Podcast
Questions and Answers
Why does Mark think the news report of finding Mr. Griffin is fake?
Why does Mark think the news report of finding Mr. Griffin is fake?
Because in the news report they said that the ring was missing off of Brian's hand and they did not take a ring.
Why does David take Mr. Griffin's ring?
Why does David take Mr. Griffin's ring?
Because he felt like it was his.
What is inscribed on the ring?
What is inscribed on the ring?
The phrase 'the winds of freedom blow.'
What does the ring inscription have to do with the students' lives before and after the crime?
What does the ring inscription have to do with the students' lives before and after the crime?
Why does the lady at the other house smile at Susan?
Why does the lady at the other house smile at Susan?
What is Susan's opinion of David's grandmother?
What is Susan's opinion of David's grandmother?
Why does Susan call Mark after she leaves David's house?
Why does Susan call Mark after she leaves David's house?
How do the Garretts regard their son, Jeff?
How do the Garretts regard their son, Jeff?
What information will Mrs. Griffin learn from the newspaper?
What information will Mrs. Griffin learn from the newspaper?
Why does David's grandmother refuse to attend church?
Why does David's grandmother refuse to attend church?
Why won't David's grandmother return the ring to David?
Why won't David's grandmother return the ring to David?
What clue reveals the identity of Irma Ruggles' visitor?
What clue reveals the identity of Irma Ruggles' visitor?
Why do Betsy and Jeff stop by to see Susan?
Why do Betsy and Jeff stop by to see Susan?
What is surprising about David's grandmother's death?
What is surprising about David's grandmother's death?
Why doesn't Susan go to the police with her suspicions about Mark?
Why doesn't Susan go to the police with her suspicions about Mark?
Do you think Betsy and Jeff believe Mark killed the old woman? Explain.
Do you think Betsy and Jeff believe Mark killed the old woman? Explain.
Briefly identify the members of David's family.
Briefly identify the members of David's family.
Why does David think he needs a good education?
Why does David think he needs a good education?
David goes along with Mark because he dislikes Mr. Griffin and needs a better English grade to get into law school.
David goes along with Mark because he dislikes Mr. Griffin and needs a better English grade to get into law school.
Why are Saturdays special for Susan?
Why are Saturdays special for Susan?
Who is Lana?
Who is Lana?
How does Susan feel about Mark before the picnic?
How does Susan feel about Mark before the picnic?
Briefly identify the children in the McConnell family.
Briefly identify the children in the McConnell family.
What does Susan mean by 'someday'?
What does Susan mean by 'someday'?
Who is David Ruggles? How does Susan feel about him?
Who is David Ruggles? How does Susan feel about him?
Several other students of Room 117 are introduced. Briefly identify them.
Several other students of Room 117 are introduced. Briefly identify them.
In the classroom scene, what emphasizes Susan's feelings of being an outsider?
In the classroom scene, what emphasizes Susan's feelings of being an outsider?
Two teachers are introduced. Briefly identify them.
Two teachers are introduced. Briefly identify them.
Mr. Griffin's strictness makes him a good teacher.
Mr. Griffin's strictness makes him a good teacher.
What is the allusion in this chapter?
What is the allusion in this chapter?
In what ways does Susan think she and the dying female in Hamlet are similar?
In what ways does Susan think she and the dying female in Hamlet are similar?
Find the metaphor involving a bird that helps define how Susan is feeling about her life.
Find the metaphor involving a bird that helps define how Susan is feeling about her life.
Why doesn't Susan think Jeff is serious when he says, 'That Griffin's the sort of guy you'd like to kill'?
Why doesn't Susan think Jeff is serious when he says, 'That Griffin's the sort of guy you'd like to kill'?
What object might be foreshadowed in the last six paragraphs?
What object might be foreshadowed in the last six paragraphs?
Why does Mark say, 'Jeff's done a neat job of lining us up for a mass flunkout'?
Why does Mark say, 'Jeff's done a neat job of lining us up for a mass flunkout'?
Explain Mark's special dislike of Mr. Griffin.
Explain Mark's special dislike of Mr. Griffin.
What look does Jeff see that always means something?
What look does Jeff see that always means something?
Why do Jeff and Betsy go along with Mark's plan to kidnap Mr. Griffin?
