Name________________________________________________ Period_____ Score _______/175
Scholarship Film Analysis
Ms. Weiss
Due on April 25th –Presentations to follow
Answer the following questions in complete sentences, paying careful attention to Mechanics, Usage, Grammar, and Spelling
(MUGS). Your responses must be typed in 12pt. Arial or New Times Roman. (With the exception of the symbolism chart and the
after-film free write. )
Film – Choose from the list on my website. In class on FRIDAY you must have 3 choices lined up. Movies made before 1980 will
receive 10 points extra credit.
Getting the family involved: For UP TO 30 points extra credit you may watch the film with someone who is at least 3 years older.
They must fill complete the after-movie free write and answer the questions that follow.
Title: What is the name of film? What is the relevance of the title? (5 pts)
The name of the film is Forrest Gump. It is named for the protagonist who was named after the
first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, Nathan Bedford Forrest. Gump’s mother said it was a
reminder that “we all do things that don’t make no sense sometimes.”
People & Production: (15 pts)
Stars: List the film’s stars and include 2-3 other roles they are known for.
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Tom Hanks – the voice of “Woody” in Toy Story (1995) and “Robert Langdon” in The DaVinci
Code (2006)
Sally Fields – “Carrie” in Smokey and the Bandit (1977) “Mrs. Lincoln” in Lincoln (2012)
Gary Sinise --“George Milton” in Of Mice and Men (1992) and “Detective Mac Taylor” in CSI:
NY (2004)
Director: List the film’s director and include 2-3 other films he/she is known for.
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Robert Zemeckis -- Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) and Flight (2012)
Producer: List the film’s producer(s) and include 2-3 other films they are known for.
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Wendy Finerman --The Devil Wears Prada (2006) and P.S. I Love You (2007)
Charles Newirth (co-producer) -- Patch Adams (1998) and Iron Man 3 (2013)
Steve Starkey --Castaway (2000) and Flight (2012)
Steve Tisch – American History X (1998) and Hope Springs (2012)
Screenplay Writer: List the film’s Screenplay writer(s) and include 2-3 other films they are known for.
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Winston Groom (novel writer) Forrest Gump (1986), Gone the Sun (1988), Gump and Co. (1995)
Eric Roth Munich (2005) and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
Production History & Notes: Briefly describe the history of how the film came to be, where the idea came from, and
the vision of those involved. (10 pts)
The movie was originally a novel by Winston Groom. Producer Wendy Finerman lobbied tirelessly in
Hollywood to get the movie into production. Hanks was immediately on board but demanded that the
film keep historical accuracy. The budget for the film was high at $40 million dollars and much of
the difficulty of the film was in the special effects—splicing real life historical images with the film.
The author of the novel wrote a sequel Gump & Co but it was poorly received. There was talk of a
sequel movie, but Hanks refused, saying a sequel would cheapen what they had done.
Criticisms and awards: (20 pts)
Critics: Overall, how was the film received by the critics?
Overall, Forrest Gump was highly acclaimed. Roger Ebert praised the film and its actors saying,
Hanks’ “performance is a breathtaking balancing act between comedy and sadness, in a story rich in
big laughs and quiet truths.” Most other top critics agreed that the performances and special
effects were beautiful but at times the story seemed almost too sentimental or perhaps “sappy.”
Public: Overall, how was the film received by the general public? Was it an instant success or find a following later?
The public seemed to have the same opinion as the critics. While the acting was good, the story
appeared over-sympathetic at times. Though people found Forrest endearing, many years after the
film’s original success, it seems the general public finds the movie “overrated.”
Awards: What awards (if any) did the film receive? List them.
1995 Oscars:
 Best Actor in a Leading Role
Tom Hanks
(Tom Hanks became the first actor since Spencer Tracy and fourth performer to win
consecutive awards for lead roles.)
 Best Director
Robert Zemeckis
 Best Effects, Visual Effects
Ken Ralston
George Murphy
Stephen Rosenbaum
Allen Hall
 Best Film Editing
Arthur Schmidt
 Best Picture
Wendy Finerman
Steve Starkey
Steve Tisch
 Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
Eric Roth
Setting: Where does this film take place? What is the time period? Approximately how much time does the story
cover? (5 pts)
The film has many settings and covers a period from about the 1940s to the early 1980s. Most of it
takes place in Forrest’s hometown of Greenbow, Alabama. However, Forrest fights in Vietnam, lives
in New York for a while, and runs across the country. He recollects the major events in his life from
the present (which by the footage of the Reagan assassination attempt is the early ‘80s).
Characters and Characterization:
Name the protagonist and describe this person. (5 pts)
Forrest Gump is an extraordinary human being. He is a simple-minded man raised by an oldfashioned, adage-loving mama. Though he is the object of ridicule for his lame legs and slow mind, he
befriends a girl named Jenny who becomes his life-long friend, the object of his adulation, and
eventually his wife. The story follows his extraordinary life via major events in history.
Who or what is the antagonist? Explain how this person/thing presents a problem to the protagonist. (5 pts)
There was no one antagonist in the film. In essence, the antagonist was life. First, it was his legs
and mental ability, then it was fitting into the social pecking order, then it was playing football and
going to college, then fighting in the war, conquering the shrimping business, and then being a
husband and father.
What are the motivations of the antagonist and protagonist? (5 pts)
One of the most charming things about Forrest Gump is that he doesn’t have ulterior motivations.
He simply tries to be a good man and do what his mama taught him. He is not a Gatsby figure, trying
to make himself into something to win the affections of his beloved. He is not trying to make a
stand, fight injustice, find himself, or partake in any other typical protagonist quest. He simply is
living his life with the purest intentions and arbitrarily partaking in some of the greatest and
memorable historic moments in America.
