There are significant similarities and differences between the movie and short story versions of "Shawshank Redemption". Most of the elements in both the movie and the book are similar, (plot, setting, and theme). Some of the elements, (point of view, and characterization to some extent) are shown differently in the movie than in the story.
Plot
The plot is basically the same in both the movie and in the story. Both are about Andy Dufresne and Red who are serving life sentences at Shawshank prison. They both become great friends and they rely on each other. Andy struggles through being harassed by the guards. He eventually escapes while Red is paroled a few years after Andy escapes. The plots have the main characters dealing with imprisonment, their eventual freedom, and adjusting to life outside the institution. Even though both the story and the movie have a similar plot, the movie shows the plot in more detail than in the story. For example, the movie ends with Red making it to Mexico, finding Andy on the beach, and hugging him. The book ends with Red finding Andy's money and instructions and hoping that he will make it to Mexico to meet up with Andy.
Point of View
The point of view has many differences in the story than in the movie. In the story, Red narrates everything from a first person point of view. Even the dialogue between Andy and another person is told from Red. In the movie, the story is mostly told by Red, but there are parts of the movie where there is no narrator, just dialogue between the characters. Andy's sentencing at the beginning of the movie is an example where the action plays out in dialogue between characters. On some occasions, someone other than Red narrates in the movie. In the scene where Brooks is paroled, Brooks narrates his life outside of Shawshank.
Characterization
The Characterization is mostly the same in the story and in the movie. Both of them use direct characterization to describe the characters. There are a few differences however. In the story, Red is the person who introduces the characters and what characteristic traits they have. In the movie, most of the characters are not introduced by Red. They are revealed through dialogue and interaction. For example, we get to know Hank Williams loving Hayworth by how he interacts with Red, Andy, and the others. Also, the character's emotion is shown more in the movie than the story. The film lets you see the sweat, anger, and frustration that the characters are feeling.
Setting
The setting in both the story and the movie is basically the same. Both primarily take place inside the walls of Shawshank Prison. One difference is that the movie starts out at Andy Dufrense's sentence hearing in court. It show flashbacks of the alleged crime. The book starts out inside of Shawshank when Red tells the story of his crime to society. The book and the movie have minor prison scenes that are different from one another; such as, the movie scenes with Tommy Williams. At the end, the movie shows the beach in Mexico. The book ends earlier with Red full of hope at his hotel planning to travel to meet Andy.
Theme
The theme is the same in the movie as the story. Both are based on the burden of isolation and the power of hope. The movie builds hope for the main characters. There is scene in the cafeteria after Andy has come out of solitary and he talks about the hope he has inside of him that the guards cannot take away. Hope is also present right before Andy escapes when he talks to Red and says, "Get busy living, or get busy dying." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tkzc983aE0. The story has very similar dialogue regarding hope. It is really sets out in the end when Red ends the story with several lines starting with "I hope".
Monday, December 6, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
IRP-Short Story Blog
Plot
In Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, the story's plot contains internal and external conflicts. The main characters Andy Dufresne and Red are prisoners serving life term sentences at a state prison in Maine. They become good friends and they rely on each other. Andy struggles against being falsely imprisoned, and being victimized by fellow prisoners and ruthless guards. Internally Andy struggles to keep hope alive that he will one day experience freedom. Andy escapes and eventually Red is paroled. Red has to follow a trail laid out by Andy to join him in a life of freedom. The plot is fast paced. Every page has a situation or a story of something that happens to one of the main characters. The plot keeps the reader engaged to the end.
Point of View
The organization of the point of view has a major impact on the story. The story is told by Red, a prisoner at Shawshank. He knows everything inside of the walls of the prison. He has been imprisoned for 20 years plus and he is an inmate who supplies his fellow inmates with whatever they want to buy. "There's a guy like me in every state and federal prison in America, I guess-I'm the guy who can get it for you. Tailormade Cigarettes, a bag of reefer, a bottle of brandy, or almost anything else...within reason, that is". (pg. 1). Since Red knows everyone and everything that goes on inside the prison, he narrates from a first person point of view. He tells the events that happen to the main characters, including what he and Andy Dufrense did to get into prison. Since Red is a character in the story, his point of view has a lot of emotion and detail.
