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Film and Literature

Imagine the feeling you get when you’re at the movies, about to see the newest release: you settle into your seat, let the sound of the credits wash over you, and prepare to be transported. Films can do that - take you to another place and time - and many of the greatest films have been based on novels, plays, and short stories. In this course, we will examine how novels from different time periods and genres have been adapted for the silver screen. Students will analyze the text themselves, exploring character development, literary devices, and themes, as well as learning introductory-level film analysis skills.

The course begins with an in-depth study of Jane Austen’s famous novel, Pride and Prejudice, which has been adapted at least 17 times for film and television! In addition to reading the novel, students will explore visual interpretations of Austen’s iconic characters from the web, television, and cinema. Next, the course turns to Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games. Students will explore the idea of dystopian societies through analysis of the novel and by watching the 2012 film version of the story. Finally, students will choose from a selection of well-known films and read the source material - either a short novel, short story, or a play - to compare and contrast the text and film adaptations.

Acknowledgements

Proctored Exam: Please note that this course contains an end-of-course proctored exam. Instructions for students to identify an appropriate adult proctor are included in the course lessons.

Mature Themes: Some texts/films contain suicide, murder, and/or excessive violence. All students will need to obtain permission to watch R-rated films.

Required Texts: This course requires students to obtain copies of certain texts and films. Details provided in the Additional Requirements field of this course description.

Course Objectives

Students will:

  • Identify, describe, and analyze how different film techniques - such as acting, lighting, camera work, sound, and production design - can be used to direct audience focus in order to communicate a specific meaning.
  • Compare and analyze scenes and characters in literature with their cinematic counterparts; compare and contrast the written interpretation of the author with the visual interpretation of directors and screenwriters.
  • Analyze the ways in which film adaptations of literary works both enhance or diminish the experience for the viewer.
  • Explore literary themes and messages by supporting their interpretations with textual evidence and analysis.

Additional Requirements

Students will need to obtain copies of the following texts and films which are available at many school or local libraries or for purchase online for a small fee.

  • Film: Pride and Prejudice, dir. Joe Wright, 2005 needed in Week 6
  • Novel: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins needed in Week 7
  • Film: The Hunger Games, dir. Gary Ross, 2012 needed in Week 10
  • One of the following text and film pairs, needed in Week 11: -Driving Miss Daisy by Alfred Uhry; Driving Miss Daisy, dir. Bruce Beresford, 1989 -Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare (available online); Shakespeare in Love, dir. John Madden, 1998 (Please note: This film is rated R) -Stories from the Corner by F. X. Toole; Million Dollar Baby, dir. Clint Eastwood, 2004 -The Fault in Our Stars by John Green; The Fault in Our Stars, dir. Josh Boone, 2014 -Maze Runner by James Dashner; Maze Runner dir. Wes Ball, 2014 -"What We Talk About When We Talk About Love" by Raymond Carver; Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), dir. Alejandro G. Iñárritu, 2014 (Please note: This film is rated R)