Why do Jeff and Betsy go along with Mark's plan to kidnap Mr. Griffin?
Why does Mark believe David will go along with his plan?
Why does Mark believe David will go along with his plan?
What does Mark know about Susan that makes him think she will be their decoy?
What does Mark know about Susan that makes him think she will be their decoy?
Briefly describe the flashback in this chapter and its purpose.
Briefly describe the flashback in this chapter and its purpose.
What is implied about Mark's transformation?
What is implied about Mark's transformation?
How does the author illustrate Kathy Griffin's stubborn personality?
How does the author illustrate Kathy Griffin's stubborn personality?
Briefly explain Mr. Griffin's reason for leaving Stanford to teach high school.
Briefly explain Mr. Griffin's reason for leaving Stanford to teach high school.
What does Mr. Griffin think about Susan?
What does Mr. Griffin think about Susan?
Why is Kathy Griffin upset by her husband's description of Dolly?
Why is Kathy Griffin upset by her husband's description of Dolly?
How does her husband make her feel better?
How does her husband make her feel better?
Why does Mrs. Griffin want Brian to compliment Susan on her writing?
Why does Mrs. Griffin want Brian to compliment Susan on her writing?
What does Mrs. Griffin hope will change about her husband after having a child?
What does Mrs. Griffin hope will change about her husband after having a child?
What little things go wrong with the kidnapping?
What little things go wrong with the kidnapping?
What is David's alibi?
What is David's alibi?
What is Betsy's alibi?
What is Betsy's alibi?
In what way does Mr. Griffin earn the respect of his kidnappers?
In what way does Mr. Griffin earn the respect of his kidnappers?
Why is Susan especially upset about her part in the kidnapping?
Why is Susan especially upset about her part in the kidnapping?
Why does Betsy say to Susan, 'Honestly, I don't understand you'?
Why does Betsy say to Susan, 'Honestly, I don't understand you'?
What do Mr. Griffin and Mark have in common?
What do Mr. Griffin and Mark have in common?
Find the flashback in this chapter. What important facts about Mark do we learn?
Find the flashback in this chapter. What important facts about Mark do we learn?
What mistake(s) does Betsy make with the police officer?
What mistake(s) does Betsy make with the police officer?
Why do you think Betsy participates in the kidnapping?
Why do you think Betsy participates in the kidnapping?
Why do suppose the incident with Shauna Berman is included?
Why do suppose the incident with Shauna Berman is included?
Who finds the container of pills and where?
Who finds the container of pills and where?
What does Mr. Griffin think of his kidnappers?
What does Mr. Griffin think of his kidnappers?
What question does David ask Mr. Griffin?
What question does David ask Mr. Griffin?
Who wants to let Mr. Griffin go and why don't they?
Who wants to let Mr. Griffin go and why don't they?
Explain how David begins to see Susan as a real person.
Explain how David begins to see Susan as a real person.
Why does David doubt that Mark and Jeff will release Mr. Griffin after the game?
Why does David doubt that Mark and Jeff will release Mr. Griffin after the game?
How does David know Mr. Griffin is dead?
How does David know Mr. Griffin is dead?
What is the implied cause of Mr. Griffin's death?
What is the implied cause of Mr. Griffin's death?
What two things does Mark say they need to do to be safe?
What two things does Mark say they need to do to be safe?
How does Mark convince Susan they need to bury the body?
How does Mark convince Susan they need to bury the body?
How does Mark's father die?
How does Mark's father die?
What does David's father have to do with his decision to go along with Mark's plan to bury the body?
What does David's father have to do with his decision to go along with Mark's plan to bury the body?
Why does Mark comfort Susan?
Why does Mark comfort Susan?
Who are Irv and Jeanne Kinney?
Who are Irv and Jeanne Kinney?
What did Irv and Jeanne do for Mark?
What did Irv and Jeanne do for Mark?
What does Irv think of Mark?
What does Irv think of Mark?
What does David's grandmother remember about the day Mr. Griffin was kidnapped?
What does David's grandmother remember about the day Mr. Griffin was kidnapped?
Why does David get mad at his grandmother?
Why does David get mad at his grandmother?
Who is James Baca?
Who is James Baca?
What medical problem does Mr. Griffin have that kept him out of the Army?
What medical problem does Mr. Griffin have that kept him out of the Army?