Characterization
The story uses a lot of direct characterization to describe the thoughts and actions of the main characters. For example when Red and Andy discuss joining up together after prison Red tells us how fearful he is of life on the outside. " I couldn't get along on the outside. I'm what they call an institutional man now. In here I'm the man who can get it for you, yeah. But out there anyone can get it for you. I wouldn't know how to begin. Or where." (pg. 78). On many occasions, Red describes the guards in various inmates in detail. In particular, he draws a very negative description of guard Byron Hadley who is a ruthless man.
Setting
The setting of the story primarily takes place inside the walls of Shawshank Prison. The only change of setting is after Andy escapes from Shawshank and Red is paroled. The story takes us to the Maine country side when Red goes in search of something that Andy has left him. The story ranges from Andy's arrival at Shawshank in 1947 to Red's departure from Shawshank in 1977. Throughout the story, Red uses a lot of detailed description to describe the surroundings. In particular the prison is described in great detail which gives the reader a feel for what it would be like to be inside the walls back in those days. " The cell doors in Cellblock 5 opened at 6:30 a.m., as they do every morning except Sunday. The inmates of those cells step forward into the corridor and formed two lines as the cell doors slam shut behind them. They walked up to the main cellblock gate, where they were counted off by two guards before being sent down to the cafeteria...." (pg. 84)
Theme
There are two main themes in "Shawshank Redemption". The themes are the burden of isolation and the power of hope. These are the two things that affect every prisoner of Shawshank. The burden of isolation is shared by all prisoners. Isolation is clearly seen by Andy. He has the burden of spending over two months "in the hole", (solitary confinement). Hope drives the prisoners to keep on living, even though they are being tortured in Shawshank. The ending of the story illustrates how Red hangs onto hope for a free life after he is paroled and has decided to join Andy. "I hope Andy is down there. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope." (pg. 106).
In Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, the story's plot contains internal and external conflicts. The main characters Andy Dufresne and Red are prisoners serving life term sentences at a state prison in Maine. They become good friends and they rely on each other. Andy struggles against being falsely imprisoned, and being victimized by fellow prisoners and ruthless guards. Internally Andy struggles to keep hope alive that he will one day experience freedom. Andy escapes and eventually Red is paroled. Red has to follow a trail laid out by Andy to join him in a life of freedom. The plot is fast paced. Every page has a situation or a story of something that happens to one of the main characters. The plot keeps the reader engaged to the end.
Point of View
The organization of the point of view has a major impact on the story. The story is told by Red, a prisoner at Shawshank. He knows everything inside of the walls of the prison. He has been imprisoned for 20 years plus and he is an inmate who supplies his fellow inmates with whatever they want to buy. "There's a guy like me in every state and federal prison in America, I guess-I'm the guy who can get it for you. Tailormade Cigarettes, a bag of reefer, a bottle of brandy, or almost anything else...within reason, that is". (pg. 1). Since Red knows everyone and everything that goes on inside the prison, he narrates from a first person point of view. He tells the events that happen to the main characters, including what he and Andy Dufrense did to get into prison. Since Red is a character in the story, his point of view has a lot of emotion and detail.
Characterization
The story uses a lot of direct characterization to describe the thoughts and actions of the main characters. For example when Red and Andy discuss joining up together after prison Red tells us how fearful he is of life on the outside. " I couldn't get along on the outside. I'm what they call an institutional man now. In here I'm the man who can get it for you, yeah. But out there anyone can get it for you. I wouldn't know how to begin. Or where." (pg. 78). On many occasions, Red describes the guards in various inmates in detail. In particular, he draws a very negative description of guard Byron Hadley who is a ruthless man.
