FILM STUDY WORKSHEET — FOR A WORK OF HISTORICAL FICTION
Dr. Zhivago
Read the questions before you watch the movie so that you will know what to look for. At breaks during the showing or when the film is over, you will have an opportunity to make short notes in the spaces provided. If you make notes while the movie is playing, make sure that your note taking doesn’t interfere with carefully watching the film. You do not need to make any notes on the worksheet, but when the movie is completed, you will be required to fully respond to the questions. Complete the assignment by answering each question in paragraph form on a separate sheet of paper. Answers need to be complete and comprehensive, demonstrating that you paid attention and thought about what was shown on the screen. You may use more than one paragraph if necessary. Be sure that the topic sentence of your first paragraph uses key words from the question. All responses should be in complete sentences using proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation
1. Write a brief summary of the main plot, describing the event or events that are the focus of the film, stating where and when they take place.
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2. Name and describe the protagonist and the antagonist in this story.
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3. In the story told by the film, what is the main conflict and how is it resolved?
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4. Describe one image or scene from the film that stand out in your mind. Discuss why it impressed you and how it relates to themes explored in the story.
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5. Pick one of the following factors that play an important role in the film. Chose among political, economic, religious, social, and ideological. How does the film reflect the factor you identified? Be specific.
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6. Describe a lesson from this film that viewers can apply to their own lives: (1) in deciding what position to take on an issue of public concern.
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7. It could be said that “History is what the present chooses to remember about the past.” Given the fact that the audience will take away from the movie an impression of the historical events or figures portrayed in the story, does the film improve the viewer’s understanding of historical events? Justify your conclusion.
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