The Epic of Forrest Gump: Winston Groom

959 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Comparison between tragedy and comedy

“Epic[s] and Tragedy, Comedy also […], are all in [a] general conception modes of imitation. They differ, however, from one another in three respects- the medium, the objects, the manner or mode of imitation, being in each case distinct” (Poetics, Section 1 Part I). Life is simulated by the interpretations that each genre of poetry evokes its properties of presentation. Aristotle a 4th century Greek philosopher, categorized tragedy into elements of: Plot, Character, Thought, Diction, Melody, and Spectacle. Aristotle is correct with the typical piece of a tragedy; however in the previous statement his closed design does not fit every work. Forrest Gump is an epic drama romantic-comedy film; an adaptation from Winston Groom’s novel is an example of how Aristotle’s design does not fit completely. Forrest Gump is a story of a simpleton who is able to accomplish great achievements by just being himself. According to Aristotle, Epics duplicates the noble men like in tragedies, but in several instances. Tragedy, yet, presents men as righteous or superior standard, and Comedy, represents a low form of person, which is worse than average. Forrest proves but also challenges Aristotle’s representation of excellent tradagy.
Aristotle illustrates that an Epic is, “Owing to the narrative form, many
Events simultaneously transacted can be presented; […] an advantage and one that conduces to grandeur of effect, to diverting the mind of the hearer, and relieving the story with varying episodes” (Poetics, Section 1 Part XXIV). Forrest Gump is not in relation to any single historical event, actually; Forrest is present at nearly every significant event during the 1950’s to 1980’s, obviously not in real life. And it would be considered highly impro...

... middle of paper ...

...ccessful and in some respect represented Aristotle’s ideals. The plot is complex but has simple Forrest contradicts Aristotle, so certainly would not fit the typical format of his ideal framework of any epic or tragedy, the film was an combination to be converted into epic tragedy. Nevertheless in personal view the simple complexity of the film is charming, especially among Forrest Gump’s most memorable quotes, “My mama always said life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get”(Forrest Gump).

Works Cited
Aristotle. Poetics. Trans. S. H. Butcher. The Internet Classics Archive. Web Atomic and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 13 Sept. 2007. Web. 1 Feb. 2014.
Forrest Gump. Dir. Robert Zemeckis. Paramount Pictures, 1994. DVD.
Sophocles. Oedipus Tyrannus. Eds. Luci Berkowitz, and Theodore F. Brunner. New York: Norton, 1970. 30-77. Print.

Show More
Related

  • Odysseus And Forrest Gump: A True Hero

    1086 Words  | 3 Pages

    A trait that makes Forrest Gump a great hero is that he is protective, of his friends & Jenny. Jenny was constantly being mistreated & hurt. Whenever Forrest was there & saw this, he punched that guy right in the face to defend her. Jenny also had a horrible childhood & was abused by her dad too. Her house reminded her of what ruined her life, so Forrest had it bulldozed. She never had to look at that awful place ever again. After Jenny died, Forrest looked after Forrest Jr. He taught him to read & do many other things. He cared for & protected his family to the

    Read More

  • Examples Of Humbleness In Forrest Gump

    559 Words  | 2 Pages

    To begin with, Mister Forrest Gump has shown humbleness throughout his life. The first time he showed humbleness in the movie was less than 10 minutes into the film. This was when Forrest conversed, “My momma always said…” This phrase is repeated multiple times throughout the movie. It may sound useless, but is shows a lot. It shows the representation of ‘momma’. ‘Momma’ is showing the wisdom that Forrest never believed he had. This displays how humble Forrest is. Rather than calling himself smart and following his own rules, Forrest followed the rules and principles his momma told him to. This is just one big example of how Mr. Gump showed a pure humble attitude throughout the film. The second point in the exceptional film was when Forrest helped an African-American women by picking up a book she dropped. This shows the amount of humbleness in Forrest. The way it took place is as follows. Forrest walked to the front of school where he saw a big crowd. He asked his friend what was going on and he replied that black people want to go to

    Read More

  • Irony of The Great Gatsby

    1011 Words  | 3 Pages

    There is much more to the novel than irony: lost hope, the corruption of innocence by money, and the impossibility of recapturing the past, are important essentials to the story. Fitzgerald uses those elements to combine the story with the American lifestyle. The multiple examples of irony throughout the novel help with the development of the successful plot.

    Read More

  • Mental And Mental Disability In The Movie: Forrest Gump

    954 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the beginning of the movie the audience knows that there is something wrong with Forrest Gump. He talks to strangers as if they were a friend, and had braces as a child. The audience also learns that he has an IQ

    Read More

  • Adversity In Forrest Gump

    1023 Words  | 3 Pages

    It is a great example of how persevering through life’s obstacles can make life even better than before. Being different creates many challenges for Forrest, however, he shows inner strength as he fights through these challenges. Along with this, Forrest Gump shows how having support while trying to escape a dark path will make success easier. Therefore, the movie reveals that life will not always be perfect, but it is important to persevere through the adversity that it is filled with. Ultimately, no matter the circumstances, any obstacle can be

    Read More

  • Forrest Gump Movie Analysis

    991 Words  | 2 Pages

    According to Box Office Mojo, a database that tracks in revenue, Forrest Gump has produced $329 million in total around the world, the total gross will assure you the film is a hit. Near the end you forget that these are past events that have already happened, and remember that Forrest is actually just retelling you a story from a park bench. However, the audience never loses sight of who Forrest Gump really is. He ends his story by coming back to the present time, Forrest leaves from that bench and goes to find his true love, Jenny. From Forrest being a college football player, a hero from Vietnam, and to being captain of a shrimp boat, he never loses the love he has for Jenny. Even when he ran across the United States for two years he never stopped thinking about

    Read More

  • Themes of The Great Gatsby

    1026 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... throughout the whole novel and show in many different characters make them entertaining for the readers to read about. Fitzgerald shows struggles in this novel that people would have in their day-to-day lives. The way the characters handle their problems in the novel are the same way that most people in the real world would handle them.

