[first lines ]
[ Shrek is reading a book in the outside toilet ]
Shrek : Once upon a time, there was a lovely princess. But she had an enchantment upon her of a fearful sort which could only be broken by love's first kiss. She was locked away in a castle guarded by a terrible fire-breathing dragon. Many brave knights had attempted to free her from this dreadful prison, but none prevailed. She waited in the dragon's keep, in the highest room of the tallest tower, for her true love, and true love's first kiss.
[ tears out a page and laughs ]
Shrek : Like that's ever gonna happen. What a load of...
[ flushes toilet and comes out ]
In traditional fairy tales, ogres are man-eating beasts.
The Prince usually rescues the Princess; they marry and live happily ever after.
How do the makers of Shrek use presentational devices to reverse this tradition, to reveal the ogre as good and the Prince as evil?
You are going to explore this question in an essay.
Introduction
You need to set up this paragraph to let your reader know you are going to analyze the characters of Shrek and Prince Farquaad, as well as show how the film makers use presentational devices to create an unusual fairy tale. Make sure your reader knows that you are writing about the film,
Shrek , directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, for Dreamworks, with screenplay by
Ted Elliott. modified from 2002 teachit.co.uk Shrek essay guide 1

Body paragraph ONE
In traditional fairy tales . . .

Write about princes and ogres/giants from other fairy tales.
 Briefly explain what the ogre does in “Jack and the Beanstalk” and what the prince does in “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” Describe not only their actions but their characters – both physical and personal.
Body paragraph TWO
Language is an important device. Write about how language can create the impression of good and evil, both in characters and in films.
The film Shrek opens with . . .

Write about how the film opens

How is it different than a conventional fairy tale?

Why are the viewers surprised?

What does such an opening suggest?
When the story book characters arrive . . .

Write about why Shrek threatens to do to them

How does Shrek try to frighten them?

How do the storybook characters react?

What does this suggest about Shrek?
When Donkey approaches, Shrek roars at him and tries to intimidate him. Donkey is not frightened and . . .

Write about how Donkey responds to Shrek. Why does Donkey laugh at Shrek?

Write about how Donkey repeatedly irritates Shrek – running into his house, bouncing on his chair, peering through the window, etc.

Write about how the mice tease Shrek. Why is this so funny?
 What does Donkey’s behaviour and the mice’s behaviour suggest about this ogre? Is he as frightening as an ogre should be?
Shrek and Donkey visit Duloc to try to reclaim Shrek’s swamp from Lord Farquaad.
Donkey thinks that Shrek is too kind and should not have to ask, as the swamp belongs to him anyway. Donkey tells Shrek . . .

How does Donkey think that Shrek should get his swamp back?

Write about what Shrek threatens to do to the villagers.

Write about how Shrek offers to solve the dispute – “over a pint”.
 What does this suggest about Shrek’s character?
When Shrek breaks into the castle to rescue penances Fiona, he acts like an ogre when . . .

Write about how he greets the princess.

How does she respond? What does this suggest?
Although Shrek appears violent, we learn that he has failed to slay the dragon because...

Explain the reason that Shrek gives for not slaying the dragon and what this shows about him.
At the beginning of the film Shrek tries to threaten the characters that he meets, but
Donkey, the mice, the storybook characters and Princess Fiona are not intimidated by
Shrek or his appearance. He tries to make them frightened by reminding them that . . .
And, although Shrek is an ogre he is . . . modified from 2002 teachit.co.uk Shrek essay guide 2

Body paragraph THREE
In contrast to Shrek, Lord Farquaad is cruel. He watches the torture of the gingerbread man, and then ...

When Lord Farquaad sees the torture he taunts the gingerbread man, “Run, run, run as fast as you can.” What does this show about his character?

What does Lord Farquaad do with the gingerbread man's buttons?

Where does Lord Farquaad throw the gingerbread man?

Write about your impressions of Lord Farquaad so far.
Lord Farquaad is all set to marry Princess Fiona, until he sees that when the sun sets she . .
. Lord Farquaad speaks to her in a cruel way and he orders his knights to, “Get that out of my sight!” Lord Farquaad calls off the wedding, but he still proclaims . . . Lord Farquaad is deceptive because he should only become king . . . . It is clear that Lord Farquaad does not love the princess, but agrees to marriage because he wants . . .
Body paragraph FOUR
When a director is making a film it is important that he/she uses a variety of camera angles to create certain effects. at the beginning of the film, Shrek scares the storybook characters away . . .

