In
this assignment, you will be choosing 3 of the 6 poems, short stories,
and short films to write a response concentrating on themes. You must
turn in one Analytical, one Opinion (Editorial), and one Anecdotal
response. Please turn them all in on one document. You should also be
choosing at least 2 different types of media. For example, at least one poem and
one short story. Each response should be at least 350-500 words.
Please use the discussion questions below to help guide your responses:
What themes about life and the human condition does the film, short story, or poem explore?
What message is the author trying to communicate?
What language, phrases, metaphors does the author adopt to convey this message?
What connections can you make to experiences from your own life or other books and movies you have read or seen?
What do you think about the author's message? What is your position on this?
What supporting details can you bring in to back up your position?
Please use the discussion questions below to help guide your responses:
What themes about life and the human condition does the film, short story, or poem explore?
What message is the author trying to communicate?
What language, phrases, metaphors does the author adopt to convey this message?
What connections can you make to experiences from your own life or other books and movies you have read or seen?
What do you think about the author's message? What is your position on this?
What supporting details can you bring in to back up your position?
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Explanation and example of what an Analytical, Editorial, and Anecdotal response should sound/look like (Part 1, 2, 3):
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3Exemplars:
Interpretive:
Evocative, powerful, but also depressing, The Boy Who Wanted to be a Lion, by Alois Di Leo, explores issues of identity and isolation. Although difficult to discern, the film's primary message points to the impossibility of being something you are not, even when your circumstances are close to unbearable. In the story the main character Max, feels forever on the margins of society due to his inability to hear. Frustrated with a hearing aid that emits an abrasive high-pitched buzz, he discards this device in favour of the quiet solace of his own imagination. After a seeing a lion at a zoo, seeking the acceptance, power, and respect he does not possess, Max decides to take on the identity of this courageous beast. Literally. He soon has his mom sew him a costume and proceeds to fully embrace life as lion. However, after sneaking into the cage of the lion that inspired him to take on this new role, Max’s attempt at securing a new identity ends with tragic results. For those of us used to a Hollywood ending this final scene was shocking. This being said, in creating this sequence of events the film shows that on some level we must come to grips with who we are, as well as who we are not. Max could never be a lion, and moreover needed to respect that a lion is by nature a wild, dangerous, and ferocious beast. The film demonstrates that losing oneself in a world of fantasy can be very dangerous as we can lose sight of the nature of reality and its inherent dangers. In this way, no matter how painful, we must all learn to accept our limitations and work within the bounds of the possible.
Editorial: (I would use most of the above paragraph, but I would add the following)
While I understand why the author believes this to be true, I must disagree. Alois Di Leo believes that following our dreams is somehow dangerous, that conformity is preferable to being different or unique. Such a message is offensive and deplorable. In the film there are multiple occasions when Max is portrayed in colour, whereas his colleagues are all coloured yellow; this is a perfect example of how the author is implying we should all conform to society, and sacrifice our unique identity. Conformity and the sacrificing of our dreams should not be the message being sent to our youth, being pushed on the next generation. Alois Di Leo has made it seem as though only pain and misfortune can come of being different, of having hopes and ambitions that are perceived as usual to the majority.
Please respond to three of the six below, either with an Analytical response, Editorial response, or Anecdotal response:
