G. Moore, Classroom Cottage #40 Film I Student Name: _______________________________________Period__
“Rocky” Basic Comprehension/Analysis Questions
1. Review the opening of the film. How does the non-diegetic audio (background score) establish the mood of the
film?
2. Why do you think they made the letters of the title, “ROCKY,” so large?
3. How is Rocky indirectly characterized by the first fight that we see?
4. Notice that the filmmakers do not open with the opening credits until after the fight. Why do you think they
did that?
5. How is Rocky indirectly characterized by how he behaves outside of the boxing ring, in the neighborhood
around his apartment?
5. What do you think Rocky is thinking about when he looks at the picture of himself when he was younger?
6. How is Adrian indirectly characterized by her costume and actions? How does Rocky behave around her?
7. What does Rocky do to make money? Does he seem to enjoy this work? Why or why not?
8. When Rocky returns to the gym and is filmed in the locker room, what camera angle is used? Why do you think
they used this angle?
9. How is Mickey indirectly characterized in the scene when he tells Rocky why his boxing gear was removed from
the locker?
10. How does Paulie treat his sister, Adrian? How does this affect her character?
11. How is Apollo Creed indirectly characterized by his appearance and behavior in the TV interview that Rocky
watches?
12. What is Apollo Creed’s conflict or problem? What’s his solution? Why does he want to fight the Italian
Stallion? He has planned a huge event, “The Bicentennial Heavyweight Championship of the World” on January
First – the first day of the country’s 200th year, but his opponent injured his hand and can’t make the fight, and all
other known contenders are either busy, or, as Apollo thinks, are afraid to fight him, the unbeaten champ. He
decides to give an unknown fighter a shot at the greatest title in the world on the country's biggest birthday. He
wants to fight Rocky because of his nickname, “The Italian Stallion,” and the tie-in to the Italian settlers of the
U.S.A. would be good for publicity.
13. What is Adrian’s internal conflict?
14. What is Rocky’s initial reaction to Apollo’s request to fight him? Why does he ultimately agree to fight Apollo?
Initially, Rocky rejects Apollo’s request to fight him, because he doesn’t think he has any chance
at winning, but he ultimately agrees to fight Apollo because it is his chance to get his name out
there.
16. Why does Mickey want to manage Rocky for the fight? What is Rocky’s initial reaction? Why?
17. Rewatch the montage of Rocky training (starting at about 1 hour and 12 minutes in). Note the use of the
Steadicam and audio. How does the non-diegetic audio affect the theme of this montage?
18. What is Apollo more concerned with about the fight and how is he a foil to Rocky?
G. Moore, Classroom Cottage #40 Film I Student Name: _______________________________________Period__
19. How does Adrian change in appearance and behavior?
20. Review the scene when Adrian confronts Paulie (around 1 hour and 28 minutes). What diegetic music is
playing in the background? How is this ironic?
21. Review the second montage of Rocky training (around 1 hour and 31 minutes). How does the nondiegetic/background score change as Rocky’s training continues? What is shown in the montage?
22. Why is Rocky filmed via low angle and slow motion in this training montage? How is he indirectly
characterized by these choices?
23. Rewatch the scene when Rocky visits the arena the night before the fight (around 1 hour and 35 minutes) How
is Rocky filmed in the arena before the fight? What is the effect of the shots and editing?
24. What does Apollo Creed wear for his costume for the entrance to the fight? Why? How is he indirectly
characterized by this choice?
25. What role do the announcers provide for the fight and the film?
26. How does Apollo Creed become a dynamic character? That is, how does he begin to take the fight and Rocky
seriously?
27. Rewatch the montage of the fight (around 1 hour and 51 minutes). How do people react to the fight (e.g.
Adrian), and what happens throughout it? How does the non-diegetic/background score build and change?
28. What injuries do both Rocky and Apollo receive, and how are both indirectly characterized by their
performances in the fight? What do they say to each other? Why?
29. How is the outcome of the fight a victory for Rocky?
30. Is the resolution anticlimactic or not? What conflicts are resolved? Are any conflicts left unresolved? If so,
which ones?
*Remember, ELL students: use a translation tool, like Google™ Translate extension (Links to an
external site.), as needed...
Copy and paste the questions below these directions into a word processing application (like Word™ -which you can access through your Broward Student account by going through the Office 365™ link on
the Clever™ “Homeroom” page) – save the document sensibly (i.e. “Rocky Questions 1"). Add your
responses after each prompt. When you have completed them all, upload that file here, or copy and paste
your work into the text box.
If you have any questions about any of the questions, ask Moore, through the class’ Teams™ meeting, email (gregory.moore@browardschool.com) or Canvas™ message (via the “inbox” link on the left of the
class’ pages there).
Remember to re-watch any parts of the film (files here) as needed to properly answer any question.
--------------copy below here------------------Your Name: ___________________________Film Class Period _
G. Moore, Classroom Cottage #40 Film I Student Name: _______________________________________Period__
"Rocky," First Questions
1. Review the opening of the film. How does the non-diegetic audio (background score) establish the
mood of the film?
2. What happens in the first fight that we see?
3. How is Rocky indirectly characterized as he walks home through his neighborhood and in his
apartment (about 0:06:00 to 0:08:45) ?
4. What do you think Rocky is thinking about when he looks at the picture of himself when he was
younger (about 0:08:55 to 0:09:28) ?
5. How is Adrian indirectly characterized by her costume and actions when we first meet her (about
0:10:00 to 0:11:40)?
6. What does Rocky do to make money? How does he seem to feel about this work?
7. When Rocky returns to the gym and is filmed in the locker room, what camera angle is used? Why
do you think they used this angle? (about 0:16:50 to 0:17:55)
8. How is Mickey indirectly characterized in the scene when he tells Rocky why his boxing gear was
removed from the locker? (about 0:18:45 to 0:19:52)