Caroline in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

What trope is Caroline shown through by Sheppard?

A spinster: an unmarried, older woman who knits.

What quotes support the idea of Caroline as a spinster?

Chapter 11:

''Caroline was sitting beside the wreck of tea things''

''Caroline pushed her spectacles and looked at me''

''she merely nodded her head several times, rolling up her knitting''

What adjectives can be used to describe Sheppard's perception of Caroline?

Inquisitive, intrusive, voracious gossiper, intuitive.

''I simply couldn't help overhearing''

What is Sheppard in comparison to Caroline's role as a spinster?

A bachelor. Christie forces us to consider the perception of gender in these ideas.

What quote demonstrates Caroline's similarity to Poirot in her desire to uncover the truth?

Chapter 3: ''People ought to know things. I consider it my duty to tell them.''

''He said I had the makings of a born detective in me- and a wonderful psychological insight into human nature.''

What animal does Sheppard frequently compare Caroline to?

A moongoose. A snake eating predator. ''good sound mongoose instinct'' ''mongoose rampant''

Why is Caroline often disregarded?

She inadvertently wears a permanent disguise as an unassuming spinster, however takes the role of a secondary detective.

How is Sheppard successful in undermining Caroline?

He is the trusted peripheral narrator and undermines Caroline. By doing this, we are culturally primed to disregard her and take her words as false.

Christie has Sheppard masterfully exploit Caroline's perception of her being flat.

How is Caroline almost meta-fictional?

She understands the instincts of a reader of detective fiction as she believes that it couldn't be Ralph or Parker as they were too obvious.

''Parker!'' said my sister. ''Fiddlesticks! That inspector must be a perfect tool. Parker indeed! Don't tell me.''

This demonstrates the power she holds over the novel and her position as a foil to Sheppard.

Who does Caroline act as a prototype for?

Miss Marple

What role does Caroline usurp from Sheppard?

The peripheral narrator sidekick. She understands Poirot's motives, she is relatable and presents her knowledge as gossip rather than fact, allowing our information of the investigation to be left in Poirot's hands.

How does Caroline add to the complexity of justice?

She would be tainted by Sheppard's punishment (and inevitable execution).

How does Caroline affect the setting of King's Abbott?

She makes it an unsafe environment for Sheppard's 'wickedness'. ''Intelligence corps''

She acts as a microscope to inspect and reveal the invisible fractures in the veneer of King's Abbott, therefore allowing the conception of the English village as a rural idyll to be undermined.

How is Caroline characterised through the 'cat that is full to overflowing' quote?

''Caroline was exactly like a cat that is full to overflowing with rich cream [...] positively purring.'' She is characterised to be reveling in her involvement, making her seem easily impressed and therefore easily distracted, once again showing Sheppard's manipulative ability to undermine her.

How does Caroline indirectly unveil Sheppard?

She reveals Sheppard's patients to Poirot, including the ''American steward off the liner'' who we learn made the call that 'revealed' the murder to Sheppard.