chapter 4-Dinner at Fernly Flashcards
“the shutting down…
of a window”
-misleading info.. red herring.
“I received a vague impression that…
my dining there displeased her in some way”
-confiding narrator…gives her an opportunity to be accused.
“a lot of people do not like…
flora ackroyd”
- immediately established that she is disliked by others-makes us question why and what she has done
- makes us think should we dislike her
“nobody can help…
admiring her”
-clearly attractive
“her skin is…
cream and roses”
-emphasis on Flora’s her beauty
” ‘I’m going to marry Ralph, you know,’…
she went on”-FLORA ACKROYD
- seems as though marriage is a price
- flaunting her marriage
“she is all chains and teeth
and bones”
- contrasts Flora-perhaps looks wise.
- due to her description we immediately don’t like her, despite it being Sheppard’s portrayal
“a most..
unpleasant woman”
-emphasis on Mrs. Ackroyds portrayal
“I was pleased at the interruption. I hate….
interfering in other people’s affairs”
-makes it seem as though his innocent and didn’t blackmail Mrs. Ferrars.
“a lot of people…
know Hector Blunt”
-high importance
“expressionless”
-cold persona
“I have hear hector blunt…
described as a woman hater”
- sexist/misogynistic
- negative portrayal
“I studied him quietly without…
appearing to do so”
- portrays him to be deceiving
- also shows Sheppard’s attention to detail
“I played…
up accordingly”
- for his own anxiety rather than Ackroyds
- able to play these parts
“I was very
uneasy”
-we assume its due to Ackroyd, when in reality he’s anxious for himself.
“Ackroyd remained silent…
for a minute of two”
-hesitant
“I was silent for…
a minute of two”
- being very hesitant on what to say
- emphasis on his nerves
“then I made up…
my mind on what to say”
- perhaps contemplating what to say and how to avoid discovery
- inclusion of secrets
” ‘he was…
poisoned’ said Ackroyd”
- perhaps Ackroyd is trying to provoke a response out of Sheppard
- ‘poisoned’ shows inclusion of suffering
” ‘who by?’ I asked…
sharply”
-ironic as he’s playing the role of an outsider in the situation despite being the blackmailer.
” ‘can you tell me the whole…
story’ I said”
-ensuring that nothing leads back to him in this situation.
“I saw the repulsion, the horror,
in Ackroyds face”
- emphasis on how Ackroyd was against all of this
- also suggest he would expose Sheppard if he were to find out it was him who blackmailed Mrs. Ferrars
“I felt a momentary…
throb of anxiety”
-assume the anxiety is for Ralph, however it’s most likely fear of discovery”
” ‘I see’ I..
said slowly”
-contemplating what to do
“he looked…
at me”
- anxiety and paranoia on Sheppard’s behalf
- Ackroyd has no reason to suspect Sheppard at this point.
” I’ve had a queer feeling of being…
watched, spied upon”
-feels very nervous
” ‘My dear, my…
my very dear Roger” MRS F’S LETTER
- feminine traits
- makes us feel sympathy for her.
“Ackroyd, his finger on the sheet…
to turn it over, paused”
-specific focus on plotting- focus on Mrs Ferrars blackmail
” ‘Sheppard forgive me,
but I must read this alone,’ he said unsteadily” ACKROYD
- Perhaps he had glanced over Sheppard’s name and stopped
- makes us question what’s changed
” ‘no,’ I cried impulsively,…’
‘read it now.”
-very telling on a second read and how he wants to see what Mrs. Ferrars has said.
“but for some reason, obscure to myself,…
i continued to urge him”
- he is aware that the letter is incriminating to him
- lies to the reader
“it was just on ten minutes to nine when i had left him,…
the letter still unread”
-Key theme-time significance
“what a fat, smug, …
oily face the man had”
-angry due to his crime nearly being discovered
” ‘Mr Ackroyd particularly…
does not want to be disturbed,’ i said coldly”
- trying to cover his tracks so he is not discovered
- could mess with his whole plan
“almost cannoned into a man…
coming in the opposite direction”
- in actual fact, it was Sheppard who was rushing off, which we find out later in the book
- speed due to anxiety
- trying to escape the crime scene
“ten minutes later…
i was home”
-time is significant later on
“i had to make up a slightly fictitious account..
of the evening in order to satisfy her”
- paints Caroline as nosey
- also lied about the fact he murdered someone
“i had an uneasy feeling that…
she saw through the transparent device”
-Sheppard on edge, how could Caroline possibly know at this point
“they’ve just found Roger Ackroyd …
murdered”
- inclusion of murder
- victim of the crime
- creates suspense for the reader
