Write a paragraph on each of these: What The Princess Bride is about Explain how the narrative (story) of The Princess Bride follows Propp s narrative structure Westley what Propp says a hero should be like and what should happen to him in the story; what Wesley is like and what happens to him in the story; include film devices like costume, music, etc. Buttercup - what Propp says a Princess should be like and what should happen to her in the story; what Buttercup is like and what happens to her in the story: include film devices like costume, music, etc. Prince Humperdinck what roles from Propp could he be and why; what does he do in the film to make us change our mind about him; include film devices like costume, music, etc. Inigo and Fezzik what are their roles from Propp? How do they change from the start to the end of the film? How does this change happen? Include film devices like costume, music, etc. Other characters you may want to write about (Vizzini, Count Rugen, Miracle Max, etc.); remember to explain which character from Propp they are and how they change or develop; include film devices like costume, music, etc. Your opinion on the film --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Write a paragraph on each of these: What The Princess Bride is about Explain how the narrative (story) of The Princess Bride follows Propp s narrative structure Westley what Propp says a hero should be like and what should happen to him in the story; what Wesley is like and what happens to him in the story; include film devices like costume, music, etc. Buttercup - what Propp says a Princess should be like and what should happen to her in the story; what Buttercup is like and what happens to her in the story: include film devices like costume, music, etc. Prince Humperdinck what roles from Propp could he be and why; what does he do in the film to make us change our mind about him; include film devices like costume, music, etc. Inigo and Fezzik what are their roles from Propp? How do they change from the start to the end of the film? How does this change happen? Include film devices like costume, music, etc. Other characters you may want to write about (Vizzini, Count Rugen, Miracle Max, etc.); remember to explain which character from Propp they are and how they change or develop; include film devices like costume, music, etc. Your opinion on the film 2004 www.teachit.co.uk Page 1 of 7 1043
We Are Learning To apply Propp s narrative theory to The Princess Bride understand the shape of stories the villain harms a member of the community, kingdom or family a member of the community, kingdom or family leaves home there is a struggle between the hero and the villain the hero attains (gets) the reward the hero is branded or hurt the hero is tested or attacked the villain is overcome the hero escapes Propp says Preparation In The Princess Bride Complication Transference Struggle 1... 2... 3... Return......... Recognition 2004 www.teachit.co.uk Page 2 of 7 1043
Looking at how the characters in The Princess Bride change Character At the start of the film... By the end of the film... Westley Buttercup Prince Humperdinck Inigo Montoya Fezzik Vizzini Count Rugen 2004 www.teachit.co.uk Page 3 of 7 1043
Here are some sentence starters for you to use in your essay. Each box is a separate paragraph. The Princess Bride is about... Propp says that a film should begin with... Propp then says... At the end of a film, Propp says should happen. In The Princess Bride... Propp says there should be a... In The Princess Bride this is... We know this because... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Here are some sentence starters for you to use in your essay. Each box is a separate paragraph. The Princess Bride is about... Propp says that a film should begin with... Propp then says... At the end of a film, Propp says... should happen. In The Princess Bride... Propp says there should be a... In The Princess Bride this is... We know this because... 2004 www.teachit.co.uk Page 4 of 7 1043
Here are some difficult words you may wish to use: Westley Buttercup Inigo Montoya Fezzik King Count Rugen Miracle Max Humperdinck Vizzini Prince Princess wedding castle hero villain Prince helper King Florin Guilda In The Princess Bride we have just seen I think the next thing to happen will be This is because After that I think ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Here are some difficult words you may wish to use: Westley Buttercup Inigo Montoya Fezzik King Count Rugen Miracle Max Humperdinck Vizzini Prince Princess wedding castle hero villain Prince helper King Florin Guilda In The Princess Bride we have just seen I think the next thing to happen will be This is because After that I think 2004 www.teachit.co.uk Page 5 of 7 1043
