At The Movies: Brave (Essay Writing and Long Answer Response)

Description

‘Fate be changed, look inside. Mend the bond torn by pride.’

Each ‘At The Movies’ selection is a movie that is both enjoyable to watch, and a good starting-place to explore important topics. High school students can expand on their analytical and writing skills by answering questions, writing plot summaries and character descriptions, and pondering upon important, far-reaching themes in discussion or essay-writing assignments.

About the movie: Brave

This story takes place in historical Scotland, in a dark ages landscape of castle and countryside. Merida is the only daughter of a king, and despite her mother’s attempts to train her to be a ‘lady’ she lives for the freedom to ride her beloved horse, practise archery, and observe the gambits of her naughty triplet brothers. When it comes time for her to submit to an arranged marriage, she rebels, convinced that it is her mother who should change her ways, and not Merida herself. Guided – or misled? – by the mystical presence of will-o’-the-wisps in the forest, she encounters a witch, who grants Merida’s request for a spell that should fix everything. As supernatural events unfold, Merida learns whether magic can truly help her create the future she wants, or whether it is up to Merida alone to find her true fate.

Rating: PG / Date of release: 2012 / Language: English / Country: U. S. A. / Purchase: Disney+ or Amazon

Notes:

• This movie contains no explicit content of any nature. There are some scenes that are intentionally creepy and some that are intentionally dramatic, and there is quite a bit of cartoon action-violence. It has a happy end.