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resource guide
Essay guide
KS3 > Media & Non-Fiction > Shrek
How it works
Shrek is a brilliant film that students love to watch, and can lead to a
really good media coursework piece. It works well with Year 9
students as a treat after the SATs. They really love watching the film
and then…
Try this!
Draw HUGE stereotypes of heroes and villains on paper and stick
them to the windows of the classroom so that they are there to
remind you of the stereotypes. Label them with the characteristics
that you would expect them to demonstrate - both physical and
mental.
Then look at images of Shrek, Princess Fiona and Lord Farquaad
(found at the official Shrek website). Look just at the images and, based
solely on the images and the hero and villain work, students should
say which they would expect to be which and why. As most of them
will have already seen the film, they have to work really hard not to
let their prior knowledge get in the way.
Or this!
As a GCSE media assignment, the essay structures provided in the
resources are exceptionally useful as they can support the weakest
students in such a way that they can work relatively independently.
However, they do need adapting to make them more relevant to the
Assessment Objectives.
Or this!
Use this resource and the <Shrek> Notes to accompany the
essay guide to support students in getting the background
information for their media work. Then ask them to write a review
of the film in the style of a specific film magazine.
Alison Smith
© 2006 www.teachit.co.uk
shrek3 - 4920
Shrek
In traditional fairy tales, ogres are man-eating beasts. The Prince usually rescues the
Princess, they marry and live happily ever after.
How do the makers of Shrek use presentational devices to reverse this tradition, to reveal
the ogre as good and the Prince as evil?
Introduction
In this essay, I am going to analyse the characters of _____________ and _____________ , and
write about how film makers use different ______________________________________ to create
an unusual fairy tale.
1.
In traditional fairy tales …
A) NOW YOU NEED TO WRITE ABOUT PRINCES AND OGRES/ GIANTS FROM OTHER FAIRY TALES.
B) BRIEFLY EXPLAIN WHAT THE OGRE DOES IN THE STORY OF THE TWO FAIRY TALES JACK AND
THE BEANSTALK AND WHAT THE PRINCE DOES IN SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS.
2.
Language is an important device, and I am going to write about how language can create the
impression of good and evil, both in characters and in films. The film Shrek opens with …
A) NOW YOU NEED TO WRITE ABOUT HOW THE FILM OPENS.
B) HOW IS IT DIFFERENT TO A CONVENTIONAL FAIRY TALE?
C) WHY ARE THE VIEWERS SURPRISED?
D) WHAT DOES SUCH AN OPENING SUGGEST?
When the storybook characters arrive …
A) WRITE ABOUT WHAT SHREK THREATENS TO DO TO THEM.
B) HOW DOES SHREK TRY TO FRIGHTEN THEM?
C) HOW DO THE STORYBOOK CHARACTERS REACT?
D) WHAT DOES THIS SUGGEST ABOUT SHREK?
When Donkey approaches, Shrek roars at him and tries to intimidate him. Donkey is not frightened
and …
A) WRITE ABOUT HOW DONKEY RESPONDS TO SHREK. WHY DOES DONKEY LAUGH AT SHREK?
B) WRITE ABOUT HOW DONKEY REPEATEDLY IRRITATES SHREK – RUNNING INTO HIS HOUSE,
BOUNCING ON HIS CHAIR, PEERING TROUGH THE WINDOW ETC.
C) WRITE ABOUT HOW THE MICE TEASE SHREK. WHY IS THIS SO FUNNY?
D) WHAT DOES DONKEY'S BEHAVIOUR AND THE MICE'S BEHAVIOUR SUGGEST ABOUT THIS
OGRE? IS HE AS FRIGHTENING AS AN OGRE SHOULD BE?
Shrek and Donkey visit Duloc to try to reclaim Shrek's swamp from Lord Farquaad.
Donkey thinks that Shrek is too kind and should not have to ask, as the swamp belongs to him
anyway. Donkey tells Shrek …
A) HOW DOES DONKEY THINK THAT SHREK SHOULD GET HIS SWAMP BACK?
B) WRITE ABOUT WHAT SHREK THREATENS TO DO TO THE VILLAGERS.
C) WRITE ABOUT HOW SHREK OFFERS TO SOLVE THE DISPUTE – 'OVER A PINT'.
D) WHAT DOES THIS SUGGEST ABOUT SHREK'S CHARACTER?
