WILLIAMS - Murder on the Orient Express Study Questions Part 1

Where does Monsieur Poirot board the train?

Aleppo, Syria

Judging from Christine's description, what season is it?

winter

How many other passengers are on the train?

2 passengers

Of the four characters introduced in chapter 1, which three will be most important to the story?

Mary Debenham, Colonel Arburthnot, Hercule Poirot

How does Poirot view the other two passengers?

Mary is efficient; the Colonel quiet, reserved, and disdainful of anyone not British

Where is Poirot scheduled to depart the train?

Stanbul

Why isn't Mary exiting there, too?

she's going to catch a train to England

What two things ha Poirot already learned in chapter 1 about Mary's occupation and her demeanor simply by eavesdropping?

She is a governess. She is very poised and efficient.

What item that Poirot receives from the concierge surprises the Belgian?

telegram that said, "go to England there has been a murder

As Poirot is heading to the dining room at the Hotel Tokatlian, whom does he encounter?

M. Bouc

How does Poirot describe the older American man in the dining room at the hotel?

short, stout, elderly man

What is unusual about the Stamboul-Calais sleeping car for the season of the year?

they are all full

What berth is Poirot assigned to? Who is his roommate?

#7, MacQueen

After Bouc and Mr. Ratchett's travelling companion leave the dining car, which passenger approaches Poirot? What is his purpose?

Mr. Ratchett; he wants him to find the person who is making death threats

what is his purpose

I dont have an answer for this one

Why does Poirot not accept?

he doesn't like Ratchett's face

What does Poirot learn when he re-boards at Belgrade from the platform?

he moved to a different berth( from #7 to #1)

What awakens Poirot in the middle of the night?

a loud groan/cry and a bell from Ratchett's room

Why does Poirot think the train is not moving?

he thinks the train is at a train station

When Poirot goes to the door of his compartment, what does he hear from Ratchett's room?

nothing, he was mistaken

Though Poirot tries to go back to sleep, he cannot. What does he hear from next door, Ratchett's room?

everything Ratchett's doing

Who rings for the porter when Poirot remembers he did not request his usual mineral water?

Ms. Hubbard

When the porter comes to Poirot's compartment, what is the porter's complain against Mrs. Hubbard?

she won't listen to reason and she thinks there is a man in her compartment

What else does the porter explain to Poirot?

the train can't move because there has been a snow drift and the train is stuck

Just as Poirot is about to drift off to sleep again, he is awakened by a thud against his door. What does he see as he looks out his door?

a woman wrapped in a silk scarlet kimono with a dragon on the back

M. Bouc summons Poirot for what reason?

to tell him Ratchett has been murdered and to see if he can come investigate

What is MacQueen's reaction when Poirot informs the valet that his boss has been killed?

he showed no signs of shock or distress. His "eyes grew a shade brighter." He said, "they got him after all.

Why is MacQueen convinced it was murder and not just a death since he is not told how his employer died?

He was receiving death threats

How many times has Ratchett's body been stabbed?

12

What important item was not found in the room?

the murderer's weapon

As the door was locked and chained, how does one assume the killer left the compartment after committing the crime? Why does this not make sense since the train has been stopped by a snowdrift?

the window; there are no footprints in the snow nor are there fingerprints on the window

Why doesn't the above answer make sense since the train has been stopped by a snowdrift?

The killer could have left throw the window and they snow erased the evidence

What hand would have been the dominant hand of the killer based on the wounds?

Left and Right. One hand for each murderer.

What does Poirot discover about the true identity of Ratchett?

He is the murderer of little Daisy Armstrong and has changed his name from Cassetti to Ratchett and he's leaving America because of what he did