The film "Finding Neverland" is about a part of the life of author J. M. Barrie and his work "Peter Pan". There are many themes explored in the film. Some of the themes are of losing one's innocence and ending childhood. These themes are developed through the use of the literary elements: pathetic fallacy, symbolism, and antecedent action.
The theme of "Finding Neverland" is developed through the use of pathetic fallacy. An example of this element is when James (Johnny Depp) shows up at the Llewelyn Davies' house dressed in a Native American costume. Mrs. du Maurier does not find this amusing, so, when she sees James, the skies become darker. The change in the environment reflects Mrs. du Maurier's dark mood, caused by her seeing James. James
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thinks of his friendship with the Llewelyn Davies family as innocent, but Mrs. du Maurier points out that he has made a negative impact on their lives and James has to face the reality of that. (Dang, Prezi.com) Symbolism plays an important role in the movie's theme.
One of the symbols in the film is the book James gives to Peter (Freddie Highmore). The book is meant to encourage Peter to use his imagination by writing stories in the book. Through the use of the book, Peter is able to pretend and have fun. This is how the book symbolizes innocence and childhood. After Sylvia's (Kate Winslet) coughing fit, Peter becomes enraged and rips the pages out of the book. This symbolizes Peter ending his childhood. He thinks that by pretending, he is avoiding reality, so ripping the book shows James that he is done pretending. Later in the film, Sylvia gives Peter the book, which she had put back together for him. This is to symbolize her mending of his childhood's innocence. (Dang, …show more content…
Prezi.com) The films use of antecedent actions further develops the theme of losing innocence.
One of the events to take place before the main storyline is the death of the Llewelyn Davies boy's father and Sylvia's husband. Sylvia explains to James that Peter "hasn't been the same since his father died" (Winslet, Kate, Finding Neverland). Peter would prefer to isolate himself rather than to play with his brothers, and has even become violent at times. This shows that Peter has lost some of his innocence. Peter does not believe James when the latter says he does not know what is wrong with Sylvia. He has lost trust in others. Furthermore, Peter has realized that he cannot pretend that everything is alright, but rather has to face the harsh reality of things. By losing his father and being exposed to the pain and suffering of the real world, Peter forces himself to grow up, therefore, ending his childhood. The other antecedent action is the death of James' older brother, David. James explains to Sylvia that, when his brother died, it devastated his mother so much that she could no longer live life normally. As a result, James was forced to grow up and care for his mother. He had to take on the responsibility of an adult at a very young age and lost his childhood. He also had to face the reality of death as a child. (Dang,
Prezi.com) "Finding Neverland" explores the themes of losing innocence and ending childhood. These themes are further developed through the use of the elements: pathetic fallacy, symbolism, and antecedent actions. In the film, when Mrs. du Maurier is upset about James showing up, in costume no less, the skies mimic her mood. Mrs. du Maurier is a catalyst for the loss of innocence in James since she made him realize, or rather think, that the result of him befriending the family was not as innocent as he thought, and that it was actually causing them harm. The book James gave to Peter is symbolic of Peter's childhood and innocence. It allows him to use his imagination, however, to Peter, pretending is escaping reality. That is why Peter tears the book to represent that he is done pretending so as to "not be made a fool" and face reality (Highmore, Freddie, Finding Neverland). The antecedent actions in the film, the death of both Peter's father and James' older brother, had caused James and Peter to face reality and lose their childhood innocence at a very young age.
The book Lord of the Flies has changing symbolic values in objects and places. These values reflect humanity's nature to become savage. This is demonstrated by the symbols in their mirroring of the boys. In Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, the meaning of symbols evolve throughout the story with the conch standing for civilization and then the breakdown of order in society, Piggy’s specs meaning knowledge then Jack’s power, and the fire first representing hope then ultimately destruction.
This movie is one that I have always enjoyed and watching it in class gave me a new appreciation for it. The storybook, introduced into the movie by the grandfather, was the first motif that caught my eye. At first you don’t think much about it but it’s a great representation of so many different things. First off, the boy’s reaction to unwrapping the book is one shared by so many kids in today’s society. A book is seen as somewhat of a chore rather than an indulgence or hobby. The grandfather sets the scene to transition into the actual story with the book. Starting the first scene in the boy’s bedroom gives the movie a sense of realism and one that is relatable. The book gave the movie a whole new dimension that I appreciate and commend the directors and authors for creating. The book also represents tradition in their family. It was read to several generations and symbolizes the love that the fathers and grandfathers have for their children. It shows great patience and the desire to spend time with a loved one to read them a book. That is a gift that is slowly being lost as time g...
It also represents remembering how the books people are going to remember not only who they are, but the books that each one of them has held safely in their minds.
Ann Wilson explains the anxieties expressed in Barrie's Peter Pan as a reaction to the changes occurring in the late nineteenth/early twentieth century, and is resolved by Humphrey Carpenter who explains that this statement is linked to the desire to remain a child and avoid the real world.
One way the Book can act as a symbol within the pages of the novel, is because the Book is supposed to save the cureds from the disease, amor deliria nervosa. It also saves Lena, an uncured, in a time where she did not know how to save herself. The book does not save Lena because of its meaning, but because of the way the words are used. The Book of Shhh is like a sword. Swords entice people because the offer safety, although the swords may be an option of safety, they can also kill. The Book offers safety, but if it is put in the correct hands, it can kill. A second way the Book of Shhh represents the plot of Pandemonium, is because it leads people down the path they should take, whether it is government assented, or dissented. In the novel the Book states many ideas about how wonderful life is being a cured: “Happy are those who have a place; wise are they who follow the path; blessed are they who obey the word” (Oliver ). This quote shows that the Book rewards those who follow it, but to those who are against what the Book represents, it can mean that they are happier in a place that is free. It can also show why the uncureds are fighting for their right to love and to show that they are happy with following their path to the Wilds. Throughout the entirety of the novel, the Book of Shhh can be seen as a symbol of saving, and a symbol of the path that the people may
Interpretating and understanding these characters and objects as symbols, bring a whole new light to the novel. As you read this, or any other story, let it get inside your head a little and try to find out if there's a Devil, one devoted to decay, destruction and demoralization.
