~ ENG 1DI ~
Movie Essay Assignment
1) First, on your own time, select and view ONE (1) of the movies
listed below:
Bend It Like Beckham
Rudy
Harry Potter and the
Philosopher’s Stone
Spider-Man
Indiana Jones and the
Last Crusade
Star Wars: A New Hope
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
Superman (1978)
Mulan
Whip It
While you’re watching the movie, take notes as to how the main character in
your movie possesses the qualities and characteristics of a Greek mythological
hero AND how his/her experiences and adventures contain the same stages as
a Greek hero’s quest.
2) Next, choose ONE (1) of the following topics and write a formal five (5)
paragraph essay including an effective thesis and properly formatted
introductory, body and concluding paragraphs:
a) Using your note titled “Characteristics of a Hero,” write an essay proving
whether or not your movie’s main character meets the criteria to qualify as a
hero. Make sure you begin by briefly explaining how a character becomes a
hero. Select the THREE (3) characteristics of a hero that either strongly
prove or disprove that he/she is a traditional hero, and provide specific
examples from the film to justify your arguments.
OR
b) Using your note titled “A Hero’s Quest,” write an essay proving whether or
not the “quest” taken on by your film’s main character follows the path or
journey of a Greek hero. Make sure you briefly explain the tradition of the
Greek quest, then proceed to apply THREE (3) of the various elements of
the heroic quest to his/her “journey.” Provide specific examples from the
film to justify your arguments.
You must hand in the following components:
• completed Essay Outline
• completed Peer-editing Checklist
• each of your essay rough copies
• a TYPED, DOUBLE-SPACED good copy of your essay, properly formatted
according to MLA guidelines
• the Five Paragraph Essay Evaluation Rubric
Your essay may be returned to you without being marked if any of these
components are missing.
Rough copy #1 due ______________________________________________
Rough copy #2 due ______________________________________________
Good copy due __________________________________________________