Literature to Film

1. Literature to Film Units of Study Overview Ms. Julia Barrus - MRHS

2. Author’s choices add meaning and purpose to their writing. A writer and (film) presenter’s selection of relevant topics and details strengthen the overall message. • Considerations: What perspectives do the author and director want to convey? What is the story’s theme and/or central message? Is there anything controversial being discussed and/or portrayed? If so, does the story form an opinion, or help readers/viewers form one, or both? Introspective Lenses

3. The lens through which we view works of literature impacts our interpretation and understanding of that literature. The time period in which an author lives impacts his/her works of art and demonstrates how the human condition conveyed can create universal understandings. • Considerations: What is the influence of historical context on form and style? What is unique about the time period and the way that it is portrayed? What challenges might a film-maker encounter in adapting a historical piece? How can you accurately portray a time and place that may not exist any longer? Historical Lenses

4. The reading and understanding of a text changes based on critical lenses through which the reader interprets that text. Readers can make thoughtful judgments about a text based on the effectiveness of an author’s rhetoric. • Considerations: What is the difference between literary and film criticism? Can the same story be interpreted and thus portrayed differently by using different lenses? How can viewers interpret the same text using different lenses? Critical Lenses

5. An author’s choices contribute to the text’s structure, meaning, and aesthetic impact. Writers manipulate elements of style to appeal to an audience. • Which components of style belong to particular writers, film-makers, genres? How can you identify elements of style that appeal to a particular audience? What challenges do particular genres face during the adaptation process? Unconventional Lenses

6. Different inquiry questions can lead to different inquiry plans and processes. Inquiry requires flexible decision making and methods for exploration because resources can lead to an ebb and flow of ideas. Formats for presenting research differ based on intended audience and purpose. • Considerations: How can you add too/explore a conversation about a certain critical viewpoint? What format is the best for presenting your individual research? Which databases can yield information to help guide your inquiry? What piece of studying adaptation intrigues you most? Independent Inquiry