English 286: Analysis of The Dark Knight
By Devon Goodnight
An overview of one of Hollywood’s biggest and best films to
date and its viewing experience.
Skip to
Quiz!
Next
Help
Table of Contents
7. Primary Characters of Shakespeare
1. How to use PowerPoint
and The Dark Knight
2.
3.
4.
5.
Learners
Environment
Objectives
Overview of The Dark Knight
1. Act 1
2. Act 2
3. Act 3
4. Act 4
6. Intro to Characterization
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Bruce Wayne/Batman
Hamlet
The Joker
Puck/Lady Macbeth
Harvey Dent
Macbeth/Romeo
Alfred Pennyworth
Friar Laurence
Rachael Dawes
Helena
Comm. James Gordon
Macduff
Lucius Fox
Mercutio
8. Review Video
9. Quiz
1. Directions
Previous
Skip to
Quiz!
Help
Next
How to use this PowerPoint
You will have 5 tool buttons to help you
through the activity. Click a button to find
out what it does:
Teacher
Skip to
Quiz!
Student
Learners
Students of English 286 who are interested in
film and have knowledge of Shakespeare
Previous
Home
Help
Next
Environment
• Learner and or students will be using this
PowerPoint on their laptops
• Challenges learners to know and understand
PowerPoint and the film
Previous
Home
Next
Objectives
• Develop critical thinking skills
• Develop skills in listening and visualization
• Given the info, students will be able to analyze
characters through an evaluation by quiz
Previous
Home
Next
Overview of
The Dark Knight
Previous
Home
Skip to
Quiz!
Help
Next
The Dark Knight:
Act 1
Skip to
Quiz!
Previous
Home
Next
Act 1
1. The film begins with the Joker robbing a bank
ran by the mob.
2. Because of this, Batman and Gotham City
police Lieutenant Jim Gordon identify a city
bank. However, to get a case, they must
enlist the help of the District Attorney’s.
Previous
Next
Act 1:
(Continued)
3. Bruce Wayne (Batman’s true identity) spies on his
love, Assistant DA Rachael Dawes, who happens to
also like DA Harvey Dent, the DA Batman and Gordon
must team with. Bruce still has feelings for Rachael.
Harvey is everything Bruce and Batman is, but
doesn’t have to wear a mask.
4. Later, the Joker walks in on Gotham’s mob bosses
and tells them he’s now running Gotham’s crime
organization and the only way to succeed is killing
Batman.
Previous
Next
Summary of Act 1
1. Joker is an instigator
2. Harvey is a golden boy
3. Bruce and Rachael have a past relationship
Previous
Next
The Dark Knight:
Act 2
Skip to
Quiz!
Previous
Home
Next
Act 2:
1. At Harvey’s party, Rachael gives Bruce an
ultimatum to pick either continuing his life as
Batman or live full-time as Bruce to
potentially be her, but he can’t have both.
2. The Joker crashes the party, but not before
killing a Gotham City judge and the police
commissioner across town. After a battle
however, Batman saves the day by rescuing
Rachael and the other party guests.
Previous
Next
Act 2:
(Continued)
3. Funerals are held for the judge and police
commissioner. The Joker tries to kill the mayor,
but Gordon takes the bullet. Other cops are
killed in the riot that follows.
4. Gotham citizens are outraged. Harvey calls a
press conference to address the current
situation. Citizens want Batman to come
forward about his identity. Just as Bruce is
about to confess, Harvey does instead.
Previous
Next
Summary of Act 2
1. Harvey stands up for what is right, even if it’s
at his expense
2. The Joker is a good planner
3. Jim Gordon puts others before himself.
Previous
Next
The Dark Knight:
Act 3
Skip to
Quiz!
Previous
Home
Next
Act 3
1. Harvey is taken into custody by Gotham
Police and on the way to the police station,
the Joker tries to kill him
2. Batman stops the Joker and is taken into
custody by (a “Resurrected”) Jim Gordon
Previous
Next
Act 3:
(Continued)
3. Gordon becomes police commissioner for his
dedicated efforts of putting the Joker in jail.
Meanwhile, Harvey and Rachael are
kidnapped, giving the Joker the upper hand
4. The Joker tells Batman he can only save one.
He and Gordon try to save both Rachael
blown up in a building. Batman saves Harvey,
leaving him disfigured however. The Joker
escapes
Previous
Next
Act 3:
(Continued)
5. Harvey, now soulless, is paid a visit by the
Joker, who turns him evil and blows up the
hospital for Harvey to escape.
6. Bruce is upset because of Rachael’s death,
mainly because he thought she loved him over
Dent, even though she agreed to marry
Harvey without telling him.
Previous
Next
Summary of Act 3
1. Gordon’s actions shows dedication and hard
work can be rewarded
2. Even the best (Harvey) can truly have a
downfall
3. Even Batman is human and can fail
Previous
Next
The Dark Knight:
Act 4
Skip to
Quiz!
Previous
Home
Next
Act 4:
1. With Gotham City worse than ever, Bruce
decides the best thing to do is top the joker
and stop everybody from going insane
2. He enlists Lucius to help him use private
security to stop the Joker. Lucius agrees to
help, but says he will resign afterwards.
Previous
Next
Act 4:
(Continued)
3. Meanwhile, an angry and insane Harvey gets
revenge on everybody he believes is
responsible for Rachael’s death.
4. Batman and Lucius stop the Joker’s plans and
is finally put in jail and done with.
