Question 1

Which of the following is one of the beliefs that is persistently expressed in the movies of John Ford?
A) that Americans can only achieve liberty through individual pursuits
B) that manifest destiny was a philosophy in opposition to those of the founding fathers
C) that the wilderness should not be explored or tamed by civilizing forces
D) that civilization occurs as a result of a genuine community built through heroism and shared values
E) that social hierarchies must be upheld in order to foster democracy

Accepted Answer

John Ford's movies often showcase the building of genuine community through shared values and heroism. He values the importance of civilization, but also understands that it is not achieved solely through individual pursuits. He also portrays the American frontier as a place to be explored and tamed, but not necessarily at the expense of Native American rights or the environment. Therefore, the belief expressed in his movies is that civilization occurs as a result of a genuine community built through heroism and shared values.

Question 2

What is the advantage of suspense over surprise?
A) Suspense momentarily shocks the viewer.
B) Suspense disengages the viewer from the narrative by making events entirely predictable, thus allowing him to critically think about them.
C) Suspense is easier to place into a script than surprise.
D) Suspense makes the viewer active in watching the film by causing her to wonder at how events will unfold or turn out.
E) Suspense can be used in all types of movies, whereas surprise can only be used for thrillers and horror films.

Accepted Answer

Suspense is more advantageous than surprise because it engages the viewer and makes them an active participant in the narrative. It keeps the viewer invested in the story and wondering how events will unfold, rather than simply shocking them momentarily.

Question 3

Which of the following is a flat character in Stagecoach?
A) Dallas
B) Ringo
C) Doc Boone
D) Lucy
E) Peacock

Accepted Answer

Peacock is a flat character in Stagecoach because he is one-dimensional and has no real depth or development throughout the film. He serves mainly as comic relief and is not crucial to the plot.

Question 4

What does the setting of a film consist of?
A) the time and place in which the story occurs
B) the time and place in which the film was shot
C) the time and place in which the film is projected to an audience
D) the time and place in which the backstory occurs
E) the genre to which the film belongs

Accepted Answer

The setting of a film consists of the time and place in which the story occurs. This includes the physical location, the era or time period, and any cultural or societal factors that shape the environment in which the characters exist.

Question 5

Which of the following demonstrates a stretch relationship between screen and plot duration?
A) A five-minute scene captures in dramatic slow motion a two-minute shootout between police and a gang of bank robbers.
B) A 145-minute film covers the twenty-year career of a major league baseball player.
C) A minute-long flashback portrays a character thinking through the most important moments of his entire life.
D) An opening sequence summarizes the major events of the Vietnam War from beginning to end.
E) A short montage sequence encapsulates a typical school day for a teenage girl.

Accepted Answer

In option A, the screen duration is longer than the plot duration as the five-minute scene captures a two-minute shootout. This stretch relationship demonstrates slow motion to emphasize the drama of the scene. The other options either have a plot duration equal to or longer than the screen duration, indicating a compression relationship.

Question 6

Which of the following is a diegetic element in Stagecoach?
A) opening titles
B) closing titles
C) a honky-tonk piano in the bar
D) background music
E) closing credits

Accepted Answer

A honky-tonk piano in the bar is a diegetic element because it is a sound that originates from within the fictional world of the film. The opening and closing titles, background music, and closing credits are all non-diegetic elements because they are not part of the story world and are added in post-production.

Question 7

What is "manifest destiny" in relation to Westerns?
A) a social theme concerning the belief that the United States really belongs to Native Americans
B) a social theme concerning the corrupting influence of civilization
C) a social theme concerning doubts as to America's inherent greatness
D) a social theme concerning the environmental destruction of the Old West
E) a social theme concerning the inevitability of God-ordained territorial expansion

Accepted Answer

Manifest destiny is the belief that it was God's will for the United States to expand its borders and spread its values and culture. This idea is a central theme in many Westerns, which often portray the settling of the frontier as a heroic, inevitable process driven by God's hand.

Question 8

In a Hollywood film what is the typical relation of a plot event to a story event?
A) A plot event is much longer than a story event.
B) A plot event is a little longer than a story event.
C) A plot event is equivalent in time to a story event.
D) A plot event is a little shorter than a story event.
E) A plot event is much shorter than a story event.

Accepted Answer

A plot event is equivalent in time to a story event.

Question 9

Which of the following characterizes the scope of Stagecoach?
A) narrow
B) broad
C) overwhelming.
D) nonmythic
E) courageous

Accepted Answer

Stagecoach features a broad scope as it covers various themes such as social class, morality, and the American Western genre, while also featuring a diverse cast of characters and their individual storylines.

Question 10

What does the repetition of a story element signal?
A) that the filmmakers have made a continuity error
B) that the element is relatively insignificant because it is overemphasized
C) that the element is relatively important because it is part of a pattern
D) that the element can be removed from the film and made an object of study on its own
E) that the element is one of the director's "trademarks" placed in the narrative for only die-hard fans

Accepted Answer

The repetition of a story element signals that it is relatively important because it is part of a pattern. Repetition can establish themes, motifs, or symbolism in a narrative, and is often employed intentionally by filmmakers to convey meaning to the audience.

Question 11

Which of the following describes the relationship between plot and story in Stagecoach?
A) The plot takes place over a lengthy period of time and covers the lives of several characters, whereas the story takes place in just two days and mostly brings the characters together to trace their progress.
B) The plot takes place in just two days and mostly brings the characters together to trace their progress, whereas the story takes place over a lengthy period of time and covers the lives of several characters.
C) The story and plot never converge.
D) The story and plot are exactly the same.
E) The story and plot are lacking within the film.

