SHREK
Movie Questions
Common Fairy Tale Elements
Set in the past—usually significantly long ago.
Include fantasy, supernatural or make-believe
aspects.
Typically incorporate clearly defined good
characters and evil characters.
Involves magic elements, which may be magical
people, animals, or objects.
May include objects, people, or events in threes.
Focus the plot on a problem or conflict that needs
to be solved.
Often have happy endings, based on the resolution
of the conflict or problem.
Usually teach a lesson or demonstrate values
important to the culture.
Types of Irony
Situational Irony-a
difference between
the actual result
and what is the
expected result.
Dramatic Irony-the
audience or reader
knows something
that a character or
characters do not
know.
Verbal Irony-A
character says one
thing but means
something else. This
is also referred to
as sarcasm.
1. What is the setting of Shrek? How does the time period reflect
the time period of traditional stories such as fairy tales?
2. Name some of the characters from traditional stories that are
shown in the scene where people are turning them in for a
reward and later at Shrek’s house.
3. What characteristic makes Donkey a traditional fairy tale
character?
4. Another common element of fairy tales is the existence of the
objects, characters, and events in groups of three. During the
entire movie look for groups of three and list them here.
5. Explain the deal that Shrek makes with Lord Farquaad.
6. Fiona thinks she has been rescued by a brave knight but we as
the audience know he is an Ogre. What type of irony is this?
© 2015 Kim’s Middle School Mania
SHREK
Movie Questions
7. When Shrek is describing Lord Farquaad he says, “Men like him
are in short supply”. This is a play on words called a pun, but it
is also an example of what type of irony?
8. The beautiful Princess Fiona goes out into the forest and begins
singing with a bird…what happens? What type of irony is this?
9. When Robin Hood tries to rescue Fiona from Shrek the Ogre, she
beats him up and beats up all of his Merry Men. What type of
irony is this?
10. The princess actually turns in to an Ogre at night. What type of
irony is this?
11. As the audience we know that when Shrek overhears Fiona
telling Donkey “…princess and ugly don’t go together” that she is
actually talking about herself and not Shrek. What kind of irony
is this?
12. When Princess Fiona asks Shrek if he is alright, he responds,
“Perfect! Never been better.” What kind of irony is this?
13. What is the primary conflict in the movie?
14. What is the theme of the movie Shrek?
15. Explain the resolution of the conflict in the movie Shrek. What
is the happy ending?
© 2015 Kim’s Middle School Mania
SHREK
Movie Questions
Answer Key
1. A kingdom far away and long ago. Most fairy tales take place
long ago.
2. Answers will vary but may include: the three blind mice,
Pinocchio, the seven dwarfs, the wicked witch, the three bears,
the three little pigs, the big bad wolf, snow white, the three
fairies from sleeping beauty etc.
3. He is magical because he can talk.
4. Answers will vary but may include: the three blind mice, the
three bears, the three little pigs, the three fairies from
sleeping beauty.
5. Shrek will rescue Princess Fiona from her tower and bring her
to Lord Farquaad. In return, Shrek will receive his swamp back
and all the fairy tale creatures will be cleared out.
6. dramatic irony
7. verbal irony
8. situational irony
9. situational irony
10. situational irony
11. dramatic irony
12. verbal irony
13. First Shrek’s only problem is that his swamp has been invaded
by fairy tale creatures. Later his problem becomes that he has
fallen in love with Princess Fiona.
14. Answers may vary but could be: Beauty is on the inside; Don’t
judge a book by its cover; Acceptance; The importance of
friendship
15. The resolution or in this case the happy ending occurs when
Shrek professes his love for Fiona and she shows him that she
is actually an Ogre…then they live happily ever after.
© 2015 Kim’s Middle School Mania