Has Brian ever come home late before without calling?
Has Brian ever come home late before without calling?
Does Mr. Griffin have any other family besides his wife?
Does Mr. Griffin have any other family besides his wife?
What does Detective Baca think happened to Mr. Griffin?
What does Detective Baca think happened to Mr. Griffin?
What is Detective Baca's first step to finding Mr. Griffin?
What is Detective Baca's first step to finding Mr. Griffin?
Why isn't Susan surprised to hear her name over the loudspeaker?
Why isn't Susan surprised to hear her name over the loudspeaker?
Compare Susan's attitude toward her family at the beginning of the story with her attitude now.
Compare Susan's attitude toward her family at the beginning of the story with her attitude now.
Why does Susan agree to Mark's lie? Why does Mark want her to lie?
Why does Susan agree to Mark's lie? Why does Mark want her to lie?
What's the real reason Betsy says nasty things about Susan?
What's the real reason Betsy says nasty things about Susan?
Describe Mark's mood during the burial.
Describe Mark's mood during the burial.
What two things does David do at the grave to show his remorse?
What two things does David do at the grave to show his remorse?
Why does Mark keep Mr. Griffin's credit cards?
Why does Mark keep Mr. Griffin's credit cards?
Why does Mark tell them to leave the car unlocked with the keys in the ignition?
Why does Mark tell them to leave the car unlocked with the keys in the ignition?
What mistakes do they make while burying Mr. Griffin? What danger does this present?
What mistakes do they make while burying Mr. Griffin? What danger does this present?
How does the policeman recognize Betsy at the airport? What danger does this present?
How does the policeman recognize Betsy at the airport? What danger does this present?
What surprises Mrs. McConnell about Mrs. Griffin's visit?
What surprises Mrs. McConnell about Mrs. Griffin's visit?
How does Mrs. Griffin surprise Susan?
How does Mrs. Griffin surprise Susan?
Why is Mrs. Griffin certain that Susan is lying?
Why is Mrs. Griffin certain that Susan is lying?
How do Susan's parents act to this accusation?
How do Susan's parents act to this accusation?
What does Mrs. Griffin know about David? Mark?
What does Mrs. Griffin know about David? Mark?
Why does David's grandmother believe he is secretly seeing his father?
Why does David's grandmother believe he is secretly seeing his father?
What does Lana tell Lt. Baca that leads her to the scene of the crime? How does she expose Mark?
What does Lana tell Lt. Baca that leads her to the scene of the crime? How does she expose Mark?
What new plans are they making for hiding the car?
What new plans are they making for hiding the car?
Flashcards
David's Family
David's Family
David lives with his mother and grandmother. His grandmother is somewhat abandoned and chatty, while his mother works hard to support the family.
Susan's Family
Susan's Family
Susan has siblings: Craig and twins. They have a close-knit family dynamic.
Lana's Relationship
Lana's Relationship
Lana is Mark's ex-girlfriend, suggesting a past romantic relationship and shared social circles.
Mr. Griffin's Teaching Style
Mr. Griffin's Teaching Style
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Dolly Luna's Teaching Style
Dolly Luna's Teaching Style
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David's Motivation
David's Motivation
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Susan's Aspiration
Susan's Aspiration
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Mark's Manipulation
Mark's Manipulation
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Initial Suspicion
Initial Suspicion
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Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing
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Escalating Moral Dilemma
Escalating Moral Dilemma
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Mark's Revenge
Mark's Revenge
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Kidnapping Gone Wrong
Kidnapping Gone Wrong
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Dark Themes
Dark Themes
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David's Perception Shift
David's Perception Shift
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Character Transformation
Character Transformation
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Mark's Moral Decay
Mark's Moral Decay
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Kathy Griffin's Pregnancy
Kathy Griffin's Pregnancy
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Family Tension
Family Tension
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Educational Ethics
Educational Ethics
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Moment of Realization
Moment of Realization
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Justice and Alibi
Justice and Alibi
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David's Ring
David's Ring
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Susan's Identity Conflict
Susan's Identity Conflict
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Irma Ruggles' Visitor Identity
Irma Ruggles' Visitor Identity
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Susan's Isolation from Family
Susan's Isolation from Family
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Unanticipated Death
Unanticipated Death
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Police Hesitation
Police Hesitation
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Betsy and Jeff's Belief
Betsy and Jeff's Belief
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Study Notes
Key Characters and Relationships
- David's family includes a hardworking mother and a chatty grandmother who is somewhat abandoned.
