Cast Away Viewing Guide

Name: ______Period ______(30 points)

Summary of the first 30 minutes:

Chuck lives a high-pressured life working for Fed-Ex and he is shown traveling a lot. He is basically a nice guy, but he is often seenyelling at Fed-Ex employees to hurry up and be more efficient, so they don’t become slow like the US postal system. He spends Christmas with his long time girlfriend, Kelly. In the middle of Christmas dinner, he gets called away on business. They obviously love each other, but it is clear that his travel requirements put a strain on their relationship. At the airport, he and Kelly exchange gifts. She gives him her grandfather’s pocket watch, with a picture of her inside. He gives her some joke gifts, and at the last minute, gives her an engagement ring. She says, “I’m scared” and he tells her she can think about it. As he rushes off to catch his plane, he says, “I’ll be right back.”

Part I: Choices.Odysseus often has to choose between some sort of temptation or comfort and home. Similarly, Chuck has to make several crucial choices in the film. Fill out the chart comparing their choices (at least three examples for each—a 4th for possible bonus points).
(10 points)

Temptation / Home (or symbol of home) / Decision & reason
Odysseus / 1. Stay on Kalypso’s Island, become immortal. / Risk the dangerous sea again for a chance to get home. / He believes he can survive the danger and he likes his home/Penelope more than Kalypso
2.
3.
4.
5.
Chuck / 1. Answer his beeper and leave his girlfriend on Christmas to attend to business / Stay with girlfriend on Christmas, and risk losing job / Goes away on business because he thinks they can be together on New Years
2.
3.
4.
5.

Part II: Epic Hero. Is Chuck an epic hero? For each stage of the archetypal hero’s journey, try to find an example from Chuck’s adventure. Some may be blank. (10 points)

Hero’s Journey / Chuck’s Journey
  1. The hero’s call:

  1. The hero’s weakness:

  1. The goal, as explained to the hero:

  1. The hazards of the journey:

  1. The temptations:

  1. The guide:

  1. The charm that protects the hero:

  1. The winning of the (magic) weapon:

  1. The descent into darkness:

  1. The hero’s wound:

  1. The actual prize of the quest:

  1. The hero’s transformation:

Part III: Comparison. List at least five major similarities and five major differences between the film and the epic. Comparisons should be specific. (10 Points)

Similarities / Differences
-Chuck gets called away from home and doesn’t want to go (like O to the Trojan war)

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