Essay Questions

What is the connotation of life according to the book ‘A Slight Trick of the Mind’?

Cullin argues that life is meaningful during the heydays of an individual. As old age progresses, one quickly starts to lose memory, and life starts becoming useless because the happiness of life is good memories. However, the critical point that the author is putting across is that people will remember you for what you did and your intelligence. Holmes is remembered by many as an intelligent person who served his country with humanity. During his early days, Holmes was recognized as a logical man who did his detective work with integrity. As time goes, Holmes is becoming older every day, and his memory is strained, but people are proud of him. Therefore, life is about serving humanity with veracity.

What does the protagonist mean when he says “Brilliant kids are often the creation of ordinary paternities?”

Mr. Holmes realizes that Rodgers is a brilliant young boy who can use deductive and critical thinking to solve problems around him. Holmes takes up the responsibility of mentoring Rodgers from an early age. He says this statement to imply that integrity and brilliance are not inherited because some of the brightest kids in society come from humble backgrounds but not from well-off families. Rodgers is the son of Mrs. Munro (Holmes' housekeeper), an ordinary parent with a son who has exceptional capabilities.

What is the central theme in 'A Slight Trick of the Mind?'

Memories emerge as the main issue discussed by the author in most parts of his narrations. The book is entirely about the life of Holmes during his heydays as a detective. Holmes is now retired and is over ninety years, but he keeps on trying to remember how he executed his cases with high integrity levels to benefit his people. Despite his old age, Holmes writes journals to document his life. Homes' most significant challenge is that his old age is eating away his memory, but he is determined to prove anything he can remember about his service to humanity.