The Innocence of Father Brown

Compare Father Brown to other prominent detectives in detective fiction. How is he similar to other popular fictional detectives? How is he different? Explain.

During the investigation into Sir Aaron Armstrong’s death, Patrick Royce repeatedly insists that he murdered Armstrong, and Alice supports his claim. Father Brown, however, finds that Armstrong died by suicide. How do these conflicting stories illustrate differing views of human nature and the nature of guilt? Explain.

Compare and contrast the character arc of Valentin in “The Secret Garden” with that of Reverend Wilfred Bohun in “The Hammer of God.” How do these arcs reflect the characters’ differences? How does each character reflect a different aspect of The Duality of Human Nature?

How does the story of Sir Arthur St. Clare in “The Sign of the Broken Sword” show the persistence of popular myths about historical figures and reflect the nature of idolization and sanitization of historical stories in reality?

Why do you think the story “The Queer Feet” begins with an unnamed narrator introducing the story? What effect does this have on the story? Why do you think the narrator is never named or explained? Explain.

What are some literary devices that Chesterton uses in the short stories? How do they affect the stories and characterization in the collection? Explain.

How well does the story “The Three Tools of Death” handle the topic of mental health? What does it show about the understanding of mental health in early-20th-century Britain? Explain.

How is Chesterton’s theology reflected in the plot and characterization of the collection? What theological arguments does Father Brown make? How are Catholic themes explored in the collection?