Character
Main character in the film
Teddy Daniels/Andrew Laeddis
The first key sequence of the film
The opening - the boat and introduction to the island
Name two media techniques from the first shot of the island:
- Long shot
- Low-key lighting
- Weather (dark and stormy)
- Loud, repetitive horn sounds (soundtrack)
(or any other acceptable answer)
Explored through Teddy's journey and the other patients at the hospitalq
Mental Illness
The name of the island and the name of the hospital on it
Shutter Island, Ashecliffe Hospital
The main character's partner
Chuck Aule/Dr. Lester Sheehan
What we see at the beginning of the sequence
Teddy being sick
Techniques that tell us Teddy is unwell:
- Make-up (sweat)
- Props (plaster)
- Close-ups (hands shaking)
- Weather/lighting (bright, sudden, to show migraines)
(or any other acceptable answer)
Explored through Teddy's past and the effect it has had on him
Trauma/Grief
What the main character's 'purpose' is on the island at first
To discover why a patient, Rachel Solando, has gone missing
Main doctor of Ashecliffe Hospital
Dr. Cawley
At what point the soundtrack music starts
When we first see the island (long shot)
A technique that shows Teddy's memories in comparison to his reality
- Lighting (bright versus dull)
- Colour (yellows, reds, greens etc. versus greys and earth colours)
(or any other acceptable answer)
Explored through Teddy's experiences on the island and whether they are true or not
Reality versus Illusion/
Truth versus Lies
What Teddy becomes convinced the doctors are doing on the island
Running illegal experiments on patients in the lighthouse
Deputy Warden ... ?
MacPherson
How Teddy and Chuck look different on the boat
Teddy is dishevelled (clothes a mess, sweaty, plaster on forehead.)
Chuck is well put together (suit, tie, hat etc.)
Three techniques that build tension in Ward C
- Lighting: low-key, shadows, darkness, no light other than matches
- No soundtrack
- Sounds: dripping water, echoes, voices laughing/muttering, matches being lit
(or any other acceptable answer)
Explored through the island's location, and Teddy's experiences
Isolation
What Teddy reveals to Chuck he is actually doing on the island
Looking for Andrew Laeddis, the man who killed his wife
First name and maiden name of Teddy's wife
Dolores Chanal
How the opening sequence is split into four sections for our paragraphs:
1. The boat
2. Teddy/Chuck's conversation
3. The island/arriving
4. Drive to Ashecliffe
Techniques used to explore reality vs. illusion - name two
- props shifting hands
- patient drinking empty cup
- quick cuts between characters/objects
- water vs. fire symbolism
- repetitive elements of soundtrack (horn and clanging noise)
(or any other acceptable answer)
Explored through Teddy's choices, the way patients are treated, and the doctors different views on this
Morality
What is the twist of the story: summarise three of the main things we learn
- 'Investigation' is actually a role-play therapy session
- Teddy is actually Andrew Laeddis and is a patient there
- He killed his wife after she killed their children
- Chuck is his primary doctor, Sheehan
- He created this delusion because he refused to accept the fact he killed his family
(or any other acceptable answer)