Imagine a group of young boys who have just crash-landed on a deserted tropical island with no adults or supervision. William Golding showed in his ground breaking novel Lord of the Flies, what may happen in just those circumstances. In his very complicated and diverse novel Golding brings out many ideas and uses many literary devices. Above all others though comes symbolism of three main important objects being the conch, fire, and "Piggy's" eyeglasses. Through each of these three symbols Golding shows how the boys adapt and change throughout the novel. These symbols also help to show each of the boy's ideals on a variety of elements from human nature to society and its controls. All three of these symbols also change and are one of the most important elements of the story.
Lord of the Flies, a novel by William Golding, took place on an isolated tropical island. There were many symbolic items within the story, and their meanings changed as the story developed. The fire was the symbol of hope and civilization at the beginning of the novel, but at the end it had become a fire of destruction. Ralph, in the beginning of the book, stood for leadership and almost perfection, however as the story progresses, he was nothing more than a normal human. The beast, upon its first appearance, symbolized fear, but soon, it represented the savagery within them. The different symbolic figures within the book, such as the fire, Ralph, and the beast, shifted in meaning as the story develops.
Symbolism, defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as “the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities,” is one of the major literary devices used throughout “The Bell Jar”. Symbolism is used to create different layers and present new aspects by expanding upon a single idea throughout the book. Sylvia Plath uses the symbol of the bell jar to show how Esther’s perspective is skewed due to the fact that she feels “trapped” under a bell jar. For Esther, the bell jar does nothing but terrify her. She knows that she has become separate and cast off from the rest of the world. The bell jar forces her to become someone she is not.
“[Mrs. Darling] had believed in him at the time, but now that she was married and full of sense she quite doubted whether there was any such person” (Barrie 14). It seems that Mrs. Darling has once believed in Peter but she grew up and the thought of Neverland became nothing more than a story to her. The concept of Neverland relies on there not being any grown ...
J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan is a children’s story about a boy who never wants to grow up, but this book portrays many themes, one in specific is the idealization of motherhood. Although the concept of the mother is idealized throughout Peter Pan, it is motherhood itself that prevents Peter Pan and others from growing into responsible adulthood.
There are myriad symbols in the novel which incompass human nature.The beast in the novel represents the religious aspect all societies ability to generate a common fear.The need for fear is one of the most powerful tools in development due to the way in can hold a generalized accountability. Jack 's reign reflects the very depths of human instinct and how humans are inevitably malicious. He used the fear of the beast to control all of the people that followed him. On the other end of the spectrum the conch represents order, which is broken as soon as they let fear govern their morals. The lord of the flies is a sow 's head that jack impales on a stake which is used to symbolize the devil just as simon alludes a christ like figure. The sow 's head makes the reader visualize a palpable evil in the novel. The behavior of the boys in general determines that environment directly regulates
Another thing that was symbolized in the book is the conch shell. The conch is what Ralph blew into to get the boys to come together. At first they established rules, one of them being the person holding the conch is the only person who can speak. The conch symbolizes order among the boys. As time past the boys acted more and more uncivil, and they didn't pay much attention to the conch. At this point, order stated to disintegrate. Towards the end of the novel, when the conch was shattered, all civilization of the boys shattered along with it. There was complete chaos on the island.
M Barrie in 1911. Peter Pan is the protagonist in Barrie’s fiction novel. To explain Peter Pan’s life in the novel, let’s begin with the setting known as Neverland which is where Peter Pan lived. In Neverland, kids who never want to grow up live there, and Peter Pan as well as a group of kids known as the “lost boys” lived there happily. That being said, we will derive some characteristics Barrie illustrates in his original text to describe Peter Pan. Peter Pan is portrayed as a young boy, according to Barrie’s text, Peter Pan replies to Wendy’s question regarding his age as “I don’t know… I’m quite young… I ran away the day I was born” (Barrie, Chapter 3), therefore it can be assumed Peter Pan is a young boy, with no parents in Neverland. Peter’s intention is to never grow up and have fun. In Neverland, Peter is the captain of the lost boys, and they only look forward to having a great time together in the forests of Neverland. Peter’s description by Barrie implies that he is nice and an innocent young child that does not believe in aging or becoming an adult. Thus he encourages other young children to pertain a childhood perception. The author gives the audience enough detail about Peter’s character and ideology, although, the author does not mention much physical composition. This is to give the reader the liberty to picture Peter Pan’s physical persona in our imagination, therefore letting our imagination create
James Barrie, the playwright, has many characteristics of giftedness. He is imaginative and creative with the ability to see everyday life circumstances from unusual and unique viewpoints, which reveal his visual/spatial intelligence. The movie, Finding Neverland, repeatedly manifests Barrie interchanging real life with fantasy as situations or events trigger moments of inspiration. For example, when the grandmother is reprimanding the children, Barrie visualizes a new character in the form of Captain Hook. In spite of his incredible creativity, Barrie is highly self-critical and always of the mindset that he can do better.