Killing Mr. Griffin Study Guide 1
CHAPTER ONE
- Briefly identify the children in the McConnell family.
They have nothing else to do they are bad
- What does Susan mean by “someday”?
that she wishes that could happen
- Who is David Ruggles? How does Susan feel about him?
President of the senior class, she likes him
- Several other students of Room 117 are introduced. Briefly identify them.
Mark-cool
Jeff Garrett-Big, Loud
- In the classroom scene, what emphasizes Susan’s feelings of being an outsider?
Francis's question, "are you going to be a single person, sue?"
- Two teachers are introduced. Briefly identify them.
Mr. Griffin, Mrs. Dolly Luna
- Mr. Griffin is very strict and stern with the students. Do you think these qualities make
him a good teacher? Briefly explain your answer.
Probably not, because he gives no student extra credit, and most of all he gives them so many F's for a late paper. making them fail a lot.
- An allusion is when a writer refers to a person, place, poem, book, or movie that the
reader, is expected to recognize. Find an example of allusion in this chapter.
Susan's song she wrote.
- In what ways does Susan think she and the dying female in Hamlet are similar?
She didn't do her best in her work. Felt so depressed that she cried, and felt so ashamed.
- A metaphor is a comparison of two things that are basically unlike, in order to create a
sharp picture. In this first chapter find the metaphor involving a bird that helps the author
define how Susan is feeling about her life.
She had a sudden, irrational urge to put her head down on the desk and weep for all of them, for the whole world, for the awful day that was staring so badly.
- Jeff says, “That Griffin’s the sort of guy you’d like to kill.” Why doesn’t Susan think he is serious?
Because Jeff really hated Mr. Griffin so much that he had a plan to do that, but Susan thought that he was bluffing which he wasn't.
12. Frequently, objects which seem inconsequential when first mentioned become an
important part of the plot later. In the last six paragraphs do you notice any object that might be foreshadowed?
Because Jeff really hated Mr. Griffin so much that he had a plan to do that, but Susan thought that he was bluffing which he wasn't.
CHAPTER TWO
- Why does Mark say the following? “Jeff’s done a neat job of lining us up for a mass flunkout.”
Because Mr. Griffin keeps on giving Jeff F's all semester.
- Explain Mark’s special dislike of Mr. Griffin.
He had to take the English course again for the second time, and he wanted to him since he came to Mr. Griffin class.
3. “Jeff had seen that look before, and it always meant something.” What look does Jeff see? What does Jeff think it means?
He had to take the English course again for the second time, and he wanted to him since he came to Mr. Griffin class.
- Why do Jeff and Betsy go along with Mark’s plan to kidnap Mr. Griffin?
They were tired of flunking his class all the time, but they weren't trying to fail. They were trying to pass and get out of his class for good.
- Why does Mark believe Dave will go along with the plan?
He likes a challenge, also Mark knows too much about David.
- What does Mark know about Susan that makes him think she will be their decoy?
Because she's Mr. Griffin's teacher pet, and plus on the mid- semester she made good grades in his class.
7. A flashback is a scene that interrupts the ongoing action to show an event that happens
earlier. Briefly describe the flashback in this chapter. Explain why the author chooses to
include it.
It's how Susan and David met each other when they were in middle school. The humiliation that Jeff has been through, it was the first thing that the plan would work.
- What is implied, but never stated, about Mark’s “transformation”?
He was sort of a psychic when he heard the call roll. He set a cat on fire, and he also had a special beauty, something too strange to explain about him.
CHAPTER THREE
- The members of David’s family are introduced. Briefly identify them.
Gma-depends on david when he is around
Mom-works as a sectuary
- Why does David think he needs a good education?
Wants to go to college to get a good job for he can take care of his family
- Find the metaphor in this chapter that helps illustrate the emptiness of David’s life.
Depressing and lonely
- Support or refute the following statement:
David goes along with Mark because he dislikes Mr. Griffin and needs a better English
grade to get into law school.
yes
CHAPTER FOUR
- Why are Saturday’s special for Susan?
She didnt have to get up and sit through the family Breakfest
2. Find a quotation in the chapter that illustrates the idea that Susan feels a part of the picnic group.
"And that suddenly that easily she felt she was one of them"
- Who is Lana?
marks' ex girlfriend
- How does Susan feel about Mark before the picnic?
she doesn't like him
- A symbol is an object, person, or place that has a meaning in itself and that also stands
for something larger than itself. How may the eyeglasses be a symbol in this chapter?
6. Foreshadowing is also used to create interest and build suspense. Since this is a mystery
story, there are many examples of foreshadowing. Find an example of foreshadowing in
this chapter that lets the reader know Susan is going to have problems.
CHAPTER FIVE
- How does the author illustrate Kathy Griffin’s stubborn personality?
- Briefly explain Mr. Griffin’s reason for leaving Stanford to teach high school.
- What does Mr. Griffin think about Susan?
- Why is Kathy Griffin upset by her husband’s description of Dolly?
- How does her husband make her feel better?
- Why does Mrs. Griffin want Brian to compliment Susan on her writing?
- Find an example of foreshadowing in this chapter.
8. Why do you suppose the pills are mentioned again? Why does the author bother
mentioning his tie?
- We learn that Mrs. Griffin is pregnant. How does she hope having a child will change her husband? Why might the author have added the pregnancy into the story.
CHAPTER SIX
- What little things go wrong with the kidnapping?
With David’s alibi?
With Betsy’s alibi?
