Ms Paine - 8 ENGLISH
Name:_______________________________
Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride
The music of the film
Written by Danny Elfman
The music in some scenes is lyrical, such as the opening scene and when we are first taken to the
land of the dead.
1. What purpose do these songs have in the movie? How important are they?
The music in the opening scenes is used to tell part of the story, as Victor’s parents and
the Everglots sing about their reasons for arranging the wedding of Victor and Victoria.
The Everglots are nobility, but have lost all their wealth so are forced to marry Victoria to
Victor, the only son of a wealthy merchant. The music also sounds quite melodramatic.
The music in the land of the living is quite different from the music in the land of the dead.
2. Describe how it is different and say why you think the music changes so dramatically. How
does the director want us to feel about each of these places?
The music in the of the dead when Victor arrives is much more exciting and rhythmic,
and shows how much the characters in this world enjoy themselves. By using differences
in the music between the land of the dead and the above world of the living, the director
makes it clear that life is more exciting and fun with the dead than with the living.
The color of the film
‘In an era when most animated films look relentlessly bright and colourful, the Corpse Bride creates
two palettes, and not the ones we’d expect.’ (Ebert, 2005)
3. How does the use of black and white for scenes in the land of the living help to describe what
type of society it is?
In the land of the living, the scenes are black and white to show how boring and
uninspired this world is to live in as everyone is required to know their place and
conform.
4. Why do you think full colour has been used to shoot the land of the dead?
To communicate how much exciting the land of the dead is compared to the world of the
living, the director shoots the scenes using full colour such as greens, purples and reds.
This is a direct contrast to the monochromatic world of the living.
5. Which would you prefer to live in, the land of the living or the land of the dead? Say why.
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Ms Paine - 8 ENGLISH
Name:_______________________________
Symbols
6. Tim Burton uses the symbol of the butterfly in both the opening and closing scenes of the film.
What do you think the butterfly is supposed to represent in the film?
The butterfly represents freedom, because both the butterfly
and Emily (who turns into blue butterflies) are set free by
Victor. It also represents beauty in a conformist world.
7. How are Victoria’s clothing (her corset in particular) and hair style
much like her life?
Victoria wears a tightly fitted corset and has perfectly kept hair
that reflects the way she is controlled and restricted by her
mother and father.
8. Victor has a theme song, the Moonlight Sonata. He plays it to both
brides. What is the difference in how each bride responds to the
song?
When Victor plays Moonlight Sonata to Victoria, she is surprised
and moved that he can play such beautiful music as she has never
been allowed too. In contrast, when he plays with Emily, it becomes a comic,
competitive due.
9. What is the function of the maggot in Emily’s head? Do you have a ‘maggot’ in your head?
Explain.
The maggot in Emily’s head functions like negative self-talk, always being pessimistic and warning
her not to do things. The maggot acts like a particularly negative conscience.
Themes
10. Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride makes the outcasts the heroes. You might know his other films
where this is also the case (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory & Edward Scissorhands). How
does this twist make the audience feel and what does it make them think about?
The film is sympathetic to Victor and Emily as they are outcasts. Victor because he
does not belong to the same social class as the Everglots, and also as he is being
forced into the marriage by his parents; whereas Emily’s an outcast because she is
from the Land of the Dead. In Tim Burton’s movies, he likes to highlight how
outcasts are often misjudged but really they are the true heroes in society.
11. This film’s characters raise the idea that it is better to know their place than it is to know each
other. How does this happen at school, home or in life in general?
N/A
12. Is the love story in the film satisfying? Did the right characters get married in the end? Explain
your opinion.
Genre
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Ms Paine - 8 ENGLISH
Name:_______________________________
13. What makes this film more joyful than horrific? It is after all set in the underworld and tells a
story about death.
Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride presents death and the underworld as a fun place to exist,
where the dead enjoy life. Burton presents the underworld as a place of color and
enjoyable music.
14. Would you consider this film a gothic story? Why or why not? Give reasons for your answer.
Yes – it is about a gothic theme as its focused on death and the underworld, but
presents as an engaging and interesting place. It includes ghosts, skeletons and gothic
buildings such as the Everglot house and local church like a traditional gothic tale.
The dark monochromatic world of the living seems very gothic due to Burton’s black
and white color palette.
15. Make a list of similarities that the Corpse Bride has with Edward Scissorhands. (You need at
least 5-10 points).
 Outcast/ Outsider is the hero – Edward in Edward Scissorhands and Emily in
the Corpse Bride. Edward has scissorhands and Emily is dead.
 Love story which involves the hero
 Villain/ Bully – Jim in Edward Scissorhands, and Lord Barkus in the Corpse
Bride.
 Flashbacks are used to partly tell the story and provide background
 Victor and Edward Scissorhands played by Johnny Depp, and have a similar
appearance – skinny, pale faced, dark black unkempt hair.
 Victor and Edward are both introduced to strange new worlds, where they feel
like they don’t belong.
16. What makes Tim Burton’s films like Edward Scissorhands and the Corpse Bride unique? How
would you describe Tim Burton’s style? Make sure to mention some of the film techniques he
uses like setting, lighting, camera work and characterization.
 Tim Burton likes to make the outsiders like Edward and Emily the heroes in
his film.
 Gothic style – use of lighting, dark colours, old buildings,
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