A Passage to India guide

A Passage to India

Based on a novel by:

Date of release:

Director:

Some information about the director:

Which scenes deal with the following issues?

1.       Social injustice

2.       The British as an invader

3.       Sexual repression

4.       Cultural gaps

5.       Reconciliation

6.       Identity

7.    Submission

Adela wanted to see “the real India”. What does she refer to? When does she finally find it?

Where does the accusation against Aziz come from? Adela or the British group?

The British India, the Media

Over the years, a large number of films have been produced which are set in India- “Gandhi” ”Heat &Dust”, “The Jewel In The Crown”, “Staying On”, “The Far Pavilions” (the last three shown on TV.). 

Of these, only the first was not an adaptation from a novel.

 Why is it that India should so fascinate novelists and filmmakers? Possible reasons could be the country itself, or the culture, or a reassessment of the British role in India.

One question which recurs again and again about E.M. Forster’s “A Passage to India” is whether it is a political novel. How does it portray the relationship between the British and the Indians?

 How does it show the differences between Hindu and Moslem, differences which, when India was finally  granted independence, caused bitter rifts within the country.

One further question to ask is whether the film highlights the political aspects. Try to list any incidents in the film where you think that there is an overt reference to politics. Do the same with the novel.

Has the stress been altered between the two?

Following on from this you could consider whether Forster was actually interested in the politics of India or whether his concerns lay elsewhere. Public or private; which of the two Anglo-Indian relationships do you think interested him most, or are the two indivisible? Also important is where  Forster’s sympathies lie. Are they with Aziz, Adela? Are the English portrayed in a bad light? How does Fielding fit in, both to the plot and the overall ideas of the novel?

(adapted from www.filmeducation.org)

The diaries of nearly 4,000 World War One soldiers are now online

CAUSES OF WORLD WAR I

Post modernism and contemporary literature

"All Quiet on the Western Front"

The film "All Quiet on the Western Front" is a classic Hollywood adaptation of Erich Remarque's novel. It takes a hard look at the tragedy of war using World War I as its backdrop. Before you watch the film find out: 1. When was the film released? 2. Who is the director? 3. What novelwas it based on? Find information about the author. 4. Is this the first version of the film? As you watch the film, please answer the following questions.

1. What is the title of this film? When was it made? Who wrote the original novel?

2. Why did the students join the Army?

3. What role did the mailman (Himmelstoess) have? Was he particularly mean to these recruits? Give an example.

4. How were conditions at the Western Front different from their expectations in training camp?

5. What was the impact of the shelling on the new recruits?

6. What happened after the bombardment?

7. In the attack, what did the machine gun do to the glory of war and individual heroism?

8. How many of the company died in this first battle? How do you know? Why were they able to eat so well finally?

9. Who did they blame for this war? Who did they omit in their list of potential villains?

10. What happened to Kemmerich's boots? How did the doctors' react to Kemmerich's plight?

11. How was Sgt. Himmelstoess received when he arrived at the front?

12. What was the pattern of a battle? What preceded the attack? What followed it?

13. What happened to Paul Baumer when he found himself in a shellhole in No Man's Land with the French soldier?

14. Why did the French girls - ostensibly the enemy - accept the German soldiers?

15. After four years of war, how has the German homefront been affected? Were there still the parades, crowded streets, and joyous sounds of going off to war?

16. What were the attitudes of the men in the beer hall? Were they willing to listen to what Paul had to say?

17. How does Paul Baumer confront his former teacher? How do the young students react to his vision of the war?

18. How has the company changed during Paul's absence?

19. What is ironic about Kat's and Paul's deaths? [Note: The war ended on November 11, 1918.]

20. Describe the attitude of this movie towards World War I and all wars.

Inside the Reich

Inside the Reich

                                                             Go to "Inside the Reich"

Read this guide while you see the film

1.       Throughout the film, pay attention to symbols, ceremonies and rituals of the nazi rule.

2.       “The crowds were delirious with exaltation and relief.” Why?

3.       What adjectives can you use to describe the crowds?

4.       What did the woman feel?

5.       How did they live in cities untouched by war?

6.       Did Hitler have plans for a long struggle?

7.       How did they put propaganda into practice?

8.       What does Cristabel Bielenberg tell?

9.       How is ethnic cleansing put into practice?

10.   Did the program to exterminate the mentally ill continue?

11.   What happened in June 1941?

12.   What was their next target?

13.   What did Germany need for a long war?

14.   What did they sign on 15^th June 1941?

15.   What did Goebbels inspect? They intended it to be a serf region of agriculture. They thought that Slavs would enjoy the situation?

16.   What happened six months later

17.   How did citizens help?

18.   Why was Todd´s death so important to Hitler?

19.    How did Germany´s economy gradually change?

20.   How did Hitler change from 1942 to 1943?

21.   Did the ministers under Hitler´s rule work together?

22.   Christmas, 1942. The men at Stalingrad had come through on a radio linkup loud and clear. But the brave words were faked in a Berlin studio.

23.   “the battle of Stalingrad has come to an end.”

24.   What tragedy couldn´t be hidden¿

25.   What would the allies demand?

26.   What was germany´s answer?

27.   What did “total war” mean?

28.   What slogan ran among the population¿

29.   How many people died in Hamburg?

30.   What effect did the bombing have according to the woman?

31.   How did they feel in the bunker?

32.   How much power did the SS have?

33.   What was the official name given to the policy of extermination?

34.   What did Berta Beese do?

35.   Where was Christabel Bielenberg´s husband?

36.   What piece of advice did her neighbor give her?

Casablanca and WWII

Watch the video and answer the following questions without transcribing the exact words:

1. What was the argument of the film?

2. What does Murray say about Rick´s past?

3. What did the Spanish Civil war represent according to Murray?

4. What attitude towards politics did the scriptwriters want to bring into the film?

5. What does Victor Lazlo represent?

6. What does Louis Renault represent? Is he a static character?

7. What do you feel when you see the scene shown in 9.30?

8. What does the scene in 11.30 represent?

9. Why is the idea of sacrifice present in the film?

10. When was the film released and why?