Setting
The setting of the story primarily takes place inside the walls of Shawshank Prison. The only change of setting is after Andy escapes from Shawshank and Red is paroled. The story takes us to the Maine country side when Red goes in search of something that Andy has left him. The story ranges from Andy's arrival at Shawshank in 1947 to Red's departure from Shawshank in 1977. Throughout the story, Red uses a lot of detailed description to describe the surroundings. In particular the prison is described in great detail which gives the reader a feel for what it would be like to be inside the walls back in those days. " The cell doors in Cellblock 5 opened at 6:30 a.m., as they do every morning except Sunday. The inmates of those cells step forward into the corridor and formed two lines as the cell doors slam shut behind them. They walked up to the main cellblock gate, where they were counted off by two guards before being sent down to the cafeteria...." (pg. 84)
Theme
There are two main themes in "Shawshank Redemption". The themes are the burden of isolation and the power of hope. These are the two things that affect every prisoner of Shawshank. The burden of isolation is shared by all prisoners. Isolation is clearly seen by Andy. He has the burden of spending over two months "in the hole", (solitary confinement). Hope drives the prisoners to keep on living, even though they are being tortured in Shawshank. The ending of the story illustrates how Red hangs onto hope for a free life after he is paroled and has decided to join Andy. "I hope Andy is down there. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope." (pg. 106).
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Shakespearean Sonnet 130
Shakespeare is telling the reader in Sonnet 130 about his lover. He is making it sound like the woman he is describing is ugly, but in fact it is the exact opposite. The woman he is describing is the most beautiful woman in Shakespears eys and he loves her. He understands that she is not perfect, but no one is. He descrides the woman by saying, "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun; Coral is far more red than her lips;..." Lines 1-2. He is saying that her eyes are not like the sun, but no ones eyes is like the sun. He also goes on to say, "And yet, by heaven, I think my love is rare..." Line 13. He is telling us that he loves her even if she is not perfect as the things he is describing.
This message is true. There are many beautiful women in the world that do not have the physical features that Shakepeare describes. Women have many different eye, skin, and hair colors, and they do not fly. They are human and they are beautiful no matter what some of their features are. Their skin is not white as snow and their eyes are not anything like the sun. They are not perfect in beauty, but that does not matter. This shows that the message in Sonnet 130 is true.
This message is true. There are many beautiful women in the world that do not have the physical features that Shakepeare describes. Women have many different eye, skin, and hair colors, and they do not fly. They are human and they are beautiful no matter what some of their features are. Their skin is not white as snow and their eyes are not anything like the sun. They are not perfect in beauty, but that does not matter. This shows that the message in Sonnet 130 is true.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Ballad Blog
The ballad I am choosing is called "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald". It is a song ballad sung and written by Gordon Lightfoot in the 1970's. This song is considered a ballad because it fits the topic of tragic disasters and sudden disasters. The song is all about the wreck of a freight liner on the waters of Lake Superior. One of the characteristics is a strong, simple beat and uncomplicated rhyme pattern. The last word of sentences one and two in each stanza rhyme and the ballad has a dun dun dun sounding rhythm to it. The other characteristic is it tells a story about a true event-a shipwreck, that made headlines because twenty-nine men died. These are the lyrics to the ballad:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgI8bta-7awThe legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
When the skies of November turn gloomy.
With a load of iron ore - 26,000 tons more
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty
That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
When the gales of November came early
The ship was the pride of the American side
Coming back from some mill in Wisconsin
As the big freighters go it was bigger than most
With a crew and the Captain well seasoned.
Concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms
When they left fully loaded for Cleveland
And later that night when the ships bell rang
Could it be the North Wind they'd been feeling.
The wind in the wires made a tattletale sound
And a wave broke over the railing
And every man knew, as the Captain did, too,
T'was the witch of November come stealing.
The dawn came late and the breakfast had to wait
When the gales of November came slashing
When afternoon came it was freezing rain
In the face of a hurricane West Wind
When supper time came the old cook came on deck
Saying fellows it's too rough to feed ya
At 7PM a main hatchway caved in
He said fellas it's been good to know ya.
