Stairs
What motif hints that danger is coming in Psycho?
Stairs
What motif shows a character looking at themselves in Psycho?
Mirrors
What motif is used to represent characters in Psycho?
Birds
Who steals the money at the beginning of Psycho?
Marion Crane
What technical code shows power or weakness?
Camera angles
What feeling do stairs help build for the audience?
Suspense
What feeling can mirrors reveal in a character?
Inner torment
What do weaker birds or prey represent?
Victims
Where does Marion stop for the night?
The Bates Motel
What symbolic code is repeated throughout a text to develop meaning?
Motif
What do stairs suggest is about to happen?
A murder or important event
What does the mirror show about Marion after stealing the money?
Marion’s guilt
What do stronger birds or birds of prey represent?
Powerful or dangerous characters
How much money does Marion steal?
$40,000
How does music impact the audience?
Music creates mood, builds suspense, and guides the audience’s emotions.
What technical or symbolic codes are typically used with the motif of stairs?
Music, camera angles and sound
What technical or symbolic codes are typically used with the motif of mirrors?
McGuffin, facial expressions & body language
What technical or symbolic codes are typically used with the motif of birds?
Camera angles
What famous scene is known for its sharp editing and suspenseful music?
The shower scene
What sound code comes from within the world of the film, such as footsteps or dialogue?
Diegetic sound
What deeper meaning does the stair motif have in Psycho?
They symbolise movement toward death, secrets, and hidden truth.
What deeper meaning does the mirror motif communicate in Psycho?
They show the split between appearance and reality AND/OR hidden agendas
What deeper meaning does the bird motif communicate in Psycho?
They symbolise the predator/prey relationship between characters.
Where does the film begin?
Phoenix, Arizona
What code includes everything placed in the frame to create meaning?
Mise-en-scène