Essay writing
An essay structure should consist of....
An introduction, 3 x body paragraphs and a conclusion.
Complete the line "This is what happens when an unstoppable force meets an ............"
immovable object
The name of the camera movement, used in the party scene, whereby the subject of the shot is circled to create a predatory feel.
Arc movement.
What is Harvey Dent's job title?
He is Gotham city's District Attorney.
Name the actor who plays The Joker.
Heath Ledger
Name 2 different body paragraph structures you might use in an essay (hint: they are acronyms).
TEEEPE, TEEEPick, PETAL, TEXAS
Name the figurative language feature in the following lines of dialogue:
“I took Gotham's white knight and I brought him down to our level. It wasn't hard. You see, madness, as you know, is like gravity. All it takes is a little push!”
Simile. Compares madness to gravity, the implication being that it is easy to push someone over the edge into insanity or, Harvey's case, moral darkness.
Suggest 2 reasons ways lighting is used in the film.
To show moral qualities, good and evil, to evoke mood or atmosphere.
Name the character who says this and what character action is he referring to?
"This is too much power for one person.”
Lucius Fox. Referring to Batman's decision to turn every citizen's cellphone into a microphone.
Name 3 moments where the Shephard tone can be heard in the film.
The party scene, the hospital scene, the interrogation scene...
What is the purpose of a thesis statement and where is it found?
States what you will argue, in response to the question. Found at the end of your introduction.
Provide context for the following quote: "You spat in the face of Gotham's criminals. Didn't you think there might be some casualties?"
Alfred to Bruce Wayne, following Rachel Dawe's death. Bruce has just asked if he is responsible for her death. "I was meant to inspire good".
What is the name given to the "smile" that the Joker has, based on a brutal practice of revenge employed by gangsters in the UK.
Glasgow smile or Chelsea grin. A key feature of J's make up/costume.
What does the Joker threaten to do if Coleman Reece is not killed in 60 mins?
Blow up a hospital. The willingness of some to kill Reece shows how human morality shifts when under pressure.
What is meant by the phrase "circular paragraph structure"?
Idea that body paragraphs end by linking back to the way they began/the thesis, suggesting what the paragraph has shown.
Suggest 3 things an effective introduction will do.
Begin with a leading statement/quote, use adverbs/adjectives to show opinion, contain a strong thesis, use words from the question, give an overview of points to be covered...
"Some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.”
How does this quote suggest the Joker defies the villain stereotype?
He is not motivated by factors that may normally motivate a villain, such as greed. He is motivated instead, by a desire to witness people self-destruct/create chaos.
Suggest one example of a "zoom in" from the film and explain why it is used.
Opening - zoom into a close up of the Joker's mask to create a sense of curiosity in relation to his character.
Explain how Batman's "one rule" can be seen as problematic.
His inability to kill the Joker, in order to adhere to his no kill rule, means that many other people die. Evokes a moral dilemma - is it right to let dozens die as a result of a failure to kill one?
Explain how the Shepard tone works to create a sense of unease in relation to the character of the Joker.
Overlapping notes that appear, in our case, to be ascending in scale but never reaching a climax. Creates a feeling of continually rising tension. Played when J is behaving in a sinister manner.
Suggest a thesis for the following:
Analyse how the opening of a text was crafted for a particular purpose.
Nolan is successful in showing that the Joker will be a formidable opponent for Batman in the opening scene, through his crafting of features such as camera techniques, dialogue and characterisation.
What 3 things is Batman compared to, by Jim Gordon, at the end of the following:
“Because he's the hero Gotham deserves. But not the one it needs right now. And so we'll hunt him. Because he can take it. Because he's not our hero. He's a ....
"a silent guardian. A watchful protector. A dark knight.”
Describe the notable camera movement used to show the joker hanging off the side of a building after being caught by Batman during their final confrontation. Suggest why it's used.
Barrel roll - initially J is upside down but as he speaks the camera rotates 180 degrees so he is upright to us, although still upside down. Symbolises how our idea about a normal villain has been flipped. Supports idea of chaos/confusion in relation to his character.
How does Nolan manipulate us to see similarities between hero and villain in the interrogation scene?
Dialogue "to them you're just a freak like me..., eye level camera angle, symmetrical framing/gesture of the pair on either side of the interrogation desk, both wear "masks"....
What real-life event occured in the US before the film was made and how can the film be seen as a response to this event?
911 - terrorist attack. This totally unpredictable event created a heightened sense of fear among US citizens, causing chaos within society. J is a representation of a modern day terrorist - inspires fear through unpredictability and chaos.