Media Studies

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Questions for processing a film. Answer all questions on your own paper.

1 . In what was this film originally released?

2. What distinguishes this film from all other full length animated films?

3. Name at least three ways this story is like many other fairy tales you are familiar with.

4. Is the depiction of love between the prince and Snow White at the beginning of the story realistic? Why not?

5. Judging by the way she acts and talks, how old is Snow White?

6. Name at least three conventions or three ways this film is like many other Disney films.

7. How is it a convention or cliche that the frightened dwarves search their home for an intruder at night?

8. Though the dwarves seem to be quite old by their appearance, how old do they act when Snow White tells them to wash up for supper?

9. Look for conventions of evil associated with the Queen by answering the following:
a) What colour is the Queen's long cape?
b) What animals comec out to watch her descend to her workshop?
c) Where is the workshop in the palace?
d) What animal watches her as she works?

10. What is Snow White doing at her bedside just before she climbs into bed? How is this moment contrast with the activities of her stepmother?

11. What is the purpose of the two birds who accompany the Queen on her journey to the dwarves cottage? Who gets the dwarves to come and help Snow White?

12. In terms of the physical appearance of the two, what conventions are used to represent goodness and purity in Snow White and evil in the Queen?

13. How is the turtle used for comic relief?

14. How is the Queen's end an example of "poetic justice"?

15. There is a convention in literature called "pathetic fallacy," which is when the weather reflects the emotions of the plot or of characters. Give at least one example of this (there are at least two in the scenes immediately following the death of Snow White).

16. What is the one thing that will break the evil spell of the apple? How does the ending of the story tie in with this fact?

17. How is the ending of the film a convention of nearly all fairy tales?

18. Who do the pictures in the last few scenes of the film represent peace and hope for Snow White and the prince?