Accepted Answer

The plot in Stagecoach takes place over a brief period of time and mainly centers around the journey the characters take together. Meanwhile, the story encompasses a more extended period and delves into the lives of the various characters before they all come together on the stagecoach.

Question 12

What common goal do the characters of Stagecoach share?
A) exacting revenge on the Plummers
B) creating new lives on the frontier
C) defeating Geronimo
D) reaching Lordsburg
E) resolving social divisions

Accepted Answer

The common goal the characters in Stagecoach share is to reach Lordsburg, as they are all passengers on the same stagecoach headed in that direction. The other options listed are not the central focus or shared goal of the characters in the film.

Question 13

Which of the following is a minor plot event in Stagecoach?
A) Buck's wavering enthusiasm for driving the stagecoach against the odds
B) Ringo's willingness to risk his life to bring the stagecoach under control as the Apaches attack
C) Ringo's attempt to escape at Apache Wells
D) Dallas's decision at the Apache Wells station to accept Ringo's proposal
E) Marshal Curly Wilcox's decision to set Ringo free

Accepted Answer

Buck's wavering enthusiasm for driving the stagecoach against the odds is a minor plot event because it does not significantly affect the main storyline or characters. It is simply a small moment of tension and doubt for one of the supporting characters. The other options all involve major events that have significant impact on the story and characters.

Question 14

What device typically allows for the possibility of a stretch relationship in cinematic time?
A) voice-over narration
B) editing
C) camera movement
D) lighting
E) sound track music

Accepted Answer

Editing is the process of selecting and arranging shots to create a narrative. Through the use of techniques such as slow motion, parallel editing, or time lapse, filmmakers can manipulate time and create a stretch relationship between events depicted on screen. The other options listed do not typically allow for this type of manipulation of time.

Question 15

What is screen duration?
A) the amount of time that the implied story takes to occur
B) the amount of time it takes to summarize the story to someone who hasn't seen the film
C) the elapsed time of those events within the story that the film explicitly presents
D) the amount of time it makes to shoot the film
E) the movie's running time on-screen

Accepted Answer

Screen duration refers to the actual running time of the movie as it is presented on-screen.

Question 16

Which of the following CANNOT be established or provided by setting?
A) the date the film takes place
B) the social background of a character
C) the educational background of a character
D) what a character eats
E) the overall editing style of the film

Accepted Answer

The overall editing style of a film is determined by post-production choices and the director's vision, not by the setting. The setting refers to the time, location, and context within which a story takes place, which can influence aspects like the date, social and educational backgrounds, and even dietary habits depicted in a film, but not the editing style.

Question 17

Which of the following describes the order of the story events in Stagecoach?
A) chronological
B) nonchronological
C) both chronological and nonchronological
D) obscure
E) unknown

Accepted Answer

The events in Stagecoach are shown in a chronological order, with the storyline progressing from the beginning of the journey to the end.

Question 18

What is a summary relationship?
A) a brief synopsis of a film
B) the background story of a character
C) the chemistry between romantic leads
D) when screen time is shorter than plot time
E) when screen time is shorter than story time

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is a summary relationship?
A) a brief...

Question 19

What do we mean when we refer to the "scope" of a film?
A) a type of screen format
B) a type of camera lens
C) an epic quality attributed to adventure and historical films
D) the overall range, in time and place, of the movie's story
E) the overall range, in emotion, of the movie's characters

Accepted Answer

The scope of a film refers to the overall range, in time and place, of the movie's story. This includes the setting, time period, and any subplots or interwoven storylines.

Question 20

Why must filmmakers pay particular attention to screen duration?
A) because films technically cannot run longer than three hours
B) because the running time of a film is usually dictated by budget as well as audience considerations
C) because running time always affects how much an audience is willing to believe a movie's story and plot duration
D) because a movie must be at least an hour long to effectively depict at least a week of real time
E) because a movie must be shorter than three hours long to effectively depict at most a century of real time

Accepted Answer

Filmmakers must pay attention to screen duration because it is usually dictated by budget as well as audience considerations. Both factors can affect the success of a film, so making sure the running time is appropriate is important. The other answer choices are either incorrect or irrelevant to the question.

Quiz 4: Elements of Narrative

Which of the following is one of the beliefs that is persistently expressed in the movies of John Ford?

What is the advantage of suspense over surprise?

Which of the following is a flat character in Stagecoach?

What does the setting of a film consist of?

Which of the following demonstrates a stretch relationship between screen and plot duration?

Which of the following is a diegetic element in Stagecoach?

What is "manifest destiny" in relation to Westerns?

In a Hollywood film what is the typical relation of a plot event to a story event?

Which of the following characterizes the scope of Stagecoach?

What does the repetition of a story element signal?

Which of the following describes the relationship between plot and story in Stagecoach?

What common goal do the characters of Stagecoach share?

Which of the following is a minor plot event in Stagecoach?

What device typically allows for the possibility of a stretch relationship in cinematic time?

What is screen duration?

Which of the following CANNOT be established or provided by setting?

Which of the following describes the order of the story events in Stagecoach?

What is a summary relationship?

What do we mean when we refer to the "scope" of a film?

Why must filmmakers pay particular attention to screen duration?