Ordinary People
Reading/Study Guide

Chapter 1

  1. How long has Conrad been home from the hospital? 10 months
  2. Why was he in the hospital? He tried to kill himself
  3. What mood do you see in chapter 1? sad/depressing
  4. How can Calvin’s and Beth’s attitudes toward Conrad be compared or contrasted? Beth’s attitude towards Conrad is that she does not seem to care as much as Calvin. The relationship that Conrad has with Beth is awkward. Calvin seems to worry more about Conrad’s well-being and tries to have conversations with his son, which annoys Conrad at times.
  5. What seems to be each parent’s primary, or main, concern?
  6. Calvin- his son, Conrad
  7. Beth- her own reputation/social status

Chapter 2

  1. What is Conrad and Cal’s conversation like in Chapter 2? Very short and choppy. Calvin is trying too hard to try to have a conversation with Conrad. Conrad is being short with his responses.
  1. What does Conrad agree to do at the end of Chapter 2? Conrad agrees to go see Dr. Berger (psychiatrist)

Chapter 3

  1. What most concerns Conrad when Lazenby is late to pick him up for school? Conrad does not want to be outside when his mother comes out.
  1. In what class does Conrad feel most comfortable? Why? Choir-the teacher makes them work and does not judge or look at Conrad differently due to his suicide attempt.
  1. What does Salan talk to Conrad about after practice? That Conrad will need to stay longer at practice.
  1. What does Conrad tell his mom about practicing late? He tells Beth that he will be staying later because the coach wants him to stay later and work out (p.24).
  1. What is her reaction? “Good” and goes into her bedroom shutting the door behind her.

Chapter 4

  1. How does Cal perceive his wife? Calvin is so enamored by his wife (He is so in love with his wife).
  1. What do Cal’s and Beth’s differing views about the Christmas trip say about their respective priorities? Beth’s priority is her own happiness and social reputation and Calvin is more concerned with his son’s point of view and well-being.

Chapter 5

  1. In what condition is Dr. Berger’s office? It is a mess because it was robbed.
  1. When Dr. Berger asks Conrad if he feels like he’s “on stage,” what does he mean? That people are always nervous around Conrad and treat him like he is a dangerous man. (p.40)
  1. What does Conrad say when Dr. Berger asks him what he’s doing there? p.42→ Conrad says that he wants to be more in control so other people don’t worry about him.
  1. How did Conrad try to kill himself? P.41- “I tried to off myself”. He tried to cut his wrists
  1. How did Conrad’s brother die? P. 43/top-->Conrad and Buck were sailing and there was an accident on the lake and Buck drowned.
  1. How often does Conrad agree to visit Dr. Berger? Twice a week→ Tuesdays and Fridays

Chapter 6

  1. Who was Arnold Bacon? P. 48-49-->description of Arnold Bacon. Arnold Bacon is the closest father figure that Calvin has/he is like a father to him. Arnold Bacon took Calvin on and decided to be his mentor. He helped him financially and it was “the closest thing to a father-son relationship” (49).
  1. What was his connection to Cal? It was a father-son relationship
  1. Why did their relationship end? Calvin decided to marry Beth and that ruined his relationship with Arnold Bacon. Arnold Bacon did not approve of law students who married while they were in school.
  1. What definition does Cal come up with for himself? P. 51 “I’m the kind of man who--hasn’t the least idea what kind of man I am”.
  1. What is it about this particular day that makes it so difficult? It is Jordan’s (Buck’s) birthday.
  1. Predict what YOU think will happen to Conrad and to Cal. What will happen with Beth and with Dr. Berger? Opinion--must answer on your own.

Chapter 7

  1. What do YOU think of Karen? Opinion--must answer on your own.
  1. Does Conrad seem to like her? Yes. He goes to a different town just to meet up with her and he is kind of hoping that maybe they could date. Their meeting is extremely awkward. They discuss the hospital and she says that she doesn’t even know him, which makes him feel horrible because that is not what Conrad thought. They also discuss if they are seeing a doctor or not and Conrad is, but Karen is not. She says that her father says that the only one who can help you is you. Well, you and God. (p.55)
  1. What is she concerned about as she leaves the diner? She says that she has to go and cannot stay long. She has a meeting that she has to get to because the drama club is doing A Thousand Clowns and she is the secretary this year. (p.53)

Chapter 8

  1. How does Cal typically help himself through the “pain”? He drinks.
  1. Whose privacy does Cal violate when he tells his friend about Conrad’s psychiatrist? Beth
  1. What do you find out about why Conrad might have attempted suicide? p.70-->Dr. Crawford says that it could be high achievers. They set themselves impossible standards. They have this need to perform well, to look good; they suffer excessive guilt over failure.

Chapter 9

  1. Why do YOU think Conrad offers to help Suzanne? Opinion--must answer on your own.
  1. Why does Conrad want to quit swimming? He knows that he is not that great, the coach is a jerk and he doesn’t get along with the guys on the team like he used to.