© 2002 www.teachit.co.uk
Shrek essay guide
shrek3.doc
1
Shrek
When Shrek breaks into the castle to rescue Princess Fiona, he acts like an ogre when …
A) WRITE ABOUT HOW HE GREETS THE PRINCESS.
B) HOW DOES SHE RESPOND? WHAT DOES THIS SUGGEST?
Although Shrek appears violent, we learn that he has failed to slay the dragon because …
A) TALK ABOUT THE REASON THAT SHREK GIVES FOR NOT SLAYING THE DRAGON AND WHAT
THIS SHOWS ABOUT HIM.
At the beginning of the film Shrek tries to threaten the characters that he meets, but Donkey,
the mice, the storybook characters and Princess Fiona are not intimidated by Shrek or his
appearance. He tries to make them frightened by reminding them that
_________________________________________________ . Although Shrek is an ogre
_________________________________________________ .
In contrast to Shrek, Lord Farquaad is cruel. He watches the torture of the Gingerbread Man, and
then …
A) WHEN LORD FARQUAAD SEES THE TORTURE HE TAUNTS THE GINGERBREAD MAN 'RUN, RUN,
RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN'. WHAT DOES THIS SHOW ABOUT HIS CHARACTER?
B) WHAT DOES LORD FARQUAAD DO WITH THE GINGERBREAD MAN'S BUTTONS?
C) WHERE DOES LORD FARQUAAD THROW THE GINGERBREAD MAN?
D) WRITE THREE SENTENCES ABOUT YOUR IMPRESSIONS OF LORD FARQUAAD SO FAR.
Lord Farquaad is all set to marry Princess Fiona, until he sees that when the sun sets she
___________________________________________________________ . Lord Farquaad
speaks to her in a cruel way and he orders his knights to 'Get that out of my sight.' Lord Farquaad
calls off the wedding, but he still proclaims _________________________ . Lord Farquaad is
deceptive because he should only become king ____________________________ . It is clear
that Lord Farquaad does not love the Princess, but agrees to marriage because he wants
_________________________________________ .
3.
When a Director is making a film it is important that he/she uses a variety of camera angles to
create certain effects. At the beginning of the film, Shrek scares the storybook characters away …
A) WRITE ABOUT THE CLOSE UP SHOT OF SHREK'S MOUTH AND SAY WHY YOU THINK THIS
CLOSE UP SHOT IS USED HERE.
Close up shots are also useful for focusing the viewer's attention on the characters' emotions …
A) WRITE ABOUT THE USE OF THE CLOSE UP SHOTS OF PRINCESS FIONA AND SHREK SMILING.
WHY ARE CLOSE UP SHOTS EFFECTIVE HERE?
Tension is created when Lord Farquaad is introduced. Instead of focusing on his face, the camera
shows …
A) WHAT PART OF LORD FARQUAAD'S BODY DOES THE CAMERA FOCUS ON?
B) WHAT DOES THIS SUGGEST?
© 2002 www.teachit.co.uk
Shrek essay guide
shrek3.doc
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Shrek
When Shrek visits Lord Farquaad's castle, the camera moves from ground level upwards to reveal
his tower. This is called a high angle shot. It is useful because it makes Lord Farquaad seem
__________________________________________ , and Shrek and Donkey appear
__________________________________________ .
Low angle shots are effectively used because they show Lord Farquaad looking down on
____________ and ____________ .
Mid angle shots are used when Shrek and Donkey are relaxing together, and when Shrek has
cooked Princess Fiona a meal. These shots show both of the characters at the same time and
have the effect of _______________________________________________________ .
Sometimes, a character's back is shown rather than their face. This is used to suggest isolation
from other characters. For example …
A) WRITE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PRINCESS FIONA LEAVES SHREK AND GOES INSIDE.
B) WRITE ABOUT HOW SHREK SHOWS THAT HE WANTS TO END THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN
HIMSELF AND DONKEY.
4.
Presentational devices are also used to influence the viewer, and to make them see a particular
character in a certain way. The story begins in Shrek's swamp.
A) WHAT DOES THE SWAMP LOOK LIKE? WRITE ABOUT HOW THIS IS THE EXPECTED HOME FOR
AN OGRE.
B) WHY DOES DONKEY GO INTO THE SWAMP?
C) WHAT DOES THIS SUGGEST ABOUT THE OWNER OF THE SWAMP?
D) WHERE DOES LORD FARQUAAD LIVE?