Write about the close up shot of Shrek 's mouth and say why you think this close up shot is used here.
Close up shots are also useful for focusing the viewer's attention on the characters' emotions...

Write about the use of the close up shots of Princess Fiona and Shrek smiling.

Why are close up shots effective here?
Tension is created when Lord Farquaad is introduced. Instead of focusing on his face, the camera shows. . .

What part of Lord Farquaad’s body does the camera focus on?

What does this suggest?
When Shrek visits Lord Farquaad 's castle, the camera moves from ground level upwards to reveal his tower. This is called a high angle shot. It is useful because it makes Lord
Farquaad seem . . . and Shrek and donkey appear . . .
Low angle shots are effectively used because they show Lord Farquaad looking down on . .
.
Mid angle shots are used when Shrek and donkey are relaxing together, and when Shrek has cooked Princess Fiona a meal. These shots show both of the characters at the same time and have the effect of . . .
Sometimes, a character's back is shown rather than their face. This is used to suggest isolation from other characters. For example . . .

Write about what happens when Princess Fiona leaves Shrek and goes inside.

Write about how Shrek shows that he wants to end the friendship between himself and donkey. modified from 2002 teachit.co.uk Shrek essay guide 3

Body paragraph FIVE
Presentational devices are also used to influence the viewer, and to make them see a particular character in a certain way. The story begins in Shrek's swamp.

What does the swamp look like? write about how this is the expected home for an ogre.

Why does donkey go into the swamp?

What does this suggest about the owner of the swamp?

Where does Lord Farquaad live?

What would you expect a castle to be like? (splendour - happy - glittering with gold - etc.)

How is what we see different from what we expect? (torture - hooded figures
- violence etc.)
When we first meet Shrek it is obvious that he is supposed to look like an ogre because . . .

Describe what Shrek looks like in detail, where he lives, how he bathes, how he pulls the wax out of his ear, etc ...
Lord Farquaad seems like a typical lord. He wears . . .

Describe Lord Farquaad's appearance, his home, and what happens if he marries a princess.
Lighting is also used to persuade the viewer to think of a character in a certain way. When
Princess Fiona leaves Shrek, Shrek sits with his back to the camera and stares at the moon.

W hy do you think darkness is used here? what is it supposed to reflect?
The images of light are used thoughtfully, too. Shrek and Princess Fiona are often pictured walking through meadows . . .

Why do you think they are pictured walking through the woods on a sunny day with the birds chirping and the princess singing?

What do you think the brilliant light at the end of the film is supposed to suggest?
When we first meet Lord Farquaad and the hooded figure there is marching music.

How does this make the viewer feel?

What does it suggest is going to happen?

When Shrek enters Lord Farquaad's arena, what does the loud organ music suggest?
When Shrek overhears the conversation between Donkey and Princess Fiona, he misinterprets the conversation. At this moment the music is slow...

What does the slow music suggest?

Why do you think there is a song about broken dreams and promises?

Describe the effect of having Donkey and the dragon crying.
Donkey is an important character in the film, as he helps us to understand the character of
Shrek. When Donkey refuses to listen to Shrek, ignores the “Beware of the Ogre”sign, and follows him back to the swamp . . .

What does this show us about Shrek's character?

Write about how donkey turns the tournament scene into comedy.

What does this show us about Shrek's powers to be a real ogre?

Write about Shrek 's relationship with Donkey.

How does Donkey make us believe that Shrek is not a typical man-eating ogre? modified from 2002 teachit.co.uk Shrek essay guide 4

CONCLUSION
After analysing the characters of Shrek and Lord Farquaad, the viewer comes to the conclusion that although Shrek seems like a traditional ogre . . .

Write about why you think Shrek is different than a typical ogre - has friends- rescues princess - finds love - gets married, etc.
Although Lord Farquaad looks like a lord, his actions suggest that he is evil.

Give examples of his evil nature - commits torture - steals Shrek's swamp- makes his knights fight Shrek - rejects princess - falsely claims to be king, etc.
The story of Shrek uses presentational devices to reverse our expectations so that by the end of the film . . .

Write about how the viewer feels towards Shrek and Lord Farquaad.
Perhaps the message of the film is that . . . modified from 2002 teachit.co.uk Shrek essay guide 5