"Killings," by Andre Dubus

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

Due Wednesday, April 28, 2010

@ 3:00 PM EDT

Post a Comment: An Eye for an Eye:

http://english102wcc01.blogspot.com/2010/04/eye-for-eye.html

Read “Killings,” by Andre Dubus (see syllabus for information on where to purchase the text) (you may also find this book at your local Westchester County Library System library).

You do not have to write a First Response paper. However, you must complete the at-home quiz below and submit your responses via e-mail by Wednesday, April 28, 2010 @ 3:00 PM EDT.  Submit your quiz responses to english102wcc@gmail.com with the following information in the subject line:

FIRST NAME and LAST NAME: KILLINGS QUIZ. Please also bring a copy of the quiz and your answers with you to class on April 28th.

1. How long had Frank Fowler lived?
2. Who are Frank Fowler’s siblings?
3. Who is Willis Trottier? What does he do for a living?
4. “How often have you thought about it,” Willis said.  What is “it”?
5. What does Ruth Fowler “know”?
6. How old is Richard Strout?
7. What is the business of Strout and Sons?
8. What did Richard Strout do to Frank Fowler “one night”?
9. How did Frank Fowler meet Mary Ann Strout?
10. What was the status of Richard and Mary Ann Strout’s marriage when Mary Ann met Frank Fowler?
11. Why didn’t Ruth Fowler like Mary Ann Strout?
12. How did Matt Fowler feel about Mary Ann Strout?
13. How did Richard Strout shoot Frank Fowler?
14. What kind of father was Matt Fowler?
15. What was Matt Fowler’s job?
16. Who was waiting for Richard Strout outside the bar where he worked?
17. What reason did Richard Strout give for shooting Frank Fowler?
18. What did Matt Fowler and Willis Trottier do in the woods on the Sunday they told their wives they were going to Fenway Park?
19. Why did Matt Fowler and Willis Trottier take Richard Strout to his apartment?
20. What reason did Matt Fowler give to Richard Strout for helping him to jump bail?
21. “I’ll do twenty years, Mr. Fowler; at least.  I’ll be forty-six years old.”  “That’s _______ years younger than I am,” Matt said . . .
22. Strout turned to walk, the suitcase in his right hand, and Matt and Willis followed:  Describe what happened next:
23. What did Matt Fowler and Willis Trottier do next:
24. What did Matt Fowler do when Ruth Fowler asked him, “Did you do it?”
25. Ruth Fowler wanted to make love to Matt Fowler, but he could not.  Why couldn’t he?

You may also enjoy the New York Times review of In the Bedroom, the 2001, Oscar-nominated adaptation of Killings, starring Sissy Spacek and Tom Wilkinson:

http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?_r=1&res=9401EED8143AF930A15752C1A9679C8B63

If you have any questions, e-mail me at english102wcc@gmail.com, and allow up to 24 hours for a response (although I will most likely get back to you much sooner than that).