Chapter 10

  1. What solidifies Conrad’s decision to quit the swimming team? P. 84→ “There is no problem improving your timing, or perfecting a stroke, if the desire is there, but you cannot fire up, cannot manufacture desire, when there is no spark at all to build on”.

Chapter 11

  1. What attitude is the author trying to get across concerning illusion vs. reality on page 86? Opinion--must answer on your own.

Chapter 12

  1. How does Lazenby react to Con’s quitting the team? He tries to talk to Conrad about his quitting the team and how they used to be close. Lazenby tries to keep their friendship alive, but Conrad is pushing him away. Lazenby says the hell with him and leaves the conversation.
  1. And how does Con respond to Lazenby’s reaction? He says to forget about him and that he quit the swim team.
  1. Do YOU agree with Berger’s comment, “Maybe you gotta feel lousy sometimes in order to feel better”? Opinion--must answer on your own.
  1. Where does Conrad usually go when his parents think he is at swim practice? Conrad usually goes to the library when his parents think he is at swim practice.
  1. Describe Conrad’s memory at the end of Chapter 12. It is a happy memory of Buck. He prepares himself for the arrow of pain and he gets this warm feeling, which “is a first”.
  1. Why does Conrad get that hollow feeling in the pit of his stomach after talking to Lazenby? Conrad realizes by losing Buck, he’s also lost all of his friends and it is a fear of loneliness.
  1. Do YOU agree with Berger’s statement that “...you gotta feel lousy sometimes, in order to feel better”? Explain your response. Opinion--must answer on your own.
  1. What do Jeanine and Conrad talk about over a Coke? They talk about a bunch of things, music, classes they like, the fact that their both starting over.
  1. What do YOU think of Jeanine? Opinion--must answer on your own.
  2. Do YOU think she would be good for Conrad? Opinion--must answer on your own.

Chapter 13

  1. In picking out a Christmas tree, what changes in Conrad’s behavior are we seeing as readers? We are seeing a happiness. He is enjoying his time with his father. He used to not be able to make decisions when they went out to eat, but now he orders food. There is a moving on here with Conrad.
  1. What was Beth angry about based on the information she learned from Mrs. Lazenby? She is angry about finding out from Carole that Conrad quit the swim team. She is embarrassed and humiliated again.
  1. What does Beth accuse Cal of always doing ever since Conrad got home from the hospital? Making everything about himself like they have to make him happy, when Conrad smiles, you smile, when Conrad frowns so does Cal. Also, of babying Conrad.
  1. What does Conrad say about how he thinks his mother feels about him? She doesn’t give a damn and that she hates him.
  1. How does Cal respond? He says that Beth doesn’t hate you.
  1. What do YOU think of the way each of the family members handles the fight in this chapter? Opinion--must answer on your own.

Chapter 14

  1. How does Conrad escape from the conflicts he is having at home? Music.
  1. How does Conrad try to justify his mother’s behavior toward him? He justifies his mother’s behavior by saying that he deserves her behavior towards him, her anger. Conrad says that it was a mess and that she’ll never forgive that.
  1. Who does Conrad realize he hasn’t forgiven? Himself
  1. What has that person done to him? Conrad being the guy in the closet and to let him out once in awhile. He has been labeled as an outsider, a misfit, and he is having a hard time grappling that identity.
  1. Who does Berger think Conrad needs to forgive? He thinks Conrad needs to forgive himself.
  2. Do YOU agree? Why/why not? Explain. Opinion--must answer on your own.
  1. How does Conrad feel about the way his dad feels about him? He only likes him because he likes everybody.
  1. What does Berger say you always need to trust? The guy in the closet.
  2. What does he mean? To let him out every once in awhile.

Chapter 15

  1. What are the nicknames Jordan used to have for his grandparents? The Kid (grandfather) and the girlfriend (grandmother), but he would have new ones every week.
  1. What did Conrad give to his grandpa, grandma, and mother for Christmas? Grandpa=gloves, grandma=apple candle, mother=jewelry, and father=golf book
  1. How did Conrad react to his new car? He reacted indifferently. He feels like it’s a bribe.
  1. What kind of mood was Cal in the rest of the evening? Why? He closed up the rest of the evening. He was moody and pouty because he didn’t think that Conrad would react that way to getting a new car.

Chapter 16

  1. What does Conrad say about himself that Lazenby, Van Buren, and the rest of his old friends used to know? DO NOT ANSWER--SKIP THIS QUESTION.
  1. What did Buck call Conrad when he would find some of Conrad’s lists? He used to call him “The Great Listmaker”
  1. What did the girl at the library tell him that shocked him? She says that he is very good looking, but I’m sure you already know that.
  1. What does Conrad tell Berger the car commits him to? The car commits him to something...like a bribe. ‘There now be happy’”
  1. He says he sees it “like a bribe”; what does he think his parents are bribing him to do? P.136-137 → “...I don’t want him depending on me for it [happy]...It takes a long time to get over the feeling that everybody’s watching all the time.”
  1. What does Conrad confess to Berger at the end of chapter 16? Conrad confesses that he considers Dr. Berger a friend. P. 138-139→ “You, I always saw inside the box. With me...What I’m saying...I guess I think of you as a friend.”

