Task 2: Comparative analysis:

12 YEARS A SLAVE
a. Narrative structure:
-General aspects: degree of fidelity to literary text. Justify: Why?
The film has a high degree of fidelity with respect to the book, since it practically follows
the same script. However, since the book is an autobiography by the protagonist, he
himself does not give great details of his sentimental life. Perhaps he does it this way so
as not to change the perspective of the good citizen to the reader, while in the adaptation
we can see, for example, an infidelity to his wife.
-Adaptations of setting: place? time? ideological background?
The protagonist was kidnapped in Washington and later worked on plantations in
Louisiana. The story spans from 1841 to 1853 (from when he was captured as a slave
until he was freed).
-Significant alterations in the order of events in the story, omissions and additions (only
most relevant ones).
There is significant alterations in the order of events in the story, as we can see in the
beginning of the film, it starts with a brief scene from Solomon's life as a slave and then
goes back in time and takes us to his life as a free man. From that scene there is already
a linear time that does not show its process since it is kidnapped and sold to a slave owner.
-Simplification or amplification of plot elements: new scenes, eliminated scenes... (only
most relevant ones).
The film shows us at the beginning a scene of infidelity on the part of Solomon, while in
the book there is no record of this fact.
In addition, the book can give more detail regarding the protagonist's thoughts since he
shapes them himself, but in the film these feelings or emotions cannot be expressed from
the person who experiences them.
-Introduction or elimination of narrative frames: prefaces, epilogues, narrative voice -->
voice over in film?
There are no prefaces or epilogues.
Narrative voice: The book is an autobiographical work narrated in the first person using
verbs in the past.
Voice over in film: The film is narrated by an omniscient narrator who tells third person
of Solomon's events.
-Elimination or addition of characters. Changes in perspective: whose point of view is the
story told from?
In the book there are some characters like John Williams, Mrs. Ford, Mr. Chapin who do
not appear in the movie. However, it does not change the perspective because these
characters in the book are not relevant since they have supporting roles.
-Significant transformations of the plot: different endings? Beginnings? Plot twists?
In the book the story is told in the first person referring to the events that happened in the
past, while in the film it is told in the third person and gives us a real image from the
present.
In addition, at the end of the film he tells how the life of the protagonist continues to pass
later. However, in the book this was not possible because it is the protagonist himself who
writes it; therefore, he does not know that he can include what would happen to him in
the following years.
-Other elements: intertexts (songs, poems, other texts-within-the-text)
On the one hand, in the movie we can listen the songs «Trío en Si bemol, D471» of the
singer Franz Schubert and «Run, Nigger, Run», adapted by John and Alan Lomax.
On the other hand, in the book we can see some references to the songs «Virginia Reel»
and «Old Hog Eye». But there is no any poem or another element like this.
b. Verbal elements:
-Uses of languages and accents in film: any linguistic variation introduced (i.e.
characters speaking different languages, use of subtitles, etc.)
It only appears people speaking American English but from different parts of the
country.
-Voice over/narrators: eliminated? added? the same?
There is no narrator in the film.
-Use of intertitles and subtitles: notes indicating setting? time or place? explanations at
the beginning (Star wars style) or the end (what happened to characters, etc.)?
No subtitles or clarifications appear in the film except at the beginning and end. At first,
they clarify that the film is based on real events, while in the end the events that
occurred from its release since Solomon's freedom until death are shown.
-Changes regarding the language of the text: modernization, simplification, translation...
Due to the difference of the years of publication between film and book, the film makes
use of a more modernized language, coming to use a rather obscene language.
c. Non verbal elements:
-Mise in scene: setting, costumes, hairdressing, makeup... --> faithful rendering of
fictional world? transformation of fictional world in any sense?
The elements in the movie belong to a real life rendering, the setting and costumes are
appropriately adapted to the time.
-Use of photography and light: black and white? color? any meaningful uses of color
and light (flashbacks, contrast between characters and settings, etc.)?
Light is used to emphasize the main character in dark scenes. Consequently, these
scenes predominate in his slavery stage and in the hardest moments of the film. For
instance, there are also strong contrasts between black and white colors expressing the
suffering of a black man dominated by a white world.
-Use of music and sound: part of the story? extradiegetic (soundtrack)? any relevant
sound effects?
The film features classical music and folk music such as "Trio in B-flat, D471" or "Run,
Nigger, Run". In addition, the film's soundtrack starred an original violin composed by
Hans Zimmer, years after the premiere the album called "Music from and Inspired by 12
Years a Slave" was released.
-Interpretation and casting: style of acting (naturalistic-realistic, expressionistic, parody,
exaggerated...)? type casting (actors selected because of previous 'image' fitting role)?
Unexpected casting selections?
It depends on the character, since slaves had a difficult task, because they had to show a
real pain, physically and mentally, so that the spectators could see how the situation
really was like, but their style of acting is realistic for that age.

Members of the group:

Miriam del Moral
Carlos Jurado
Ismael Moruno
Mª Concepción Lisedas