The Captain wired in he had water coming in
And the good ship and crew was in peril
And later that night when his lights went out of sight
Came the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Does anyone know where the love of God goes
When the waves turn the minutes to hours
The searchers all say they'd have made Whitefish Bay
If they'd put fifteen more miles behind her.
They might have split up or they might have capsized
They may have broke deep and took water
And all that remains is the faces and the names
Of the wives and the sons and the daughters.
Lake Huron rolls, Superior sings
In the ruins of her ice water mansion
Old Michigan steams like a young man's dreams,
The islands and bays are for sportsmen.
And farther below Lake Ontario
Takes in what Lake Erie can send her
And the iron boats go as the mariners all know
With the gales of November remembered.
In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayed
In the Maritime Sailors' Cathedral
The church bell chimed, 'til it rang 29 times
For each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald.
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
Superior, they say, never gives up her dead
When the gales of November come early. (note: song on link starts at 0:17)
© 1976 Moose Music, Inc.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgI8bta-7aw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgI8bta-7awThe legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
When the skies of November turn gloomy.
With a load of iron ore - 26,000 tons more
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty
That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
When the gales of November came early
The ship was the pride of the American side
Coming back from some mill in Wisconsin
As the big freighters go it was bigger than most
With a crew and the Captain well seasoned.
Concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms
When they left fully loaded for Cleveland
And later that night when the ships bell rang
Could it be the North Wind they'd been feeling.
The wind in the wires made a tattletale sound
And a wave broke over the railing
And every man knew, as the Captain did, too,
T'was the witch of November come stealing.
The dawn came late and the breakfast had to wait
When the gales of November came slashing
When afternoon came it was freezing rain
In the face of a hurricane West Wind
When supper time came the old cook came on deck
Saying fellows it's too rough to feed ya
At 7PM a main hatchway caved in
He said fellas it's been good to know ya.
The Captain wired in he had water coming in
And the good ship and crew was in peril
And later that night when his lights went out of sight
Came the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Does anyone know where the love of God goes
When the waves turn the minutes to hours
The searchers all say they'd have made Whitefish Bay
If they'd put fifteen more miles behind her.
They might have split up or they might have capsized
They may have broke deep and took water
And all that remains is the faces and the names
Of the wives and the sons and the daughters.
Lake Huron rolls, Superior sings
In the ruins of her ice water mansion
Old Michigan steams like a young man's dreams,
The islands and bays are for sportsmen.
And farther below Lake Ontario
Takes in what Lake Erie can send her
And the iron boats go as the mariners all know
With the gales of November remembered.
In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayed
In the Maritime Sailors' Cathedral
The church bell chimed, 'til it rang 29 times
For each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald.
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
Superior, they say, never gives up her dead
When the gales of November come early. (note: song on link starts at 0:17)
© 1976 Moose Music, Inc.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgI8bta-7aw
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Hero Blog
My literary Hero would be Link from the video game series, The Legend of Zelda. He is known as the hero in green clothes that saves all of mankind. In all of the games, link has to defeat a world of evil in order to save the human race. He is the main character in the best hero video game ever.
Another hero would be my aunt Chris. Four years ago she was diagnoised with advanced stage brest cancer. The cancer also spread to her brain. She has battled the cancer and kept up with the family work. She never complained about the cancer when she battled it. She is now in remission and she is pround of not having to deal with the cancer.
The U.S. Armed Forces are heroes that everyone knows. They sacrifice their lives so that we can be safe. They have to go through all of the rigorous trainning, go to a country they know nothing about, and face death right in the face every day. They are true heroes in this world.
Another hero would be my aunt Chris. Four years ago she was diagnoised with advanced stage brest cancer. The cancer also spread to her brain. She has battled the cancer and kept up with the family work. She never complained about the cancer when she battled it. She is now in remission and she is pround of not having to deal with the cancer.
The U.S. Armed Forces are heroes that everyone knows. They sacrifice their lives so that we can be safe. They have to go through all of the rigorous trainning, go to a country they know nothing about, and face death right in the face every day. They are true heroes in this world.
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