Bart Gets an "F"/References

Cultural References

 * Treasure Island: Bart reads it.
 * McGraw-Hill: Treasure Island is published by them.
 * The Old Man and the Sea: Martin reads it and recounts to the class in a first person narrative in an oral report. However, Martin wears an Ernest Hemingway costume. The protagonist of The Old Man and the Sea was an elderly man named Santiago.
 * King Kong: The 'gorilla film' is a spoof.
 * Gone with the Wind: Bart says 'With God as my witness..."
 * How the Grinch Stole Christmas: The people of Springfield stand in a circle.
 * Lisa observing Bart's prayer and saying to herself "Prayer; the last refuge of a scoundrel" is a variation of the saying "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel."

General Trivia

 * In Bart's fantasy about the snowy 4 July, Benjamin Franklin's sled says Don't Sled on Me, a play on the famous serpent flag "Don't Tread on Me."
 * Despite passing the fourth grade, Bart, of course, remains in Mrs. Krabappel's class in all subsequent episodes, since virtually no time ever really passes on the show.
 * During the episode Bart writes "I will not fake my way through life" on the chalkboard.
 * The idea behind the grade on the refrigerator would reappear in Bart's Nightmare where a letter grade would appear and the mood of the Simpson family would differ, with a scene similar to the ultimate scene in "Bart Gets an "F"".
 * Milhouse' voice appears deeper.
 * When Homer askes Lisa what she wants, she says "An absence of moodswings." Since Lisa is only eight years, this should not affect her yet.
 * This is the third episode with Bart's name somewhere in the title.

First Appearances

 * This is Mayor Quimby's first appearance.
 * This is the first episode with the show opening used between Season 2 to mid-twenty.