Karen F. Carazo
Quasimodo
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Beast
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lovable & kind
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mean & selfish
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always looked
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turned into beast
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this way
stays the same
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becomes better person
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throughout film
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by end of film
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I will also show students portions of other versions of
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
which we will compare and contrast with the Disney version.
Rudyard Kipling’s
The Jungle Book
is the story of Mowgli, whose father works for Major Brydon. It begins when the feared tiger, Shara Kan, raids Major Brydon’s camp and kills Mowgli’s father. Mowgli is separated from the others in the camp when the horse-draw wagon he is in takes off into the jungle. Raised by wild animals since childhood, Mowgli appears to be nothing more than a beast himself. Eventually, though, Mowgli is drawn away from his life in the jungle by his childhood friend, Kitty, the beautiful daughter of Major Brydon. Mowgli has to contend with Kitty’s fiance, Captain Boone, who will stop at nothing to have both Kitty and the mythical treasures of Monkey City. With the help of his loyal animals friends, Mowgli saves Kitty and her father from the corrupt Captain Boone and his band of thieves. Because he does not look like the others and initially only grunts like an animal, he is referred to (and treated) as a “savage” and “uncivilized”. Kitty is warned to fear him because he is thought of as a wild animal. Kitty, however, attempts to civilize him by teaching him to speak properly, dress, and act like the others in the group. Sensing Captain Boone’s corruptness, Mowgli states that if this is what it means to be civilized, he would rather be uncivilized and returns to the jungle. Although on the surface Mowgli appears to be nothing more than a beast, it is Captain Boone who is truly a beast because of his evil nature. Because of Mowgli’s inner beauty and love for Kitty, he is truly the hero of this tale. Following an extensive discussion of Disney’s
The Jungle Book,
I will ask students to respond in writing to Mowgli, who senses Captain Boone’s corruptness and comments, “if this is what it means to be civilized, I’d rather be uncivilized . . . ” In addition, I will have students write an essay discussing the similarities and differences between the Beast from Beauty and the Beast, Quasimodo from The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Mowgli. Similarly, students could also write an essay describing the likenesses and differences between the women in these films: Belle from
Beauty and the Beast
, Esmeralda from
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
, and Kitty.
Disney’s
The Big Green
is the story of a group of misfit kids living in small town Elma, Texas where nothing exciting ever happens. Bored with life in Elma, these mischievous misfits cause their latest teacher’s departure which leaves them in need of a new teacher. British schoolteacher Anna Montgomery arrives full of enthusiasm and hope. However, it is not long before she too begins to feel that it is hopeless and contemplates leaving. In an effort to motivate her students, she decides to form a soccer team. Although they are all beginners except for a Mexican boy named Juan, Ms. Montgomery joins the local soccer league where they encounter a team of big city bullies, The Knights. Eventually Juan leads this team of underdogs to victory over The Knights. Initially labeled losers because of the way they look and perform on the field, this team demonstrates that appearances are definitely deceiving when they beat The Knights, who
(figure available in print form)
seem to have it all. They show everyone that you do not have to look like a “winner” to be one! Everyone loves this team of misfits who call themselves The Big Green which is made up of a chubby goalie, Larry; a runty boy, Newt; girls; and a Mexican boy, Juan, who everyone thinks is different because of his Mexican heritage. Because they can not afford uniforms, they are forced to wear their regular clothes unlike their rivals, The Knights, with their fancy black uniforms. Though basically unskilled at the sport, they work hard and try their best proving to themselves and everyone else that hard work and believing in yourself lead to success and not simply looking like a winner. Following
The Big Green,
students will complete a Double-Entry Journal in which they write personal responses to quotes from the film. The purpose of the Double-Entry Journal is to facilitate further discussion of the film. On the left hand side I will give students several quotes from the film and on the right hand side, they will record their responses to that quote. An example of the Double-Entry Journal is shown below.