Essay Plans

Question 1

Explore how representations of gender reflect the times in which the film option you have studied was made.

Question 2

Discuss how far mise-en-scène is used in realist and expressive ways in the film option you have studied.

Question 3

‘Editing was central to the visual storytelling of silent cinema.’ Discuss this statement with reference to a particular sequence from your chosen film option.

Question 4

Explore how your film option might be considered as either a realist or an expressionist kind of cinema. Make reference to a particular sequence in your answer.

Question 5

Discuss some of the ways in which an understanding of context has contributed to your appreciation of the silent film or films you have studied.

Question 6

‘It is often assumed that the techniques of silent cinema work against realism.’ How far do you agree with this statement in relation to your film option?

Question 7

How far does the experimental narrative of your film option reinforce key themes?

Question 8

How far can the experimental approach in your film option be attributed to an auteur director?

Question 9

Explore how your chosen film option responded to significant social change at the time the film/s were made. Refer to one key sequence.

Question 10

‘Silent cinema encouraged filmmakers to use visual techniques in expressive ways.’ Explore this statement using a key sequence from your film option.