Essay #2 The Orphanage

Definitions Cathartic horror: King reality unravels reality re-knits around values we can believe in and take comfort from; Remaining characters/ world move forward, wounded but healed and healing. Disaffirmative: Holland-Toll reality unravels monster as the “site of humanity,” with human traits monster reflects, in some way society’s or humanity’s failures. monster is sympathetic the ending leaves us with a feeling of “dis/ease” rather than comfort.

Paraphrased Definition: Nikhil Pratap “…I believe the movie is cathartic. In other words, it follows Stephen King’s definition of horror…[King] describes horror as affirmative; it tears down the walls of reality and then reconstructs [reality] in a way that confirms and supports our cultural values and beliefs. There is even a sense of catharsis, a “purging of emotions” around which [characters] can start to rebuild the [world] torn apart in the film.”

Thesis: Must take a clear stand about the nature of the film. The thesis paragraph should include a paraphrased definition of the type of horror your essay will focus on.

Example: Audrey Bucciarelli The film The Orphanage demonstrates Stephen King’s definition of cathartic horror. Reality is torn apart when a heartbroken mother loses her son, but re-knits itself by bringing them together at the end. Although the story is tragic, [fundamental societal values, such as friendship, care and the family bond, are ultimately reaffirmed].

Example: Stephanie Gutierrez The movie El Orfanato is a[an example of] cathartic horror because [reality] re-forms around morals we can embrace and believe in.

Body of the essay: Analysis Your analysis should grow out of your thesis. If your thesis focuses on the re-establishment of the mother/child bond as an example of catharsis, then your analysis should emphasize the breaking and restoration of that bond AND its significance within the context of the film.

Body of the essay: Analysis Your analysis should be organized into distinct points and paragraphs. Each paragraph should be organized around a particular point Each point should draw on specific examples/details from the film to support your analysis.

Body of the essay: Analysis Be sure that your essay focuses on analysis rather than plot summary.

Body of the essay: Analysis Plot summary: Laura tells Carlos she just wants to have Simon back. She convinces Carlos to leave her alone in the house for two days. Then she re-arranges the entire house to look just as it did when she was a child there in order to convince the children to come out and “play.” They play the same game they used to play together as children, and as a result of the game, Laura finds Simon’s body and realizes how he died.

Body of the essay: Analysis Analysis with support: The bond between Laura and Simon is so strong that it transcends the boundaries separating the living from the dead, and the past from the present. After Carlos agrees to leave Laura alone in the house, she re-arranges it to look just as it did when she was a child there in order to convince the children to come out and “play.” They play the same game they used to play together as children, and as a result of the game, Laura finds Simon’s body and realizes how he died.

Works Cited Holland-Toll, Linda. As American As Mom, Baseball, and Apple Pie: Constructing Community in Contemporary American Horror Fiction. Bowling Green: Bowling Green State University Popular Press, Print. King, Stephen. Danse Macabre. New York: Berkley Books, Print. The Others. Dir. J. A. Bayona. Perf/ Belen Rueda, Fernando Cayo, Roger Princep. New Line Cinema, 2007.