“Big Fish” notes

Literary Lens/theory 1 Literary Lens/theory 2

Structuralism Reader response

- The conflict between father and son helps to -The father and son in the film have
understand the theme of the film. misunderstandings that lead to a conflict of 3
The theme of this film is the hopes and years.
unfulfilled dreams of a person that help him -The film tells stories of the past and
live on. present=> this means that the past is
completely connected with present events,
● The conflict between son and father. each leading to the current consequences.
The differences between them are - The son starts a conflict after so many years
obvious. Their conflict is based on the that shows his growth as a person, he is no
dissimilarity of worldviews. longer a child and expresses everything that
The son is a realist, all stories in which he he thinks to his father.
believed in his childhood do not make sense - 3 years without communication with his son
anymore. Having matured, he understood the shows how important these stories are for
real world and considers his father’s stories to him. Because of them, he even stops
be meaningless fictions. communicating with his kid.
He prefers the real picture of the world.
EVENTS IN THE PAST
His father is the complete opposite. As he - Edward Bloom is an ambitious young
grew older, he could not come to terms with guy from a small town, he can be
reality. Inventing stories, he found the called brave by his act with a giant,
strength to live. He is proud of his stories and but his courage lay in the fact that he
never stops believing in them. Choosing knew for sure that he would die like
between communication with his son and his that. He repeats “I won’t die like this”
stories, he chooses stories, which leads to - He does not use force,but solves
conflict and the theme of the film. everything peacefully (example with a
giant)
- The father has a conflict not only with his - Getting into a strange city (Spectre),
son but also with himself he gives the girl a promise to return.
● Father invents stories for a reason. At the end of the film, we find out that
Realizing how boring his life is, he they reunited.
decides to plunge into the world of his - Edward meets his love and for
dreams. With the help of his several years does everything to get
imagination, he continues to live her name. This describes him as a
proud of the past that he invented. All stubborn person who knows exactly
this means that he was not satisfied what he wants=> In the future, they
with his life, which probably means are married and still have strong
that he had an internal conflict in the feelings.
past. - The author of the film made a difficult
fate for him and uses a lot of irony.
- Setting. Edward is looking for a place (after so many years, having met his
suitable for him. love, he is forced to join the army)
-> leaves the town because he thinks he’s too
ambitious PRESENT
-> comes to the “ideal town” (Spectre) but it - Dad (Edward) is sick but still knows for sure
does not suit him. when and how exactly he will die.
 -The son still does not believe in his father’s
stories. As viewers, we also wonder what is
the truth in stories from the past.
- We can see that one example of irony is the
son’s profession, because he also writes
stories. This shows how similar they are but
at the same time different.

PAST

- Looking for his business, Edward

reappears in Spectre and buys the
whole town. He meets a girl whom he
made a promise to. → In the present,
his son comes to her to find out the
truth

Elements of fiction Truth of the Story (themes)

Ie: How does this theme apply? Thematic
Separate document statement?

The film has many themes such as love and

destiny, disappointment in one's own life and
the possibilities of the human imagination.
One of the other themes is the very fate of
Edward. He hides from his life in his dreams.
The main theme is the conflict between father
and son.
The film shows how different people's
worldviews are and what conflicts this can
lead to.

Thematic statement
Celebrate oneself in reality when catching
dreams in life adventure