Killings by Andre Dubus

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Killings by Andre Dubus
"A story can always break into pieces while it
sits inside a book on a shelf and, decades
after we have read it even twenty times, it can
open us up, by cut or caress, to a new
truth." Andre Dubus
About the Author Born in Lake Charles, Lousiana,
Andre Dubus attended the Christian Brothers
School and McNeese State College. Dubus spent
most time living in Massachusetts, as evident in
the settings of his stories, many of which occur
in the Merrimack Valley. After school, Andre
Dubus served in the Marine Corps for five years,
where he was exposed to an unusual amount of
violence, a common theme in much of his writing.
Also adding to his violent life experience, his
sisters rape plagued Dubus internally, leaving
him paranoid and overprotective. Tragedy again
struck Dubus when he was hit by a car, resulting
in the loss of use of his legs and the death of
his third wife. After serving in the Marine
Corps, Dubus returned to school, attending the
University of Iowa and then teaching at Bradford
College in Massachusetts. Stemming from the
period of his life he spent depressed after his
car accident, Dubus writing tends to be full of
violence, anger, guilt, and yet a strong amount
of redeeming tenderness. Dubus explores
characters who strive to make sense of their
experience and often settle in imperfect
relationships, paralleling much of his own spent
time. His short story Killings served as the
framework for the 2001 film In the Bedroom,
directed by Todd Field, which was nominated for
five Academy Awards.
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Key Terms Plot the writers selection and
arrangement of incidents in a story to shape the
action and give particular focus Characterization
the process by which an author reveals and
develops a character to a reader so that he/she
seems real Suspense the anxious anticipation of
a reader as to the outcome of a narration Tone
the authors suggested, but not explicitly
stated, attitude toward the reader, or
characters, places, and events of a story
Quotes of Interest since it had happened Matt
had not been able to think about any of the small
pleasures he believed he had earned, as he had
earned also what was shattered now forever the
quietly harried and quietly pleasurable days of
fatherhood (90) Matt wanted with some
gesture to give her solace and hope
(93) Matt wished those eyes were oblivious,
even cold he felt he was withering in their
tenderness (94) Matt was conscious of the
circles of love he was touching with the hand
that held the revolver (97) Matt shuddered
with a sob that he kept silent in his heart (101)
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Discussion Questions Please answer three out of
the following six questions. 1. Dubus titles his
story Killings not Killers which is
interesting considering the strong development of
character in his narration. How do these titles
differ and what does Dubus selected choice
suggest about his view of the killers in the
story? 2. Explore the final scene in which Matt
is telling his wife about the murder. What does
this reveal about the emotional impact the
killing had on Matt? How does Matt differ before
and after the killing? 3. Find evidence from the
text to either support or dispute the following
statement Matts revenge was well-planned. 4.
How does Dubus colorful, detailed account of the
killing (100) influence the reader? 5. What is
the significance of Stouts girl that Matt
refers to? 6. With background knowledge of Dubus
life, what parallels can be drawn between him and
his characters in Killings?