Joker
by Todd Phillips
About_
Joker, directed by Todd Phillips, follows Arthur Fleck, a struggling party clown and aspiring comedian living in a
troubled Gotham City. This study guide walks students through the story chapter by chapter, building
comprehension of plot, character, and setting while encouraging deeper discussion of themes such as mental
illness, class division, and society’s treatment of the vulnerable. It also includes a background article, a true/false
review, and activities that extend learning. This study guide contains 65 questions across 5 chapter sections (50
Factual + 15 Critical), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity.
What’s Included_
This study guide features 5 sets of 10 Factual Questions with an answer key (50 total), 5 sets of 3 Critical Analysis
Questions (15 total), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity (8 traits + evidence prompt +
critical thinking question).
Target Grades_
Grades 10-12 (mature themes; best suited to older students and adult learners)
Teacher Note_
This guide gives your students a structured path from recalling details to thinking critically about difficult themes.
The answer key and ready-made activities save you valuable preparation time, so you can focus on guiding rich
classroom discussions. Thank you for helping students read thoughtfully and speak confidently about what they
read.
The World of Gotham City
Gotham City is a large, crowded fictional city best known as the home of Batman. In this story, Gotham is shown as a place of
garbage strikes, high unemployment, and a growing gap between rich and poor. Understanding this setting helps readers see
why many characters feel overlooked and angry.
Todd Phillips and the Joker Story
Joker was directed by Todd Phillips and tells an origin story for one of comic books’ most famous villains. Unlike many
superhero stories, it focuses on one troubled man’s everyday life rather than on heroes and powers. The story invites readers
to think about how a person is shaped by the people and society around him.
Themes to Watch For
As you read, watch for ideas such as mental illness, loneliness, class division, and the way society treats people who struggle.
The story also asks you to think about the role of comedy and how humor can hide pain. Keep notes on moments that make
you feel sympathy, discomfort, or both.