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Comprehension Questions

Directions: Answer the following questions during or after the movie.

1. How does the opening non-diegetic score and the film’s theme “Don’t You (Forget about Me)” establish the mood and setting?

2. What is implied in the David Bowie quote/title card? What is implied in the shattering of this title card to reveal the establishing shot of school?

3. How are each of the students and their parents (or lack thereof) indirectly characterized in their first scene by their costume, speech, and any cinematic techniques (e.g. the tilt of Claire’s father’s BMW)?

a. Claire Standish –

b. Brian Ralph Johnson –

c. Andrew “Andy” Clark –

d. John Bender –

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e. Allison Reynolds –

4. How do the students initially react to one another? Why? How or why are short shorts and long shots used when students begin detention?

5. What do Vernon’s bull horn fingers symbolize? Why?

6. When does Allison first speak? Why? What is the subtext of her dialogue?

7. Why do the students finally share their names with each other? What can their names imply?

8. What do Andrew and Allison discuss on their way to get drinks for lunch? How does Andrew value himself? What is foreshadowed here?

9. What is ironic about Carl the janitor, especially if he is a foil to Assistant Principal Vernon?

10. How are Bender and Claire indirectly characterized by the props (found in their wallet and props)?

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11. What is the implied resolution? What will likely happen at school on Monday? Why? Does “Don’t You (Forget about Me)” have a new meaning at the resolution? If so, what is it? Why?

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