1. The document provides analysis questions for three scenes from the films Knocked Up and Forgetting Sarah Marshall. The questions require identifying and analyzing various verbal, non-verbal, and technical codes that establish characters, generate laughter, represent gender, and move the narrative. 2. Specific codes and theories mentioned include facial expressions, shot types, dialogue, editing, the representation of immaturity, new masculinity, the battle of the sexes, and the role of suffering in romantic comedies. 3. Students are asked to identify examples from the scenes and support their analysis using evidence from media language codes.

1. 1
Name: __________________________
Class: _________________
Teacher: ________________________
Key Scenes
Booklet
CURRENT GCSE
Grade:
GCSE target grade:

2. 2
YOU MUST analyse all 3 scenes and complete the tasks over the following pages.
YOU SHOULD refer to specific examples from all 3 scenes and structure your
analysis using full sentences where possible.
Remember! Media Language Evidence is KEY!
Extension - YOU COULD, using theory (Katz, Maslow, Hartley, Todorov)
consider what impact these examples have on the audience.
‘Knocked Up’
(2007)
Dir. Judd Apatow
“How the scenes..”

3. 3
Alison (Katherine Heigl), according to David Gauntlett (2008), is
“superior to Ben in terms of looks, prospects and everything else”
1) Analyse WHAT verbal (Sound – Diegetic Dialogue), non-verbal (mise-en-
scene – Facial Expressions) and/or Technical Codes (Editing – shot-reverse-
shot; Camera – Shot Types, Angles) establish this ‘superiority’ to the spectator
For example (and this is what you need to focus on for the other tasks)
Non-verbal code of Alisons facial expression
– Connotations?
Verbal code – “No work today!” – shot from
a High angle looking down on Ben –
Connotations?
Extension – Does Ben “live a carefree, hedonistic life” (Claire Mortimer - 2010)

4. 4
2) According to Timothy Corrigan (2012), Ben’s character represents the
“new man” that exists in society – unambitious, lazy and takes little pride In his
appearance.
Analyse WHAT verbal (Sound – Diegetic Dialogue), non-verbal (mise-en-scene –
Facial Expressions) and/or Technical Codes (Editing – shot-reverse-shot;
Camera – Shot Types, Angles) establish this “new man” representation:

5. 5
Diegetic verbal code of dialogue “That was brutal”
Fill in the gaps – WHAT is this an example of?
Em __ __ __ u __ a __ i __ n
3) Does this confirm Bens status as the “loveable loser” stereotype so often
represented in this genre? –
EXPLAIN and support your understanding with Application of EVIDENCE:

6. 6
Claire Mortimer (2010) –
‘The generation of laughter is the fundamental narrative dynamic within
any form of comedy’
4) WHAT verbal (Sound – Diegetic Dialogue), non-verbal (mise-en-scene –
Facial Expressions) and/or Technical Codes (Editing – shot-reverse-shot;
Camera – Shot Types, Angles) “generate laughter” (Mortimer – 2010) amongst
the audience?

7. 7
1) Ben is represented as “well meaning, but immature” (David Gauntlett - 2008)
WHAT verbal (Sound – Diegetic Dialogue), non-verbal (mise-en-scene – Facial
Expressions) and/or Technical Codes (Editing – shot-reverse-shot; Camera –
Shot Types, Angles) establish this “immaturity” OR “well meaning” nature to
the audience?
For example:
“You look very pretty” after his rant about whether he and Vince Vaughan
would “get along”

8. 8
2) “You look very pretty”
Would the audience agree that
“Ben is far from the typical rom-com hero in his looks”
(Claire Mortimer - 2010)?
WHAT verbal (Sound – Diegetic Dialogue), non-verbal (mise-en-scene – Facial
Expressions) and/or Technical Codes (Editing – shot-reverse-shot; Camera –
Shot Types, Angles) establish this point of view?

9. 9
3) ‘The central couple are antagonistic to one another’
and
‘The battle of the sexes’ (Claire Mortimer - 2010)
WHERE is this represented in this scene?
YOU MUST support your points of view with Evidence –
Verbal (Sound – Diegetic Dialogue), non-verbal (mise-en-scene – Facial
Expressions) and/or Technical Codes (Editing – shot-reverse-shot;
Camera – Shot Types, Angles)

10. 10
Claire Mortimer (2010) –
‘The generation of laughter is the fundamental narrative dynamic within
any form of comedy’
4) WHAT verbal (Sound – Diegetic Dialogue), non-verbal (mise-en-scene –
Facial Expressions) and/or Technical Codes (Editing – shot-reverse-shot;
Camera – Shot Types, Angles) “generate laughter” (Mortimer – 2010) amongst
the audience?

11. 11
1) Alison is faced with the “challenge of dealing with men like this (Ben)”
(David Gauntlett - 2008)
Focus on the Technical Codes (Editing – shot-reverse-shot; Camera – Shot
Types, Angles) in the opening of this scene –
HOW do they construct the representation of Ben and the “challenge” he poses
to Alison?

12. 12
Extension – HOW would you describe Ben’s reaction to the “news”?

13. 13
Diegetic verbal code of dialogue
2) “What can I help you with today Mr. and Mrs. Stone?”
The romantic comedy genre places an emphasis on “tears”
and
“suffering is often part of the narrative process”
(Tamar Jeffers McDonald - 2007)
In relation to the Diegetic verbal code of dialogue provided and the area
highlighted, HOW does Alisons reaction conform to this point of view?

