Killing Mr.Griffin(Ch.1-5)

Killing Mr. Griffin Study Guide 1

CHAPTER ONE
1. Briefly identify the children in the McConnell family.
Susan, Francis, Craig, Mrs.McConnell, Mr.McConnell, and Melvynne


2. What does Susan mean by “someday”?
That one of these days she was gone get. Or she dreamed about having something.


3. Who is David Ruggles? How does Susan feel about him?
President of the senior class. Susan likes David.


4. Several other students of Room 117 are introduced. Briefly identify them.
Betsy, Jeff, and Mark.


5. In the classroom scene, what emphasizes Susan’s feelings of being an outsider?
She is the only junior in the class and is like the odd ball because she makes straight a's.


6. Two teachers are introduced. Briefly identify them.
Mr.Griffin and Miss.Luna


7. Mr. Griffin is very strict and stern with the students. Do you think these qualities make
him a good teacher? Briefly explain your answer.
In a way I don't because I think he should let kids make up work, but in another way I do because the stricter he is, the serious the kids will take him and do their work.


8. 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.
Ophelia and Susan.


9. In what ways does Susan think she and the dying female in Hamlet are similar?
They both were lonely.


10. 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.
"Poor thing, Susan thought. Poor little thing. Poor bird. Poor Ophelia. Poor Susan.
11. Jeff says, “That Griffin’s the sort of guy you’d like to kill.” Why doesn’t Susan think he is serious?
He is just mad because Mr.Griffin will not let him make up his homework.


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?
The wind

CHAPTER TWO
1. Why does Mark say the following? “Jeff’s done a neat job of lining us up for a mass flunkout.”
He dared Griffin to flunk them in front of the whole class.


2. Explain Mark’s special dislike of Mr. Griffin.
Mr.Griffin made Mark take his course again. And had made him get in front of the class and beg to let him retake the course.


3. “Jeff had seen that look before, and it always meant something.” What look does Jeff see? What does Jeff think it means?
A seldom face expression. Mark has an incredible plan.


4. Why do Jeff and Betsy go along with Mark’s plan to kidnap Mr. Griffin?
Mark encourage them that they wouldn't get in trouble. And it would just be a joke.


5. Why does Mark believe Dave will go along with the plan?
Dave likes a challenge. And Mr.Griffin also made fun of him when he said that the wind had blew his homework away.


6. What does Mark know about Susan that makes him think she will be their decoy?
She likes Dave and if Dave ask her to she will give in and do it. And nobody would tie all of them together.


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.
When the seniors last year, kidnapped Miss.Luna. They are planning to kidnap Mr.Griffin and say it was a big joke.


8. What is implied, but never stated, about Mark’s “transformation”?
That he is weird.


CHAPTER THREE
1. The members of David’s family are introduced. Briefly identify them.
Grams and his mother.


2. Why does David think he needs a good education?
When he hit the job market and his father had went to Stanford. He wanted to go to law school.


3. Find the metaphor in this chapter that helps illustrate the emptiness of David’s life.
"David Ruggles, President of the Senior Class, King of the Sink!"


4. 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.
I support it because he really want to get into law school to help out his mom.


CHAPTER FOUR
1. Why are Saturday’s special for Susan?
She did not have to sit up through breakfast, she did not have to go to school, did not have to worry about what table sit at in lunch. On Saturdy's he could sleep late, she could makeherself peanut butter toast, read at the table, and she could shut herself in her bedroom and write.


2. Find a quotation in the chapter that illustrates the idea that Susan feels a part of the picnic
group.
When she first came to the car and they all gave her a nice greeting.


3. Who is Lana?
A girl Mark use to go with.


4. How does Susan feel about Mark before the picnic?
She never thought of him being funny.


5. 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
1. How does the author illustrate Kathy Griffin’s stubborn personality?
Her saying that Brian Griffin is worht waiting for.


2. Briefly explain Mr. Griffin’s reason for leaving Stanford to teach high school.
Mr.Griffin had said that there wasn't enough good high school teachers.


3. What does Mr. Griffin think about Susan?
She is a talented writer.


4. Why is Kathy Griffin upset by her husband’s description of Dolly?
She thought Griffin thought of her a Dolly.


5. How does her husband make her feel better?
He wiped his teeth with the napkin. And he became vulnerable.


6. Why does Mrs. Griffin want Brian to compliment Susan on her writing?
Because he got to give his students more than criticism.


7. 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?



9. 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.
He will be able to reach out to his student and touch them.