Chapter 17

  1. What does Conrad show his father in the basement? The obscenities that he and Buck used to put up on the ceiling and what they plastered up there.
  1. How does Cal react to the memories it brings back? P. 142→ “He [Calvin] straightens up, smiling. There is pressure behind his eyes, and the blood is beating in his head.”
  1. When Cal goes to see Dr. Berger, what does Dr. Berger say he senses about him? p.146→ “I’m getting a feeling from you of heavy guilt. About missing the signals. Am I right?” He senses guilt right away.
  1. What is Cal’s memory at the bottom of page 146? → He explains the memory of finding Conrad after his suicide attempt. The memory is, “Banging on the door, begging to be let in, while Beth called for an ambulance...his shoulder”.
  1. What does Cal admit to wanting to discuss at the end of Ch. 17? He went there to talk about himself.

Chapter 18

  1. Why is Jeannine and Conrad’s ride home awkward? She didn’t know about his brother and apologizes for what she said the last time they were together. When Conrad asks about if she knows about him and his situation, she says yes. Then Conrad thinks that he should have told her first. He doesn’t mean to cut her off when she’s talking, but when he responds it seems that way.
  1. After driving Jeanine home from school, who is at Conrad’s house? Mrs. Cahill, Mrs. Lazenby, Mrs. Genthe, Mrs. Leitch, Mrs. Truan and two other women he hasn’t met (his mother’s bridge club)
  1. Which two people does he try to call? Karen and Jeannine
  1. What are the two middle paragraphs on page 142 about? DO NOT ANSWER-SKIP QUESTION.

Chapter 19

  1. What is Ray concerned about? Ray is concerned about getting a new secretary because of their new secretary, Sandra Farentino. He is also concerned about Calvin because he hasn’t been himself lately.

Chapter 20

  1. What do you learn about Conrad’s state of mind before his attempt? He was disoriented and he calls to ask his grandfather irrelevant questions about Christmas lights. The grandfather knew that something was terribly wrong and he called Calvin to talk to him.
  1. How do you think Jeannine and Conrad’s date went? Opinion--must answer on your own.

Chapter 21

  1. Do YOU agree with Cal’s statement: “People use people according to their own needs”? Why or why not? Opinion--must answer on your own.

Chapter 22

  1. What causes Conrad to “explode”? He hears Stillman coming out of the locker room talking about Buck and Conrad gets mad. Then, Stillman says that his father could have bought him a different kind of car because he is loaded. Then, Stillman asks if Conrad has gotten into Pratt’s pants yet and Conrad loses it.
  1. What do he and Lazenby discuss? Lazenby and Conrad discuss that Lazenby misses Buck, too and that Conrad does not have to go through this grieving process alone. Conrad tells Lazenby that it hurts too much to be around him (it reminds him too much of his brother, Buck).
  1. With what is Conrad somewhat obsessed as he sits at home waiting for his parents to arrive? He keeps thinking about the fight. He is obsessing over how many times he hit Stillman, what his punishment will be, how he did not have control, and back to the punishment thoughts. P. 185 “Waiting is part of the punishment. So he waits.”
  1. This is from the previous chapter about Conrad-->What response does Conrad get from both phone calls? When he calls for Karen, her mother says that she is at school and when he calls Jeannine, he asks her on a date and she says yes.

Chapter 23

  1. On pages 172-173, Cal is doing some “circular thinking”. What is he thinking about?
  1. Why does Cal think Conrad’s fight is healthy?
  1. What does he wonder about Beth?

Chapter 24

  1. What do you think of Conrad’s grandmother, Ellen?
  1. What is Jeannine dealing with?

Chapter 25

  1. What does Audrey reveal about Beth?
  1. What does she mean?
  1. How does Beth respond to questions about Conrad?

Chapter 26

  1. What happens to Karen?
  1. How does Conrad react?
  1. What does Con “dream” about?
  1. What do we learn about Con based on his thoughts?
  1. What does Conrad do at the end of Chapter 26?
  1. Who does he go to?

Chapter 27

  1. What does Conrad admit he feels about what happened to Buck?
  1. How does Dr. Berger talk to Conrad? What does he say/what do they talk about?
  1. Has Dr. Berger helped Conrad? Explain (how do you know?).

Chapter 28

  1. What does Beth say is really bothering her?
  1. What other things does she say that show her feelings?

Chapter 29

  1. “It is better to move than to be unable to move, because after you fear loss so much: loss of order, loss of security, loss of predictability”. What do YOU think this statement means? Opinion--must answer on your own.
  1. What is Beth’s reaction to Conrad’s goodnight hug? What do YOU think of her reaction? Opinion--must answer on your own.

Chapter 30

  1. What else do we learn about Jeannine?
  1. How do WE (the readers) know that Conrad is finally on the right track?

Chapter 31

  1. What does Cal say he needs from Beth?
  1. What do Cal and Conrad discuss?

Epilogue

  1. What does Conrad’s action in the Epilogue show us?