E) WHAT WOULD YOU EXPECT A CASTLE TO BE LIKE? (SPLENDOUR – HAPPY – GLITTERING
WITH GOLD – ETC.)
F) HOW IS WHAT WE SEE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE EXPECT? (TORTURE – HOODED FIGURES
– VIOLENCE ETC.)
When we first meet Shrek it is obvious that he is supposed to look like an ogre because …
A) DESCRIBE WHAT SHREK LOOKS LIKE IN DETAIL, WHERE HE LIVES, HOW HE BATHES, HOW HE
PULLS THE WAX OUT OF HIS EAR ETC …
Lord Farquaad seems like a typical Lord. He wears …
A) DESCRIBE LORD FARQUAAD'S APPEARANCE, HIS HOME, AND WHAT HAPPENS IF HE MARRIES
A PRINCESS.
Lighting is also used to persuade the viewer to think of a character in a certain way. When
Princess Fiona leaves Shrek, Shrek sits with his back to the camera and stares at the moon.
A) WHY DO YOU THINK DARKNESS IS USED HERE? WHAT IS IT SUPPOSED TO REFLECT?
© 2002 www.teachit.co.uk
Shrek essay guide
shrek3.doc
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Shrek
The images of light are used thoughtfully too. Shrek and Princess Fiona are often pictured walking
through meadows …
A) WHY DO YOU THINK THEY ARE PICTURED WALKING THROUGH THE WOODS ON A SUNNY DAY
WITH THE BRIDS CHIRPING AND THE PRINCESS SINGING?
B) WHAT DO YOU THINK THE BRILLAINT LIGHT AT THE END OF THE FILM IS SUPPOSED TO
SUGGEST?
When we first meet Lord Farquaad and the hooded figure there is marching music …
A) HOW DOES THIS MAKE THE VIEWER FEEL? WHAT DOES IT SUGGEST IS GOING TO HAPPEN?
B) WHEN SHREK ENTERS LORD FARQUAAD'S ARENA WHAT DOES THE LOUD ORGAN MUSIC
SUGGEST?
When Shrek overhears the conversation between Donkey and Princess Fiona, he misinterprets the
conversation. At this moment the music is slow …
A) WHAT DOES THE SLOW MUSIC SUGGEST?
B) WHY DO YOU THINK THERE IS A SONG ABOUT BROKEN DREAMS AND PROMISES?
C) DESCRIBE THE EFFECT OF HAVING DONKEY AND THE DRAGON CRYING.
Donkey is an important character in the film, as he helps us to understand the character of Shrek.
When Donkey refuses to listen to Shrek, ignores the 'Beware of the ogre' sign, and follows him
back to the swamp …
A) WHAT DOES THIS SHOW US ABOUT SHREK'S CHARACTER?
B) WRITE ABOUT HOW DONKEY TURNS THE TOURNAMENT SCENE INTO COMEDY.
C) WHAT DOES THIS SHOW US ABOUT SHREK'S POWERS TO BE A REAL OGRE?
D) WRITE THREE SENTENCES ABOUT SHREK'S RELATIONSHIP WITH DONKEY.
E) HOW DOES DONKEY MAKE US BELIEVE THAT SHREK IS NOT A TYPICAL MAN-EATING OGRE?
5.
After analysing the characters of Shrek and Lord Farquaad, I have come to the conclusion that
although Shrek seems like a traditional ogre …
A)
WRITE ABOUT WHY YOU THINK SHREK IS DIFFERENT TO A TYPICAL OGRE – HAS FRIENDS –
RESCUES PRINCESS – FINDS LOVE – GETS MARRIED ETC.
Although Lord Farquaad looks like a Lord, his actions suggest that he is evil.
A) GIVE EXAMPLES OF HIS EVIL NATURE – COMMITS TORTURE – STEALS SHREK'S SWAMP –
MAKES HIS KNIGHTS FIGHT SHREK – REJECTS PRINCESS – FALSELY CLAIMS TO BE KING ETC.
The story of Shrek uses presentational devices to reverse our expectations so that by the end of
the film …
A) WRITE TWO SENTENCES ABOUT HOW THE VIEWER FEELS TOWARDS SHREK AND LORD
FARQUAAD.
Perhaps the message of the story is that you can't judge a book by ________________________ .
© 2002 www.teachit.co.uk
Shrek essay guide
shrek3.doc
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