- In what way does Mr. Griffin earn the respect of his kidnappers?
- Why is Susan especially upset about her part in the kidnapping?
- Why does Betsy say the following to Susan? “Honestly, I don’t understand you.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
- What do Mr. Griffin and Mark have in common?
- Find a flashback in this chapter. What important facts about Mark do we learn?
- What mistake(s) does Betsy make with the police officer?
- Why do you think Betsy participates in the kidnapping?
- Why do you suppose the incident with Shauna Berman is included?
- Who finds the container of pills? Where?
- How does Mr. Griffin’s tie appear here?
- What does Mr. Griffin think of his kidnappers?
- What question does David ask him?
- Who wants to let Mr. Griffin go? Why don’t they?
CHAPTER EIGHT
- Explain, with examples from the story, how David begins to see Susan as a real person.
- Why does David doubt that Mark and Jeff are going to release Mr. Griffin after the game?
- How does David know Mr. Griffin is dead?
- What is the implied but never stated cause of Mr. Griffin’s death?
CHAPTER NINE
- Betsy and Susan both have fathers to turn to for help. Why do you suppose Susan wants
to go to her father for help, but Betsy doesn’t suggest going to her father?
- What two things does Mark say that they need to do to be safe?
- How does Mark convince Susan they need to bury the body?
- 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?
- Why does Mark comfort Susan?
CHAPTER TEN
- How do Mark’s aunt and uncle feel about him?
- Why do you suppose Mark’s mother has a nervous breakdown and says she never wants
to see her son again?
- What does David’s grandmother remember about the day before that upsets David?
- In the conversation with his grandmother, what mistakes does David make that may hurt
his alibi?
- Why does Lt. Baca ask Mrs. Griffin if there is trouble in their marriage?
- What does Mrs. Griffin say that convinces Lt. Baca to begin searching for Brian?
CHAPTER ELEVEN
- Why isn’t Susan surprised to hear her name over the loudspeaker?
2. 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?
- Do you think Mark really believes everything will be all right? Why?
CHAPTER TWELVE
- What is the real reason Betsy says nasty things about Susan?
- Find an example of allusion in this chapter.
- Briefly describe Mark’s mood during the burial. Jeff? David? Betsy?
4. Why does David recite the Lord’s prayer?
5. Why does Mark keep Mr. Griffin’s credit cards?
6. Why does Mark tell them to leave the car unlocked with the keys in the ignition?
7. What mistakes do the four make burying Mr. Griffin?
8. What is the implied but not stated reason that the policeman recognizes Betsy at the
airport?
S-10
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
1. What surprises Mrs. McConnell about Mrs. Griffin’s visit?
2. How does Mrs. Griffin surprise Susan?
3. Mrs. Griffin is certain Susan is lying about her teacher conference with Mr. Griffin. List
her reasons.
4. How do Susan’s parents react when Mrs. Griffin accuses her of lying?
5. What does Mrs. Griffin know about David? Mark?
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
1. Why does David’s Grandmother believe he is secretly seeing his Daddy? What proof do
you think she has?
2. Lana tells Lt. Baca about the turned-up ground and gives him the prescription bottle.
What else does she say to expose the kidnappers?
3. What new plans do they make for the car?
4. Why does Mark think the news report is false?
S-11
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
1. Why does David take the ring?
2. The blowing wind may be a symbol of freedom in this novel. Explain its possible
importance in the following events:
David and Susan’s first meeting
the picnic by the waterfall
the inscription on the ring
3. Why does the lady from the other house smile through the window at Susan?
4. What is Susan’s opinion of David’s grandmother?
5. Why does Susan call Jeff’s house?
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
1. In what ways do we see that the Garrett’s do not see their son Jeff as a real person?
2. Mystery stories rely on inference, the act of drawing a conclusion that is not actually
stated. Using inference, what information will Mrs. Griffin learn from the newspaper?
3. Why does David’s grandmother refuse to attend church?
4. Explain what David’s grandmother means in the following quotation. “The winds of
freedom are filled with laughter.”
S-12
5. What clue in the story reveals the identity of Irma Ruggle’s visitor?
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
1. Why do Betsy and Jeff stop by to see Susan?
2. What is surprising about David’s grandmother’s death?
3. Do you think Betsy and Jeff believe Mark has killed the old woman?
4. The first paragraph of the chapter discusses the wind. Why do you suppose the author
writes about the wind blowing again at this point in the story?
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
1. What are the implications of Susan’s statement “I did that” on page 208?
2. What is Jeff worried about?
3. Why doesn’t Mark gag Susan?
4. How does Mark feel after he sets the fire?
S-13
5. How does Susan feel about Mark?
6. Why does Susan scream, “I’m going to die, You’re glad, aren’t you?”
7. How does Mrs. Griffin respond?
CHAPTER NINETEEN
1. Mrs. McConnell tells Susan, “It is only by facing things that you ever put them behind
you.” What do you think is good or bad about this advice?
2. How does Mrs. Griffin recognize the car?
3. Why is the whole family going to counseling?
4. Do you think the proposed penalties are fair? Explain.
5. How does the last verse in Susan’s, “Song for Ophelia,” explain why she becomes involved
with Mark and the others?
6. What may the reader infer from the last paragraph?
7. “Coming-of-Age” stories are usually about “Loss of Innocence” or “Rite of Passage.” State
what kind of story this is and why.
1
![\toondoo \](http://static.toondoo.com/public/s/m/i/smiley912/toons/cool-cartoon-1009340.png "\toondoo \")