English 195  Film As Art  Fall 2009               Michael Dembrow, Instructor

Questions - Ch. 4: Narrative Form

Please answer the following questions.

1,       Your textbook uses The 400 Blows as an example of alternatives to conventional narrative structure.  What is their argument?  Do you agree that it defies conventional 3- or 4-act structure?  If so, why?  If not, why not?

2.       Your textbook provides a list of “rules” for classical Hollywood narrative, and then some ways that films have broken those rules.  Discuss three of the examples of rule-breaking that you found most interesting.

3.       What is the difference between “plot” (which your textbook calls syuzhet) and “story” (which the textbook calls fabula)?  Discuss the two terms in connection with Citizen Kane.