Book to Film Adaptation Analysis Assignment
Encountering a literary work in print and on film provides an opportunity to further your understanding of both versions of that work. The overt and subtle differences between the versions draw out various aspects of the story, characters, and stylistic techniques. For instance, the beginning of Watchmen has a montage of superheroes with a Bob Dylan song playing. This is supposed to give the audience information and set the tone for the movie. This assignment asks you to view print and film versions of Watchmen, using both to inform your analysis. In the classroom, the differences between an original story’s form and movie form can be analyzed to develop critical thinking skills and discuss the differences between plots, storylines, characters, and even the different merits of each medium. For this assignment, you will explore the reason(s) for any differences. Select one element from Watchmen: a scene, a character, a narrative technique, a symbol or theme, a setting, an image or description, etc. For this assignment you will:
Analyze and describe how the element/character/scene you have chosen appears within both the novel and the film.
Explain why YOU think the change was made. Dont just write because its better but give your analysis of what the change does for the story.
The essay should be in a 5 paragraph format with specific information
Introduction paragraph
who wrote the book
who wrote, directed, and acted in the movie
a summary of the story
a thesis explaining what specific aspect you are analyzing
1st supporting paragraph
What was the aspect that was different from the book to the movie? How was it different?
2nd supporting paragraph
What impact does this change have on the story?
3rd supporting paragraph
Why would the writer/director/etc make this change from the book?
Conclusion paragraph
restate the important information from the introduction, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd supporting paragraphs.
Here are a few questions that might give you some ideas of how to analyze the differences.
How do the two works differ?
Why do they differ? (in your opinion, not what Google says)
What does comparing the two versions teach you about this element of the work?
What parts of the original story were left out of the movie?
Did the movie add anything (plot points, characters, etc.) that were not in the original book version?
When the screenwriter and/or director changes any of the formal elements of the novel, is the overall message retained?
Why do you think the movie writers/directors/producers changed the story in the way they did?
What do you think the movie writers/directors/producers were trying to say through this change?
As you can see, you are not bound by much in this assignment. Feel free to explore the adaptation of book to film however you see fit. Make sure you focus on analyzing the differences in the novel and film and explain your ideas for those differences, and youll be golden. As always, if you have any questions, let me know.
The specifications for this assignment are:
MLA heading
Typed in 11 or 12 font, Calibri, Times, or Arial
Double spaced
At least 2 pages in length (usually around 600 words, if you need that)
Uploaded to Blackboard
DONT RETELL THE STORY I want your thoughts. Make sure to include how you feel, why you feel that way and how you arrived at the feeling/thought. If you make a statement about the story, tell me why.
Correct spelling and grammar. This IS an English class after all
Here are a few tips for thinking about/writing the paper. Argue a point. Your paper needs to move beyond a description of what happens in the book and film to an interpretation of the significance of the details you notice. Your paper should offer an interpretation of the work, drawing on details of the book and the film to support this interpretation. In short, it should have an argument. For instance, dont just point out the difference of the endings of The Watchmen, but instead argue why the writers/director of the movie decided to change the ending. What does it do for the audience? What does it to the overall meaning of the story? Dont overdo it. Select only one key passage, scene, or character in the novel and film. Be specific. Reference the exact lines in the book that shape your thinking. Use the “How to Analyze Film” handout and/or the literary elements handout to help you focus on small details within the film.
Be Creative. Choose a topic that you find interesting. Do not choose the examples I have given or a topic that we have discussed several times in class unless one of these things truly interests you above all others. In that case, be sure your paper covers new ground than our class discussions. Watch the film. Just as you go back and read passages of the novel when you write a paper, you should go back and watch scenes from the film. It is impossible to do a detailed analysis of an
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