Mythology

All info is available in additional materials. Based off of the movie Pans Labyrinth.

Contemporary Approaches to Classical Mythology

Analysis 2

Essay One is due by midnight on Sunday, end of week 5.  Please write an essay which analyzes the role of mythology/folklore/fairy tales in Pan’s Labyrinth.  Suggested length: 3 pages.

Your analysis should focus on how myth etc is used to emphasize a theme in the film.  Themes we discussed include the following:  parent/child relationships, political power, obeying and freedom of choice, time, an old world giving way to a new world – you are not limited to these themes.

A sample thesis might look like this:  The moon symbolism in Pan’s Labyrinth uses ancient images and archetypes to comment on a twentieth century political struggle.

Or this:  The faun in PL plays an important role in the political allegory of the film.

Your analysis will be stronger if you narrow your focus and do not try to cover too much.  Support your observations with specifics from the film.  Remember that the focus of the course is to examine how contemporary artists reinterpret ancient myths and archetypes and use that to frame your analysis.

MLA documentation is required – if you use any outside sources, there must be a complete works cited page and also parenthetical documentation within the essay itself.  See the Syllabus and Information folder for rubrics, MLA resources and more.

Feel free to ask me any questions in the Questions Forum!