Film Study Worksheet for Adaptations from Novels

Name______________________ Period ____

Read the questions before you watch the film so that you will know what to look for
while you watch. At breaks during the showing or at the film's end, you will have an
opportunity to make short notes in the spaces provided. If you make notes while the
film 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 after
the film is over, you will be required to fully respond to the questions.

Complete the assignment by answering each question in paragraph form. Answers

need to be complete and comprehensive, demonstrating that you paid attention to
the film 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.

QUESTIONS AND NOTES

1. Identify the novel you read and the film from which it was adapted:

A. Novel title, genre, author, and year published.

_____________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

B. Title of film adapted from the novel, director, year released.

_________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

2. Describe any significant differences between the setting and time period in the
novel and the film. Do they change the story in an important way?
_________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

3. How well do the characters in the film reflect what is presented in the book in
terms of personality, appearance, action, and dialogue? Which did you like better,
the character in the book or the character in the movie? Why?

A. protagonist:
_________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

B) antagonist:
__________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
 C) any minor or ancillary characters you care to comment on:
___________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

4. What is the major lesson that you took from the novel? Does that change in
the film? If so, describe the change.
__________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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5. How is the conflict in the film presented in comparison to the novel? Describe
significant differences and similarities. What did you think about these changes?
___________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
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____________________________________________________________________________________

6. Describe any subplots that have been added to the film or removed from the
story told in the book. What did you think about these changes?
________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
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____________________________________________________________________________________

7. Compare and contrast the resolutions to the conflicts presented in the novel and
in the film.
____________________________________________________________________________________
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8. In terms of making the novels lesson clear from the resolution of the conflict,
how does the film compare to the novel?
_________________________________________________________________
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9. Determine whether the novel or the film is better in terms of its ability to hold the
interest of the reader/viewer and to present an important life lesson. Defend your
point of view with specific references to the book and to the film.
____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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10. Describe four elements or devices of fiction, such as motif, symbol,
foreshadowing, flashback, foil, opposition, irony, or language choice (diction) that
were used in the book and carried over to the movie.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

11. What might you add to the film that would better enable viewers to appreciate
the story told by the novel?
_______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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