The exorcist

THE EXORCISTEaster School 2012

Higher

The Blurb

Who are the intended audiences?

Does this give clues as to content or stance?

Passage 1 Trevor Johnston Begins with excitement generated

by film’s first release paralleled with re-release

No detail of content of film until line 39

Summary of story – most sensational aspects then contrasted with how achieved (reference to filming)

Verdict: study of good v. evil which should not be censored

a) Look carefully at the sentence

structure of paragraph 1 and explain how it contributes to the writer’s argument.

4A/U

Question type?

Identify argument Sentence structure x 3

a) What should you consider

when asked about sentence structure?PunctuationPatternTypeLength

a) Question marks Colon Repetition ‘But’ at start of sentence Anti-climax Short sentence

Link these to the writer’s argument

b) Look at lines 9-16 and explain

what kind of problems are anticipated when ‘The Exorcist’ is shown.

4U

Question type?

b) It terrifies the audience People have heard of the negative

aspects of the film before they see it It can make the audience sick Emergency services have to be prepared

to deal with ill audience members It can traumatise the audience Anecdotes spread about the negative

aspects of the film

c) Explain carefully James

Perman’s argument for not allowing a video of ‘The Exorcist’ to be released. (lines 20-25)

4U

Question type?

c) The film is extremely

influential and potent Therefore, if it can be viewed

by young people in their houses

It could scare them so much That they would end up

severely traumatised

d) What is suggested about

Hammer horror movies by the expression ‘tongue in its cheek’(line 36)?

2A/U

Question type?

d) Tongue in cheek means silly,

comical, ironic, flippant. It suggests that Hammer horror

films were not truly frightening, they were more light-hearted entertainment.

e) Explain how one of the

special effects was achieved (lines 50-57).

2U

Question type?

e) The girl’s spinning head was a

mannequin/model/replica... The nasty groaning noise of the moving

head was created by scrunching an animal skin purse

The cold air steam made by the actors was created by making the set freezing cold.

The actors’ scared expressions were created by the director startling them with fake gunfire

f) Look at lines 56-57.

Comment on the structure and explain whether you think it is effective.

3A/E

Question type?

f) For a How Effective question,

make a point, select a quote to support, then explain.

If U/E, explain by summarising the writer’s point etc.

If A/E, select a word, image, aspect of sentence structure etc, then follow formula as usual.

f) It is effective in highlighting

the extremes the director went to to make his film look authentic.

Sentence begins with ‘And...’ One sentence paragraph

g) Explain the use of the

word ‘unironic’ as used in line 69.

2A/U

Question type?

g) To be ironic is to be satirical

or mocking, so ‘unironic’ must be the opposite – genuine, respectful

The film is not making fun of faith, it is supporting it

h) Explain carefully James

Friedman’s views on the refusal of the BBFC to permit a video of ‘The Exorcist’ to be released (lines 71-79) 3U

Question type?

h) He is annoyed He does not think countries should

choose what people are allowed to view

That is the duty of mothers and fathers where their children are concerned

He thinks it is ridiculous that adults are banned from watching ‘The Exorcist’ in their houses

i) Comment on the effectiveness

of the final paragraph as a conclusion to this article.

2E

Question type?

i) For an Effective Conclusion question,

you should make a point, quote from the concluding paragraph/sentence, then explain.

Consider:Links to ideas mentioned before/titleFinality of languageReuse of tone used elsewhere

i) ‘Twenty-five years on...’ returns to the opening

paragraphs depiction of the film’s release in 1973 - sense of full circle, closure

‘turn heads’ – refers back the earlier description of one of the film’s most powerful moments – the girl’s head revolving – draws on the power/impact of the film for an effective conclusion

Final sentence puns on the phrase ‘to turn heads’ – double meaning – link to film content and the effect of it – attention grabbing

Sums up writer’s attitude throughout the passage – that the film has ‘power’

j) Drawing your information from

lines 20-70, explain what makes ‘The Exorcist’ a good film which will always appeal to audiences.

6U

Question type?

j) It’s a very influential film It has the potential to petrify audiences for fun Its subject matter is fascinating It was filmed in a lifelike, convincing way The audience could accept it as true The special effects were incredible The fundamental theological issues the film

explores are compelling It was endorsed by the Catholic Church The censorship may have increased the film’s

reputation

k) By looking carefully at word choice

in paragraph 1, explain how the writer helps us to imagine the sound effects in the opening sequence of the film “The Exorcist”. 4 A/U

Question type?

What sort of words should you look for?

k) Word choice strategy:

Circle ALL possible words in the lines identified.

Choose the ones you understand and can explain

2 detailed, insightful comments

4 short, simple ones

k) The word choice suggest a frightening,

ominous opening

Discordant screeching Creaking bedsprings Demonic scratching Atonal screech Arabic prayer Dysrhythmic throb Clanging hammers

l) Look at lines 17-24. Explain the

symbolic importance of the St Joseph’s medal in both the prologue and the rest of the film.

2U

Question type?

l) The opening establishes the

medal as mystical amulet which will be important in the film.

When it is seen later in the film, its purpose is to tie together seemingly random people and happenings.

m) ‘As the prologue climaxes...house of

Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burtyn).’ (lines 35-37). Explain how this sentence acts as a link in the structure of the article. 2U

Question type?

m) ‘the sound of the raging dogs’ links back

to the description of the growling dogs in the film’s prologue in the previous paragraph.

‘slow zoom towards the Georgetown house of Chris MacNeil’ links forward to the introduction of the film’s main setting and character.

n) Look carefully at the imagery in lines

31-47. By analysing at least two examples, explain what they suggest about the mood of the film. 3A

Question type?

Name mood Choose 2 images and link

n) Mood = mythical, supernatural, paranormal,

“Merrin’s High Noon – style stand-off with an ancient enemy”

“conjured an ancient, exotic battleground between good and evil.”

“…injected it directly into the home of a modern, wealthy, single, white mother with no apparent religious connections”

‘...contest between science and religion’ ‘...doctors and priests will battle’

o) How does paragraph 6 explain

the meaning of ‘paradoxical’ as used in line 56?3A/U

Question type?

o) Paradoxical – two things which appear to

contradict, inconsistent, illogical

The hero, moral character (‘messenger of good’) is portrayed as a malevolent force (‘dark, brooding presence’) and is bathed in a pure blue glow, which actually comes from the room where the wicked spirit is (‘the seat of evil’)

‘inevitable yet unexpected ‘foretold yet undetermined’

p) Do you think that the comments

of Linda Blair, the young actress who played the part of Regan, the girl possessed, make a good conclusion to this extract?

4E

Question type?

p)