A Study Guide for the film, starring Jim Carrey
Synopsis
Once apon a time, in a land far away, there lived a race of people called the Whos. They were peaceful, fun loving people who especially loved Christmas. Everything in their lives seemed to lead up to the grand event that was Christmas. Who children came to the village by flying baskets and were dropped onto the doorsteps of Who families. One night, a strange breeze blew over the mountains and many Who babies were delivered, however another baby was also delivered – a baby called the Grinch. The Grinch was as different from the Whos as you could imagine. A furry, green creature with beady eyes and facial hair, the grinch was an outsider from the start. When he went to school, the children bullied and teased him until, one day, the grinch had had enough and he ran away to live on the mountaintop which overlooked the Who village. The movie is set thirty years or so after this happened and the Grinch makes it his mission to destroy Christmas for the Whos so he can take his revenge on them. The only Who that was not scared of the Grinch and who believed that he might just be worth saving was one little girl named Cindy-Lou. She believes in her heart that everyone in the Who village should be together at Christmas time, even the Grinch. The film details what Cindy-Lou does to try to bring the Grinch back into the Who community, it shows us what the Grinch does in his efforts to destroy Christmas and ends up teaching us that despite people's differences, everyone can get along and live in harmony ... and enjoy Christmas!
Questions for Reflection
1. In what ways are we taken into the world of the Whos in the opening minutes of the film? (refer to the camera work here)
2. A) In what ways are the Whos similar and different to you and I? Draw a table in your books that has 2 columns. At the top of column 1 write “similarities” and at the top of column 2 write “differences”. Write at least 10 things for each column.
B) In what ways are the Whos similar and different to the Grinch? Draw a table in your books that has 2 columns. At the top of column 1 write “similarities” and at the top of column 2 write “differences”. Write at least 10 things for each column.
3. How do we know that the Whos are looking forward to Christmas? Think about what they do, say and their facial expressions.
4. Even before we meet the Grinch for the first time, we know that the Whos are afraid of him. How do we know this?
5. What is the function of the narrator? Describe the narrator’s voice in 3 words.
6. Draw a full A4 page picture of the Grinch from a scene in the film. Pay attention to detail (his hands, feet, eyebrows, hair, body structure)
7. The technique of ‘flashback’ is used in this film. Why do you think it has been used? What information do we learn from the flashback scenes that helps us to understand the character of the Grinch better?
8. Describe in detail and example of where we see the following types of shots in the film:
a) a long shot / establishing shot
b) a close-up
c) a medium shot
d) a low-angle shot
e) a high-angle shot
9. The narrator speaks in rhymes in the film. At times the Grinch also starts speaking in rhymes. Why do you think rhymes are used? Think about other types of poems which use rhymes and who these poems are designed for.
10. Genre : This film may be classified as a comedy. What are 5 elements in the film what allow it to be classified in this way? Do you think it can be classified in a different way? If so, how and what led you to think this?
11. A) What was your impression of the character of Cindy-Lou?
b) Do you have anything in common with Cindy-Lou? Explain.
c) What is one difference between you and the character of Cindy-Lou?
d) Draw a detailed ½ A4 page picture of Cindy-Lou.
12. The scene in which the Grinch finally ‘becomes good’ and then tries to save Cindy-Lou and the presents is very important.
a) Why do you think most of the scene is shot using a close-up of the Grinch’s face?
b) What is the importance of the sun rising? What does it symbolise?
c) How do we know the Grinch is in physical pain after he sees the sun rise?
d) The use of the low angle shot and the high angle shot in this scene is very symbolic. Discuss the moments in this scene when they are used and what they symbolise.
13. The settings : There are elements of the Who village and the Grinch’s lair that are similar to our own communities and our own homes. Draw a table in your books that shows the similarities and differences between the Who village and your own town and another table that shows the similarities between the Grinch’s lair and your own home.
14. The Grinch’s dog acts as his ‘sidekick’ during the film. Think of five examples from the film where we see him acting as the Grinch’s ‘sidekick’ and discuss them in detail.
15. The Grinch is made to seem like an outsider from the very beginning of the film. What indications are there in the first 10 minutes in the film that he is an outsider?
16. What is your opinion of the following characters?
a) the Mayor
b) Mary-Lou
c) Cindy-Lou’s father
d) Cindy-Lou’s mother
e) The 2 women who looked after the Grinch when he was a child (his adoptive parents)
For each character, discuss specific scenes in the film that led you to think of them in that way.
17. Some computer-generated graphics are used in the film. Give three examples of times they are used in the film.
18. The story of the Grinch that Stole Christmas has many qualities of a typical fairy tale. What qualities does it have? (think about storyline and characters in your response)
Email : thevicwanderer@hotmail.com