- Susan McConnell has siblings: Craig and twins, presenting a close-knit family dynamic.
- Lana is Mark's ex-girlfriend, suggesting past romantic ties and social circles.
- Mr. Griffin is a strict teacher aiming for student diligence, while Dolly Luna is a more lenient educator.
Themes and Motivations
- David believes a good education is crucial for his future support of his family.
- Susan longs for a different future and feels isolated, highlighting themes of loneliness and aspiration.
- Mark's manipulation and peer pressure influence others to participate in the kidnapping of Mr. Griffin.
Significant Events and Plot Developments
- Initial feelings of suspicion and discomfort arise when Susan struggles with her emotions toward Mr. Griffin and Mark.
- Significant foreshadowing occurs with Mr. Griffin's pill bottle, connecting the students' actions to his ultimate fate.
- The escalating moral dilemma intensifies as the students grapple with the consequences of their choices regarding Mr. Griffin.
Conflict and Consequences
- Mark's need for revenge against Mr. Griffin is rooted in his past failures in the class.
- Tension arises when the kidnapping plan goes awry, and Mr. Griffin fights back, exposing the discomfort in Susan, Betsy, and David.
- Dark themes emerge as the characters grapple with guilt and the repercussions of their actions post-kidnapping.
Character Insights and Transformations
- David begins to view Susan as a multidimensional person, not just a crush, through her emotional struggles.
- The dynamics shift notably after Mr. Griffin’s death, revealing attributes of bravery, responsibility, and regret in David.
- Mark's character transformation from manipulative to increasingly violent raises questions about morality and responsibility.
Personal and Familial Struggles
- Kathy Griffin's pregnancy adds complexity, showcasing Mrs. Griffin's hope for her husband's change and evoking sympathy.
- David experiences anger and frustration towards his grandmother for inadvertently ruining his alibi, showcasing family tensions amid chaos.
- The role of educational ethics and student respect is questioned through Mr. Griffin's treatment of his class and their retaliation.
Climax and Resolution
- Key moments of realization occur as characters confront their deeds, particularly in how Susan feels regret for her involvement in the kidnapping.
- The struggle against law enforcement and the twists in alibis create suspense and highlight the theme of justice.
- David's acquisition of Mr. Griffin’s ring symbolizes a deeper connection and foreshadows the looming loss of their innocence after the crime.
Psychological and Social Implications
- Susan's conflict with her identity is evident; she worries about how her family would view her true self after the crime.
- Betsy's participation is driven by peer pressure and her desire for Mark’s attention, showcasing how social dynamics can lead to poor decisions.
- The story delves into themes of guilt, the fight for approval, and the consequences of moral failing among youth.### David's Family Dynamics
- David's grandmother refuses to return the ring due to suspicions about Susan's behavior and David's tone, which raised red flags in her mind.
- Observations include David's eyes and demeanor that suggest something is amiss regarding the ring.
Irma Ruggles' Visitor
- The identity of Irma Ruggles' visitor is revealed through distinctive features: funny eyes and a brown sweater, which belonged solely to Mark.
Susan's Isolation
- Betsy visits Susan to secure an alibi and requires Susan to answer the phone.
- Susan chooses to stay home alone, opting out of church with her family, highlighting her disconnect from familial obligations.
Unanticipated Death
- David's grandmother's death is surprising to Susan, who didn't foresee Mark's violent actions.
- A key detail involves Mark owning the brown sweater, contrasting with David who does not, linking Mark to the incident.
Police Hesitation
- Susan refrains from reporting her suspicions about Mark to the police, influenced by Betsy and Jeff's intervention.
- Mark's assurance that he would "handle it" follows the suspicious activities, indicating a cover-up.
Betsy and Jeff's Belief
- Betsy and Jeff outwardly express disbelief in Mark's involvement in the old woman's death, but their actions suggest they harbor doubts.
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Description
Dive into the world of 'Killing Mr. Griffin' with these flashcards covering chapters 1 to 19. Test your knowledge of the characters, plot, and themes as you explore David's family dynamics and his views on education. Ideal for study sessions and review.