5. Harvey calls Gordon to tell him he kidnapped
his kids
Previous
Next
Act 4:
(Continued)
6. Batman and Gordon show up at an abandon
building to save Gordon’s family. A three way
argument occurs between Harvey, Gordon,
and Batman about what went right and
wrong. Batman tackles Harvey to his death.
7. Batman/Bruce believes he’s responsible for
everything that has happened. He decides to
quit as let Dent’s good legacy live and his bad
actions stay away from the public.
Previous
Next
Summary of Act 4
1. Lucius, a mentor and friend, is their when
Bruce needs him, even if it is against his
values.
2. Harvey becomes everything he tried to fight
against.
3. Bruce must risk what he stands for, for the
good of everyone else.
Previous
Next
Intro: Comparison of The Dark Knight
to Shakespeare characters
Skip to
Quiz!
Home
Previous
Next
Characters
Skip to
Quiz!
Home
Previous
Next
Bruce Wayne/Batman
•Foil to the Joker and Harvey Dent
•Billionaire dedicated to protecting Gotham City from criminals by night
•Protagonist
•Although he acts like Bruce Wayne, he really is Batman underneath
•Batman is a tool to make the world better
•Very unsure about what he wants
Previous
Skip to
Quiz!
Home
Next
Hamlet
•There’s always more to him than meets the eye
•Behaves impulsively, like Batman
•Contemplates suicide just like Bruce doesn’t want to be Batman anymore
•Very unsure of what he truly wants
Previous
Skip to
Quiz!
Home
Next
The Joker
•Foil to Batman and Harvey Dent
•Psychotic clown with zero empathy
•Desire is to upset social order through crime
•Defines himself through conflict with Batman
•Antagonist
•Knows what he wants
Previous
Skip to
Quiz!
Home
Next
Puck/Lady Macbeth
Previous
•No real character development
•Mischievous, quick-witted
•Bizarre looking
•Humorous
•Frightening
•No empathy
•Manipulative
Skip to
Home
Quiz!
Next
Harvey Dent
•Anti-hero, Antagonist
•Character foil to Batman and the Joker
•Not a pure villain
•Drives by his will to do pure good
Previous
Skip to
Quiz!
Home
Next
Macbeth/Romeo
• http://www.library.dal.ca/archives/doyle/imag
es/10_11.jpg
•Heroic at first but becomes evil
•Brave ambitious
•Can’t conquer guilt
•Deep capacity for love
•Intelligent
•Angry
Previous
Skip to
Quiz!
Home
Next
Alfred Pennyworth
Previous
Skip to
Quiz!
•Supporting character
•Butler, Confidante, Farther figure
•Labeled as Batman’s Batman
•Very well rounded, knowledgeable
•Static character
Home
Next
Friar Lawrence
•Kind-hearted
•Knowledgeable
•Father figure
•Plans are well-conceived
•Well intentioned
Previous
Skip to
Quiz!
Home
Next
Rachael Dawes
•
Supporting character, love interest of Bruce and Harvey
• Stands for her morals
• One of the few people that knows of Batman’s true
identity
Previous
Skip to
Quiz!
Home
Next
Helena
•Knows what she wants
•Wise
•Sure of herself
•Confused in the main love-triangle
Previous
Skip to
Quiz!
Home
Next
Comm. James Gordon
•Incorruptible
•Strong, Heroic, and understated
•Mutual friendship with Batman and Harvey
•Everything is done for the greater good
Previous
Skip to
Quiz!
Home
Next
Macduff
•Pure good
•Always does the right thing
•Accepts his faults
•Will put family aside for the greater good
Previous
Skip to
Quiz!
Home
Next
Lucius Fox
•Head of Wayne Enterprises
•Knows Batman’ identity
•Ethical, Voice of Reason
•Valuable to Bruce’s empire
Previous
Skip to
Quiz!
Home
Next
Mercutio
•Quick-witted
•Clever
•Funny
•Mocks Romeo as Lucius does to Bruce as points
•Loyal
Previous
Skip to
Quiz!
Home
Next
Review
Previous
Home
Next
Time
For
The
Quiz!
Previous
Home
Next
You have 15 minutes to answer 5 questions
Click here to begin
Home
1. What characteristics best describe
Jim Gordon and Macduff?
A. Quick-witted and Comedic
B. Loyal, Right-doing
C. Father-figure, Well-rounded
D. Bizarre-looking, Psychotic
Correct
Continue
OOPS!
Wrong Answer
Try Again
2. Which quote is said by Harvey Dent?
A. “You either die a hero or live long enough to
see yourself become the villain.”
B. “Wanna know how I got these scars?”
C. “Some men just want to watch the world
burn.”
D. “I’m not the one wearing hockey pads.”
Correct
Continue
OOPS!
Wrong Answer
Try Again
3. Which characters do not match up?
A. Bruce/Hamlet
B. Joker/Lady Macbeth
C. Rachael/Helena
D. Jim/Mercutio
Correct
Continue
OOPS!
Wrong Answer
Try Again
4. Which of the following characters
are foils of each other?
A. Alfred/Jim
B. Joker/Lucius
C. Batman/Joker
D. Rachael/Harvey
Correct
Continue
OOPS!
Wrong Answer
Try Again
5. Which character does not know
Batman’s identity?
A. Alfred
B. Harvey
C. Rachael
D. Lucius
Correct
Continue
OOPS!
Wrong Answer
Try Again
Congrats!
You have finished!
Please print out your results and hand them into
your instructor.