    Read More

  • A Critical Analysis of Candide by Voltaire

    336 Words  | 1 Pages

    Candide, which has been credited the base for the book and movie Forrest Gump, features a main character teeming with naiveté. Pangloss says all is for the better and Candide lives by this edict with unaltered optimism. Faced with death and fatigue, Candide is befriended only to be enlisted in the Bulgarian army. Escaping death a few more times, he sees the pains of war and masks the pain with philosophy.

    Read More

  • Marxist Theory and Oedipus the King

    1332 Words  | 3 Pages

    Sophocles. Oedipus Tyrannus. Norton Critical ed. Trans. Luci Berkowitz and Theodore F. Brunner. New York: Norton, 1970.

    Read More

  • The Movie Forrest Gump

    823 Words  | 2 Pages

    The movie Forest Gump was a historical fictional story narrated by the main character, Forest Gump. Forest Gump was born in 1944 in Alabama .He was raised by his mother ,and his father left when he was little .Forest Gump wasn’t your average white boy ,Forest was different psychically and mentally .Forest Gump had to wear leg braces as a little boy because of his back. His mother would always encourage him .even though forest was deemed as an idiot, she was still supportive. Forest Gump was teased in school because of his mental capacity .He befriend a girl in school name jenny ,and she would hold a special place in his heart besides his mother .Forest Gump talks about his life and the historic events that the nation endured. Forest Gump’s mother would always say life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what gonna get.”Throughout forest Gump’s life, he meets new people and he also began to have an impact on peoples lives. Forest Gump goes through life becomes successful in everything he does. Even though many might say forest was slow or stupid, he still managed to finish college become an all-star football player for college. He then goes to the army to fight in Vietnam and becomes a war hero .He always managed to keep Jenny in his life even though they were not together. Forest became successful by starting a shrimp business. Forest recruits lieutenant Dan from the army to be his business partner .Forest becomes a millionaire; however he was still humble and living with his mother. Forest was never involved with women socially nor sexually is .The reason for this because Forest never developed a scene of maturity to enter an adult relationship, and besides being a mother’s boy.

    Read More

  • Comparing the Fate of Oedipus and Phaedra

    2334 Words  | 5 Pages

    Sophocles.  "Oedipus Rex."  An Introduction to Literature, 11th ed. Eds. Sylvan Barnet, et al.  New York: Longman, 1997. 800-836.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of The Great Gatsby

    1195 Words  | 3 Pages

    Fitzgerald’s own life greatly impacted the novel as well. The Great Gatsby draws many similarities between F. Scott Fitzgerald's life and this novel. These similarities range from basing characters off important people in his own life to the complex love relationships he went through into the novel to convey the themes. . The book is a telling of sorts of the events in Fitzgerald's early life. (Lantz). Firstly, the ...

    Read More

  • The Unexpected Hero: Forrest Gump

    837 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...nd genuine kindness extend further than just treating the President of the United States like a normal person, even though Forrest Gump is ignorant of the ‘issues’ of different people. At the University of Alabama, two African American students are granted acceptance after an enormous ordeal on blacks going to colleges with whites because of the insane amount of racism the United States of America had. As the two African American students made their way up the staircase, one dropped a book and Forrest rushed through police officers and rioters to pick up the book and hand the book to the colored student who dropped it. Forrest’s ignorance definitely contributes to his selflessness and generosity towards people who are different (during the time period in American history the movie was based on), however, it is one of his traits that makes him a true unexpected hero.

    Read More

  • Forrest Gump Research Paper

    635 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Forrest Gump” directed by Robert Zemeckis, the 1994 film depicts a young man, played by Tom Hanks, who has been alienated by society for most of his life. Gump is not overly intelligent and can be quite dimwitted but it is not just these qualities that make society place its judgement. He is different, an individual and happily doesn't fit in with the conformities and principals of society. Zemeckis film looks at many types of discovery for various characters throughout, particularly Forrest Gump and Lieutenant Dan Taylor. Also we as the audience discovers a lot about

    Read More

  • Aristotle’s Elements of Tragedy

    1479 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Aristotle’s book, Poetics, he defines tragedy as, “an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and possessing magnitude; in embellished language, each kind of which is used separately in the different parts; in the mode of action and not narrated; and effecting through pity and fear” (Aristotle 1149). Tragedy creates a cause and effect chain of actions that clearly gives the audience ideas of possible events. The six parts to Aristotle’s elements of tragedy are: Plot, character, language, thought, spectacle, and melody. According to Aristotle, the most important element is the plot. Aristotle writes in Poetics that, “It is not for the purpose of presenting their characters that the agents engage in action, but rather it is for the sake of their actions that they take on the characters they have” (Aristotle 1150). Plots should have a beginning, middle, and end that have a unity of actions throughout the play making it complete. In addition, the plot should be complex making it an effective tragedy. The second most important element is character. Characters...

    Read More

More about The Epic of Forrest Gump: Winston Groom

Open Document