OP: The Basics
Where AND when does "Ordinary People" take place?
Chicago, 1970's
Who did NOT support Calvin marrying Beth?
Calvin's mentor, Arnold Bacon.
Bonus 100 points: Why?
Who does Conrad trust the most with his truth, emotions, feelings?
Berger
How are Hamlet, Gertrude, Claudius, and the Ghost all related?
Gertrude and the Ghost are the parents of Hamlet.
Claudius is Hamlet's uncle, the Ghost's brother/murderer, and Gertrude's new husband.
What is revealed by the end of Act I? How does this set up the rest of the play?
The ghost reveals he was murdered by Claudius, which sets Hamlet on a mission for ultimate revenge.
Name all four members of the family
Calvin, Beth, Buck, Conrad
How do these two people approach being a parent in their own way?
Beth is distant, closed-off, expects perfection and privacy.
Calvin is more concerned about Conrad's well-being and is willing to talk about hard things like emotions.
What does Conrad blame himself for?
Buck's death
Who are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?
Hamlet's childhood friends.
Bonus 100 points: who are they loyal to and why?
What drives Ophelia to insanity?
Her guilt over driving Hamlet away and her father's death.
How long has Conrad been home from the hospital when the book starts?
One month
What would Calvin say the problem in his marriage is?
Beth: her inability to process and communicate her emotions
Why is Karen hesitant to revive the friendship with Conrad?
She's worried they're "contagious" and their bad moods will influence the other.
How are Laertes, Ophelia, and Polonius related?
Polonius - father
Laertes - son/brother
Ophelia - daughter/sister
Who is still alive by the end of the play?
Horatio
Bonus 100 points: Why does Horatio not take his own life?
Lazenby, Karen, Berger,
Possibly Stillman.
What would Beth say is the problem with her marriage?
Calvin's "obsession" with Conrad
Who is Jeannine? How does she help Conrad heal?
Jeannine eventually becomes Conrad's gf. She gives him a chance to be normal. Plus, she never knew him when Buck was alive. She understands difficult family dynamics.
How was King Hamlet, the Ghost, murdered? Where?
Claudius poisoned him while he was sleeping in the orchard.
Bonus 100 points: What story did they tell people to cover up the murder? How did everyone else think King Hamlet died?
What moral dilemma is Hamlet contemplating in his "to be or not to be" soliloquy?
He's wondering why people don't take their lives when they are unhappy. He decides it's because of fear of the unknown.
How does Conrad's view on therapy, grief, and healing change throughout the novel?
He starts to accept the benefits of therapy. He works through his grief and learns to accept his emotions while not blaming himself.
Why is Calvin self-conscious about his parenting style, despite obviously being the more caring parent?
He grew up as an orphan without a father figure so he never feels like he is doing anything "right."
What is the turning point/climax of the story? What forces Conrad to accept his emotions? (Hint: happens in the final chapters).
Karen's death causes Conrad to spiral. He goes to Berger and it finally clicks with him that he cannot keep blaming himself for every wrong thing in the world
They were in love but Polonius forbad the relationship until he realized the effect it had on Hamlet. They do not get back together though, because Hamlet says he no longer loves her (but he possibly realizes she's being used by Polonius so he wants the distance).
There is a HUGE debate regarding Hamlet's behavior throughout the play. What is this debate and the two sides.
Audiences argue whether Hamlet is actually insane or not. Some say he's pretending and other's say he's insane for most, if not all, of the play