Reference no: EM133726426

Assignment: Del Toros Cronos Movie Allegorical Elements

Writing and Research: Study Guide for del Toro's Cronos

Literary Terms Allegory, Symbol, Motif, Theme

Before you watch Guillermo del Toro's first feature film Cronos (1994), conduct some research on the literary terms allegory, symbol, motif, and theme. Providethe definition of the term and cite the source of your definition using MLA format.

Then as you watch the film, look for examples of these literary devices. Share your notes in the spaces below:

Define allegory
Allegorical elements in Cronos?

Define symbol
Symbols in Cronos?

What is a literary motif?
Motifs in Cronos?

What is a theme?
Theme(s) in Cronos?

Analysis Questions for Discussion (answer all of them and then choose one to share in your post due Wednesday)

A. What does the name Jesús Gris suggest? How about Aurora? Angel de la Guardia? Mercedes?

B. What other examples are there of Catholic imagery and symbolism in the film?

C. The film was made in 1992, right before NAFTA (the North American Free Trade Agreement) was adopted. Research the reaction in 1993 to NAFTA and the Zapatista uprising of 1994. What concerns or fears were associated with NAFTA back then? What is suggested by the multilingual street signs (in Chinese, Russian, etc) in the film? Is there a way in which NAFTA might have been imagined as a vampiric agreement?

D. At what point do you realize that this is a film about vampires? What are the clues?

E. What does the title of film, Cronos, refer to? Where are clocks used and why?

F. What roles do insects play in the film? What opinion does de la Guardia express about them in one of his earlier scenes?

G. Describe the representation of the Cronos device, both its exterior and its interior.

H. What sort of villain is Angel? And de la Guardia? Is it significant that both villains are portrayed as Americans?

I. How is violence portrayed? What do you feel when the characters get wounded in the film? (YouTube Video "How Guillermo Del Toro Uses Violence | Video Essay")

J. What gothic elements does the film evoke?

K. What role does the child, Aurora, play vis-à-vis the horror elements of the film? In what ways is her reaction to them different from the adult characters?

L. How much dialogue does Aurora speak and what effect does this have?

M. To what extent is this a ‘love story between a grandparent and a grandchild'? (Del Toro has said that he modeled it after his own relationship to his grandmother, to whom he dedicates the film.)

N. What sort of factory does Mr. de la Guardia own? Why is Angel so eager to inherit it? Is it significant that the villain is an industrialist/capitalist? That he is dying?

O. Guillermo del Toro has said that he modeled the character of de la Guardia on reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes. What aspects of their lifestyles are similar and how does this relate to capitalism?

P. Why does Jesús Gris decide to destroy the Cronos device? What are the implications for him?

Q. What is the color palette of the film? (YouTube Video "Mastering the Movie Color Palette: Guillermo del Toro")