14. 14
3) The romantic comedy genre places an emphasis on “tears”
and
“suffering is often part of the narrative process”
(Tamar Jeffers McDonald - 2007)
WHERE else is this represented in this scene?
YOU MUST support your points of view with Evidence –
Verbal (Sound – Diegetic Dialogue), non-verbal (mise-en-scene – Facial
Expressions) and/or Technical Codes (Editing – shot-reverse-shot;
Camera – Shot Types, Angles)
Claire Mortimer (2010) –
‘The generation of laughter is the fundamental narrative dynamic within
any form of comedy’
4) WHAT verbal (Sound – Diegetic Dialogue), non-verbal (mise-en-scene –
Facial Expressions) and/or Technical Codes (Editing – shot-reverse-shot;
Camera – Shot Types, Angles) “generate laughter” (Mortimer – 2010) amongst
the audience?

15. 15
YOU MUST analyse all 3 scenes and complete the tasks over the following pages.
YOU SHOULD refer to specific examples from all 3 scenes and structure your
analysis using full sentences where possible.
Remember! Media Language Evidence is KEY!
Extension - YOU COULD, using theory (Katz, Maslow, Hartley, Todorov)
consider what impact these examples have on the audience.
‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’
(2008)
Dir. Nicholas Stoller
“How the scenes..”

16. 16
1)
a) WHAT shot type (technical code) is this? – Clue: Body part
b) Diegetic Verbal code – Fill in the gaps
“G__________ f____ y______ P _______, g ________ for you”
WHAT does this ‘signify’ (De Saussure) about Pete in terms of ‘taking
pride in his appearance’? Clue: Term beginning with M

17. 17
2)
WHAT are the connotations behind the Technical Code of the Close-up shot of
the verbal code “mug shot”?

18. 18
3) i) “Sexy Crimefighter” – According to Laura Mulvey (1975) what MIGHT
Sarah Marshall encourage from a male audience? Is this stereotypical?
Diegetic verbal code of dialogue “Anything could happen”
ii) Does this present an ‘enigma clue’ (Roland Barthes) to anything that might
happen later on in the narrative?
Extension – WHAT verbal codes (non-diegetic soundtrack) create meanings for
the audience when analyzing this scene?

19. 19
Fill in the gaps – WHAT is this an example of?
Em __ __ __ u __ a __ i __ n
4) WHAT does the non-verbal Code of the towel dropping ‘signify’ (De Saussure) in
relation to the key term above and the theory below:
According to Phillip Morency (2010), the text focuses on the
“emotional role reversal” of Peter when faced with being “dumped” by Sarah
Marshall.

20. 20
Claire Mortimer (2010) –
‘The generation of laughter is the fundamental narrative dynamic within
any form of comedy’
5) WHAT verbal (Sound – Diegetic Dialogue), non-verbal (mise-en-scene –
Facial Expressions) and/or Technical Codes (Editing – shot-reverse-shot;
Camera – Shot Types, Angles) “generate laughter” (Mortimer – 2010) amongst
the audience?

21. 21
1)
“I thought I was fine, but I’m not fine at all”
Key term: Parallel sound
HOW are the lyrics of Sinead O’Connors ‘Nothing compares 2 U’ (1990)
parallel to the feelings of Peter in this scene?
Compare a Lyric to a Diegetic dialogue example

22. 22
2) “You’ve gotta get your sh*t together man!”
Fill in the gaps – WHAT is this an example of?
M __ __ h __ s m __
3)
The romantic comedy genre places an emphasis on “tears” and
“suffering is often part of the narrative process”
(Tamar Jeffers McDonald - 2007)
WHERE is this represented in this scene?
YOU MUST support your points of view with Evidence –
Verbal (Sound – Diegetic Dialogue), non-verbal (mise-en-scene – Facial
Expressions) and/or Technical Codes (Editing – shot-reverse-shot;
Camera – Shot Types, Angles)

23. 23
Claire Mortimer (2010) –
‘The generation of laughter is the fundamental narrative dynamic within
any form of comedy’
4) WHAT verbal (Sound – Diegetic Dialogue), non-verbal (mise-en-scene –
Facial Expressions) and/or Technical Codes (Editing – shot-reverse-shot;
Camera – Shot Types, Angles) “generate laughter” (Mortimer – 2010) amongst
the audience?

24. 24
1) ‘The dominant theme is the battle of the sexes’
(Claire Mortimer - 2010)
WHAT verbal (Sound – Diegetic Dialogue), non-verbal (mise-en-scene – Facial
Expressions) and/or Technical Codes (Editing – shot-reverse-shot; Camera –
Shot Types, Angles) establish this ‘battle of the sexes’ in the scene?

25. 25
“I’m sitting down because I want to not because you’ve asked me to”
2) Technical Code of the Low Angle shot of Peter –
HOW is the male gender represented in this scene?
Extension – YOU COULD make a comparison to Ben and his ‘immature’
(Gauntlett – 2008) personality.

26. 26
3) According to Timothy Corrigan (2012), Ben’s character represents the
“new man” that exists in society – unambitious, lazy and takes little pride
In his appearance
WHAT does Sarah say to Peter in this scene that conforms to this male gender
stereotype in the genre? YOU SHOULD aim to identify x2 examples of diegetic
dialogue
4) The romantic comedy genre places an emphasis on “tears” and “suffering is often part of the
narrative process”
(Tamar Jeffers McDonald - 2007)
WHERE is this represented in this scene?
For example –
Through the technical code of a close-up shot WHAT does Sarah Marshall say to
Peter?

27. 27
Claire Mortimer (2010) –
‘The generation of laughter is the fundamental narrative dynamic within
any form of comedy’
5) WHAT verbal (Sound – Diegetic Dialogue), non-verbal (mise-en-scene –
Facial Expressions) and/or Technical Codes (Editing – shot-reverse-shot;
Camera – Shot Types, Angles) “generate laughter” (Mortimer – 2010) amongst
the audience?