Story line
Characters
Novel/Film
Themes
100

What did Conrad quit once he returned to school? 

The swim team

100

Who is the main character of The Ordinary People? 

Conrad Jarrett

100

What year was the movie released? 

1980

100

How did Beth Jarrett (the mom) deal with the loss of her son?

Avoiding it, putting it behind her

200

What happens at one of the winter swim meets? 

Conrad attends and gets in to a fight with Kevin Stillman 

200

Who is Conrad's Childhood friend? 

Joe Lazenby 

200

did the film or novel leave the ending to be determined by the audience? 

The novel

200

What is one stage of grief? 

Denial/anger/bargaining/depression/acceptance 

300

Who found Conrad after his attempted suicide? 

Calvin Jarrett (the dad) 

300
Which character dies in a boating accident? 
Buck Jarrett
300

What character in the book/movie tried to fix the family's relationship? 

Calvin Jarrett (the dad) 

300

Does therapy help or worsen Conrad's mental health in the film? 

Helps

400

How long is it after his release that the movie/book starts? 

A month

400

What character is portrayed as a perfectionist and avoidant?

Beth Jarrett

400

Who commits suicide towards the end of the story? 

Karen Aldrich

400

Name one relatable theme the story explores

Family dynamics/grief/life after tragedy

500

What does Beth Jarrett do at the end of the story? 

Moves out of the house

500

Who did Conrad fight with? Who won? 

Stillman; Conrad

500

Which character is dimmed down in the movie, making some perceive them as the villain? 

Beth Jarrett (the mom) 

500

Can you ever really know what's going on in someone else's life?

Nope!