The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

by

Mark Haddon

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The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time: Chapter 13 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Christopher declares that his book will not be funny, because he doesn’t understand jokes. He gives an example of a joke: “His face was drawn but the curtains were real.” He’s learned that it’s supposed to be funny because of the multiple meanings of the words, but he finds it uncomfortable to make the words have all of their possible meanings at once, so he avoids jokes.
Christopher’s narration helps his reader understand his limitations and the way he interacts with the world. His close scrutiny of conventions that most people naturally understand makes them seem ridiculous, and makes such jokes seem not particularly funny after all.
Themes
Perspective and the Absurdity of the World Theme Icon