Name: ___________________________________________ Date:______________ Period:________ Film Study 2 – Jones
Film Analysis Questions – The Graduate
1. Why is the movement from right to left when Benjamin arrives
in LA fitting given what this movement generally suggests to
western hemisphere viewers?
2. Why does Nichols place Benjamin in front of an aquarium?
How is he “a fish out of water”?
3. Who are the people in attendance at the party? More importantly, who is not in attendance at the party? How do the
guests treat Benjamin, and how does Nichols’ convey Benjamin’s psyche?
4. What does Mrs. Robinson do to pressure Ben to stay? Why does she reveal that she’s an alcoholic? How does she
tempt Ben?
5. How close does Ben stand next to Mrs. Robinson, yet what
does Mrs. Robinson want him to do?
6. How is the scene with Mr. Robinson’s return home
suspenseful? What is ironic about this scene, too?
7. What sound effects do we hear and not hear when Benjamin wears the suit? Why?
8. How does the scuba diving scene reflect what we saw earlier in the film? What sound effects do we hear once Ben’s
in the pool? Why? Why is this scene important? What does Ben decide to do after this?
