The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Read the book and watch the recent movie adaptation (in class). In a two to three page paper, discuss the differences between the book and movie forms. Present summaries of the action of the movie and use direct quotes from the book text where possible. Remember not to simply present the differences but also to explore the conclusions you draw about why the differences exist. Some themes and ideas which you might find helpful:
• The book was published in 1937, the movie in 2012. How has this 75 year gap changed our cultures perceptions on issues like violence, racism, women’s role in society, absolute morality, etc.
• Presentation and development of characters; what characters change and grow in the book and movie versions. How do those developments differ from book to movie and why might the movie present those differences.
• Scenes that are expanded upon or added to the movie and the purposes behind each addition or expansion.
This is not a complete list of all the issues you may discuss. Take notes during the movie version for comparison to the text. You are also welcome to review the movie at home if you own or can rent it. Please be sure when quoting from the text to include at the end of each quote a parenthetical citation which includes the page number from which your quotation is drawn. A works cited entry will be necessary.
“There was a gorgeous row. Bilbo had just enough wits left, when Bert dropped him on the ground, to scramble out of the way of their feet, before they were fighting like dogs, and calling one another all sorts of true and applicable names in very loud voices.” (37).
Elements of the Essay
Introduction
Hook: Question or Quote (anecdotes are not appropriate here) that gets the reader thinking about the element of the book/movie you are discussing.
B4K: Introduce the book by title and author, the movie by title and director and the fact that you have read and watched either.
Thesis: Make your main claim of analysis. Indicate what element you are analyzing and what you feel the differences in the book and movie demonstrate.
Main Points: List each of the 3 points you are going to discuss in relation to your analysis. What are the three main differences you will analyze.
Transition: Close the intro and move into the first main point.
Body Paragraphs
Start with a topic sentence which mirrors one of the ideas listed as a main point in the introduction.
Give your analysis of the element you are considering. Use direct quotes from the book and a specific summary of the action in the movie where appropriate. At least one of these should appear in each body paragraph to lend weight to your analysis. Unsupported analysis is not valid.
Transition moves out of the current body paragraph and into the next.
Conclusion
Recap your thesis and main points. Then, give us your new understanding of the topic you analyzed through comparison of the book and movie version. What have you learned as a result.
Works Cited Page
Should contain the listings for both the book and the movie (see MLA chapter in your text for how to cite the movie. The book is a standard book entry which we have already learned.)
Introduction Paragraph
The Title should give specific enough info to catch the reader’s attention and give an idea of the direction. It should also have all important words capitalized excepting prepositions and articles and should not be in bold, italics, quotes, or underlined.
The Hook should be the first element of the introductory paragraph. A question or quote that gets the reader thinking about the topic of your analysis. Quotes are especially useful in literary analysis.
Background should indicate what it is you are analyzing. In this case, you should detail the book and movie titles, and the author and director and publication date of each respectively.
The Basis for Knowledge should follow and identify precisely how much experience you have with a topic.
The Thesis Sentence should be ONE complete sentence that indicates the grounds for your analysis. What have you discovered? What do you feel it means?
The Main Points follow the thesis and give each of the specific main arguments that will be used to support the thesis in its own complete sentence. Each of the three literary elements you analyze should be listed here.
The Transition sentence must connect the introduction to the body paragraphs.
Body Paragraphs
The Topic Sentences in each body paragraph should directly reflect one of the ideas in the introduction’s main points and should be the first sentence of that body paragraph. Use the following form to structure your sides:
Support comes in the form of quotes from the book and, summaries of action from the movie. Each paragraph should contain a minimum of 2 complete sources. Each complete source consists of a Signal Phrase, The actual Quote (book) or summary (movie), a Parenthetical Citation, and an explanation of the relevance of the quote to the topic sentence.
Transition Sentences should end each body paragraph moving between the idea of the current paragraph and the new idea from the next paragraph.
Conclusion
Recapped information forms the conclusion revisit the thesis and the main points you have addressed.
What has your analysis led you to believe about the differences between the book and movie versions? This may take several sentences.
Works Cited
Works Cited should contain a minimum of 2 sources: Each should be properly formatted as discussed and in alphabetical order by author’s last name in the case of the book, and the title of the movie in the case of the film.
Formatting
Double space the entire essay. Use a normal 12 point font: TNR, Courier, Calibri, etc
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