Conflicts: What conflicts (i.e. man vs. man, vs. himself, vs. the supernatural, vs. nature/the environment, good vs. evil,
etc.) are evident? Describe. (5 pts)
Forrest faces many conflicts including man vs. man when he has to run away from the bullies at
school, fight men in the Vietnam war, and at times, try to win the respect and esteem of Lieutenant
Dan. Also, Forrest faces conflicts against nature when he experiences the torrential rainfall and hot
temperatures in Vietnam and when he faced the hardship of shrimping and the storm on his
shrimping boat.
How does the protagonist solve the problem? If the problem is not solved, explain why it is not solved. (5 pts)
Forrest never really seems to intentionally solve problems, he just tries to do what’s right and it
seems to work out for him in the end. He went back into the fire zone for his best friend Bubba
during the war and wound up saving several men. Subsequently, he righteously fulfilled a promise to
Bubba to start a shrimping business, which led him to great financial success. Then eventually he got
the girl and a bright son. He never gave up in the face of great physical, emotional, environmental
and financial adversity.
Theme: What is the dominant theme in this film? Explain the theme. Also, feel free to mention any “sub” themes that
are important to the film. (10 pts)
On her death bed, Mama Gump tells Forrest that she “believe[s] you make your own destiny. You have
to do the best with what God gave you.” That is one of the last pieces of advice she gives Forrest
and it perfectly encompasses the overall dominant theme of the film. Forrest had a number of
obstacles he had to overcome over the course of his life, but through it all he remained poised,
positive, and sincere. He persevered through his physical and mental ailments, he overcame great
social adversity, and even got the girl in the end.
Forrest Gump is riddled with great life lessons and personal adages like “never give up,” “enjoy life
and take it as it comes,” “stay true to your friends,” and “love often.” Though at times cliché, these
messages are nonetheless motivating and inspirational.
Metaphor: Identify a metaphor in a quote and describe its purpose. (10 pts)
“Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.”
Forrest (using a maxim he learned from his mama) explains that life is full of surprises—probably
both good and bad. In life, you never know what is just around the corner. The purpose of this
metaphor is to support the film’s overall theme of the unpredictability of life.
Quotes: List other memorable quotes (2-3). Explain in 1-3 sentences the significance of the quote: (15 pts)
Lt. Dan Taylor: Have you found Jesus?
Forrest Gump: I didn't know we were supposed to be looking.
Forrest is a simple-minded man. While this quote is funny, it was not meant to be a sarcastic remark
by Gump. What makes Gump such a lovable character is that he is truly a good-hearted, goodintentioned man.
Forrest Gump: I'm not a smart man... but I know what love is.
Forrest recognizes that he is not conventionally smart. He wasn’t a “scholar” and he wasn’t always
aware of social nuances, but he did know what love was. He knew that he would do anything for Jenny
and that although he was “different” he still could love.
Allusion: Identify an allusion in either a quote or scene and explain how and why it is used. (10 pts)
Forrest Gump is a collection of allusions. The vehicle for movement in the film is the myriad of
historical events that take place during Forrest’s life. The film alludes to people like Elvis Presley,
JFK, LBJ, Nixon, and John Lennon. The film also alludes to events like The Vietnam War, the
assassination of Lennon and attempted assassination of Regan. One of the most comical and subtle
allusions was when President Nixon puts Forrest up in a nice “new, modern” hotel, Forrest notices
people rummaging around with flashlights at night. He calls the front desk to complain and assumes
that the lights in that part of the hotel are out. Unbeknownst to him, he was witnessing one of the
country’s most infamous scandals—Watergate.
Symbolism: Identify 2 symbols and fill out the “Symbolism Tally Chart.”(20 pts)
Compare this film to one of the novels we read this year. Compare characters, themes, ideas, settings, etc. Keep
your comparison between 150-250 words. (15 pts)
Forrest Gump is very similar to Stephen King’s The Shawshank Redemption. Both stories are
about the power of believing in yourself, believing in what’s right, and how each person—however
inexplicable—has their own destiny to discover and fulfill. The protagonist of The Shawshank
Redemption, Andy Dufresne, is a very unfortunate man. His wife cheated on him and he was blamed
for the murder. Unfortunately, the evidence against him was overwhelming and he was sentenced to
life in prison. Though Forrest wasn’t falsely imprisoned, he did face similar adversities. Hardly
anyone took Forrest seriously because of his mental disability. Even his closest friend, Jenny, who
defended him against the bullies at school, claimed that “he doesn’t understand what love is.” Both
Andy and Forrest fought in some way to obtain credibility, respect, and understanding. By the end
of both stories, both men had gone on an incredible journey that they couldn’t have possibly
conceived in the beginning. They grew, the helped others grow, and they eventually overcame the
obstacles that stood in their way—once and for all proving that life is in fact a box of chocolates and
you never know what you may get. In the end, life is about choices. You either take chances and eat
the nasty chocolate with the good or you don’t get any chocolate at all. However, a life without
chocolate (or risks, as the metaphor suggests) is a very empty and unfulfilled life.
After-Film Free write* (15 pts) Take about 5-10 minutes immediately after viewing the film to jot down your thoughts.
What did you think of the film? What questions were you left with? What did you remember most about it?
Complete this task on a separate sheet of paper. You will staple this handwritten paper on the back of your analysis.
*If you are viewing the film with a family member/friend they must complete this task too. They must also print and
sign their name and date the bottom of their paper. Then together you must answer the following questions:
1. Did you have any similar thoughts? If so what were they?
2. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the best film you’ve ever seen) what would each of you rate it? Why?
3. What other story or film can you compare it to? (Choose one that’s different from the one in your analysis)