SHORELINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

HUMANITIES DIVISION

Interpretive Essay

The "meaning" of a movie can be elusive. Stories within complex movies can have multiple meanings and work on different levels. Your assignment is to find and explain meaning in the movie chosen. The meaning you explain—also called interpretation—should be plausible and reasonable. To make it plausible and reasonable you will have to put together an essay that persuades based on evidence supported by the elements of the story.

Don't forget the story elements:

• Plot: Much like an essay outline, the plot of a story is the pattern of events within a story.
• Point of View: Point of view is the attitude or outlook of a narrator (or character) within a story.
• Character: Characters are the people (and sometimes things and places) portrayed in a story.
• Setting: Setting is the time, place, and circumstances in which a story takes place.
• Theme: Theme is a subject or idea developed and expanded on in a story.
• Symbolism: Symbolism is the practice of representing things by means of symbols or of attributing meanings or significance to objects, places, events, people, or relationships.
• Tone: Tone is the manner of expression that leads to a general quality in writing (sadness, anger, etc.)

Create a complex, interpretive question about the movie and then write a focused essay using detailed facts from the movie to support the answer you give to the question.

Title the essay with a title that captures the unique essence of the essay.

Type the essay—3 to 5 pages double-spaced—with the following heading:

Your Name
Sean Rody’s English 100
Quarter Year
Interpretive Essay

Fill out Essay Evaluation completely (including number of points earned and precise, detailed reasons why points are deserved).

Staple all pages together—before coming to class—and turn in on ______.