss Agatha Christie’s life and times: Agatha Christie (1890-1976) lived during a tumultuous historical period (she was alive during both World Wars) but also during a surge in popularity of mystery and detective fiction. Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of the Sherlock Holmes novels, was an earlier contemporary of Christie’s; other famous novelists within the genre include Raymond Chandler, Sue Grafton, and Elizabeth Daly. Ask the class about the typical structure of a mystery novel or “whodunit” (e.g., the crime, the investigation, red herrings, “twist” endings, etc.).

• This article from MasterClass provides a general overview of mystery fiction.
• This page from the Agatha Christie website contains a biography of the author and offers helpful resources.

2. As the title of the novel suggests, Death on the Nile is primarily set in Egypt. Consider what you know about Egypt’s history and culture. Why do you think Egypt has captivated so many people?

Teaching Suggestion: Agatha Christie spent a lot of time in Egypt, first visiting the country in 1907 with her mother and returning several times during her long life. Christie’s interest in Egyptology and archaeology grew stronger and stronger, and her second husband, Sir Max Mallowan, was an archaeologist himself. Discuss some of Egypt’s eventful history with the class, highlighting ancient Egyptian culture, which plays a prominent role in the novel, as well as the more modern history of the country. A presentation with images of some of the landmarks and ancient Egyptian monuments that feature in the novel (e.g., the temple complex at Karnak, the Wadi Halfa, the temples of Wadi es-Sebua, etc.).

• This article from the History Channel gives a basic outline of 30 centuries of ancient Egyptian history.
• This short interview from National Geographic features a conversation with the Egyptologist and archaeologist Dr. Sarah Parcak.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

What’s the most eventful vacation you ever went on? Where did you go? What was it that made it so eventful and interesting? (Let’s hope nobody was murdered!) Did you meet any new people or make any new friends?

Teaching Suggestion: Many of Agatha Christie’s most famous novels are set during vacations or feature characters traveling in foreign lands. Such settings increase tension and suspense as they bring many strangers into proximity with each other. Have students reflect on their own experiences with travel, vacation, and meeting strangers to reflect on why this type of setting works so well for mystery novels.