UNIT OF WORK: Moving Image The Princess Bride Study Pack CLASS: TEACHER: Starter Activity Learning Activities Skills Assessment Resources 1 Key vocabulary - introduction Media knowledge Informally Video of The Princess Bride 2 Key vocabulary - model its use 3 Key vocabulary spelling test 4 Key vocabulary putting it into use 5 Organising the structure of narratives cutups Look at still images and faces/characters and as a group evaluate what sort of roles they would be in a film/fairy tale Teacher-led on how stills differ to moving images As groups to add movement/sounds to the images to exaggerate the characterisation (e.g. spooky music or hunched shoulders for a villain) Show the start of The Princess Bride and ask groups to talk about/write about what sort of characters are on screen Brainstorm how they imagine/expect the narrative will go Introduce the narrative theory of Propp (focus on characters) Teacher to model the application of Propp to a fairy tale they all know Pairs to apply the theory to a different story (including movies as well as books if they like) Re-watch the start of The Princess Bride Discuss which roles Buttercup & Wesley take, both in terms of narrative and music/lighting, etc. Make suitable notes in their books (Why can Buttercup be seen as Princess?) Watch the next ten minutes of The Princess Bride Discuss/notes on: can story have two Princes; how is Buttercup more of a Princess now? Watch the rest of the film Apply Propp s narrative structure to The Princess Bride which parts fit, which don t write out the sentence from Propp s theory and add one of their own to show they understand the film (e.g. A member of the community/kingdom/family leaves home this is shown when Wesley leaves the farm to seek his fortune) Watch the opening 5 minutes of Star Wars (up to the boarding of the Rebel ship) Identification of genres from clues on screen (sci-fi and fairy tale from the opening A long time ago in a galaxy far far away to words like the Princess and evil Empire and being shown images of space, star ships, etc. ) Development of prior knowledge Group work and sharing ideas Knowledge, understanding and application of theory to narrative, structure and characters Knowledge, understanding and application Synthesis Development of media knowledge Oracy and discussion skills Informally Informal review of their notes Informal En2 - notes Informally Video of The Princess Bride Propp s theory Video of The Princess Bride Video of Star Wars 2004 www.teachit.co.uk Page 6 of 7 1043
5 (contd) Show the next five minutes (up to Darth Vadar boarding the ship) Discuss how they know Darth Vadar is the villain before he has said or done anything (costume, music, breathing, how stormtroopers defer to him, mask, position of the camera to make him seem intimidating) As a group, decide who else will be involved, based on Propp s theory 6 Organising the structure of narratives Teachers could show the whole of Star Wars at this point if they wished, and apply Propp to it very easy! 7 Connectives ICT base use of Lord of the Rings CD-rom to storyboard a section of Tolkein s novel and application of Propp to the characters (all activities on the DC-rom) 8 Connectives In MA teams plan, draft and write in best a critical essay on either The Princess Bride, Star Wars or Lord of the Rings what clues they have from the moving images to link it to Propp 9 Writing speech In pairs, plan and storyboard a new film using Propp for guidance and fusing fairy tale with another genre, e.g. horror, vampires, sci-fi, western, etc. Review the opening sections of The Princess Bride, Star Wars (and Lord of the Rings) Write a short script for the opening section 10 Writing speech Using the digital cameras film some shots for an opening section (approx 30 seconds) and use a computer to edit it 11 Writing speech Write a review of their own movie, explaining choices in camera angle, music, costume, etc. The more able to compare their own work with one of the films they have studied Media knowledge ICT Critical essay writing Planning PQE Media language Group work/collaboration Structuring Developing characters & ideas ICT Media technical work Planning & drafting 12 End of unit assessment and review. Metacognition The Princess Bride Study Pack Best storyboards Formal En2/3 Informally Possibly the script, the video and/or the review Video of Star Wars ICT base and CD-rom ICT and video I have focused on The Princess Bride (Rob Reiner, 1987) and Star Wars (George Lucas, 1977) for this unit as they are very simple and also very easy to get hold of; they have the added bonus of having not been seen by many students. Any film will do, just change the angle. Feel free to emphasise the Lord of the Rings (Peter Jackson, 2001) aspect as the BFI CD-rom is excellent and comprehensive. Shrek (Andrew Adamson & Vicky Jenson, 2001) is also an excellent film for this unit but has possibly been watched to death by a lot of students. 2004 www.teachit.co.uk Page 7 of 7 1043