LEGALLY BLONDE

[DavidC]

1. This week we talked about STORY VALUES. Think about the movie we watched and think about the protagonist, ELLE WOODS. Now think about how ELLE WOODS changes from the BEGINNING to the END of the movie. What is one STORY VALUE that the filmmakers use to demonstrate that change? What is one aspect of ELLE's character/personality that is different at the END of the movie? Now think of how the filmmakers depict that change. Briefly describe one scene that shows how her character has changed.



2. PREP FOR NEXT WEEK'S FILM:

Here are some famous quotes by two important American writers: Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson. (Both writers were key figures in a philosophical, literary and religious movement in 19th Century American thought called Transcendentalism. The Transcendentalists were influential in their time, and much of their thinking still has a strong influence in American culture and identity.) Please read these quotes and choose one that interests you or that you relate to (or even disagree with) for some reason. Then write a few sentences about your thoughts. By the way, this is not a test; there is no correct answer. I am interested in your honest reactions and thoughts.


Quotes by Henry David Thoreau:

In wildness is the preservation of the world.

A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone.

I have never found a companion that was so companionable as solitude. We are for the most part more lonely when we go abroad among men than when we stay in our chambers.

If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.

Quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson:

Whoso would be a man must also be a non-conformist.

Masses are rude, lame, unmade, pernicious in their demands and influence, and need not to be flattered, but to be schooled. I wish not to concede anything to them, but to tame, drill, divide, and break them up, and draw individuals out of them.

I am ashamed to think how easily we capitulate to badges and names, to large societies and dead institutions.

The great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.

[uclasari]

Hi.
This is Sari.

1
The filmmakers use to demonstrate that change by ELLE WOODS tries to get what she really needs to be.
At the beginning of the story, the protagonist, ELLE WOODS doesn’t predict that she begins to study law in her life.


ELLE’s character of the beginning of the movie is just to do what she likes. For example she likes to do how she can be cute with clothes and hair. She has confidence about her looking but, she is not intelligent. At the end of the movie, She has so much confidence herself inside and outside. She feels that there is nothing impossible because she can be a great student at university with her success.


The filmmakers depict that change by her life. Her boyfriend dumped her because he thinks that she doesn’t deserve him. After that, she tries to get near to his ideal girlfriend. It makes change her life.

At the beginning of the movie, she does not have confidence to speak in class because she doesn’t have no idea for the question which she is asked by the teacher but, she get confidence to speak in class because she studies very hard.

2
I choose this quote.
In wildness is the preservation of the world.
The reason I choose this quote is…….
I think that this quote is important today because technology is developing at the same time human may forget nature. This quote makes me think that don’t forget nature and think how great wildness is.

Thank you.

[ubi27]

In the beginning of the movie, we all can see that Ellen's main goal is to get married with Warner, the guy that she loves. In fact, she's waiting for his proposal and this is for her the most important thing in life.
On the contrary, at the end of the movie she graduates from Harvard with honors and this seems to her the most important day in her life. Finally, her happiness does not depend anymore on Warner's decision, but only on her and on her capacities. She is now who she really is and she has faith in herself. An important point is when she rejects Warner, because she's totally different from before. She wants to have a relation with someone who supports and respects her ( like Emmet ), not with a "bonehead". She has nothing to share with her ex-boyfriend anymore.
Another important point, is when the protagonist meets Professor Stromwell at the saloon, who doesn't want her to leave Harvard. In this way, the woman admits that she really admires Ellen, who changes her mind and goes back to action.

[ubi27]

"I have never found a companion that was so companionable as solitude. We are for the most part more lonely when we go abroad among men than when we stay in our chambers."
I totally agree with this quote. In my opinion, only if people feel comfortable when they're alone with their solitude, they feel comfortable among other people. Moreover, people feel really free to express themselves, and they're very close to their real essence (heart and soul) only when they have solitude as companion.

[cemozbek]

Hi, this is Cem.

At the beginning of the movie Elle only interests in her sorority,fashion and Warner.She has no aim in her life except getting married with Warner.She has a strong character and different style.We can see in tyhe movie strongly.In my opinion Elle isn't stupid.She can seize whatever she wants.She has a strong desire to achive what she wants.Admitting to Harward Law school is one of the hardest things in the world and she did it for her love.At the and of the movie she has a very different caracter but she has the same style and its a good thing.She changed but she is still Elle Woods.Now she has a different aims and criterions for her life and for her spouse.She refused Warner because she has a different criterions.

For the second question i choose quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson.I suppose he is talking about being different and happy from others.

[fal1986]

Hello everyone, this is fahad.
At the begining of the movie, elle woods was a girl who had no goal in her life. She just wanted to shop and get married to her boyfriend. When her boyfriend dumped her, a flame of motivation has bursted out as a result of her love to him. So, she decides to go to law school to prove to her lover that she is enough educated and qualified to him. Throughout the movie, she succeeds in her new job as a lawyer and graduates with honors. But, when her old boyfriend tries to get her back, she refuses and dumpes him like what he has done to her. As a result of all of her strugle, she became more confident and independant.

[2013UCLAKiki]

Hi! This is Kiki.

At the beginning of the film, just as it is said that, the beautiful and lovely girl with blonde hair Elle Woods seems to be absent-minded. She just does what she wants to do without thinking about it. However, also because of this, Elle is refused by his boyfriend Warner. Luckily, Elle is not a girl giving up anything easily! She wants to get back to Warner so she follows him to enter the Harvard Law School and she makes it. She studies very hard and at last she helps to win a case. How great she is! Now, Elle is still a beautiful blonde girl, but she has been much braver, much more confident, because of her persistence！I think persistence is one of the story value that the filmmakers use to demonstrate that change, which I admire most in this film. I would like to say the filmmakers depict that change with Elle Woods’ graduation lecture. "On our very first day at Harvard, a very wise professor quoted Aristotle 'The law is reason free from passion'. Well, no offense to Aristotle but in my three years at Harvard, I have come to find that passion is a key ingredient to the study and practice of law and of life. It is with passion, courage of conviction and strong sense of self that we take our next step into the world. Remembering that first impressions are not always correct, you must always have faith in people, and most importantly, you must always have faith in yourself.” Yes, Elle Woods did it!

As for the quote, I think I will choose: If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.

[fay]

[UCLAMOE]

To be with her boyfriend again after he broke her heart saying that she's not smart enough to be his wife.
She decided to take a difficult step studying law at Harvard. meanwhile, she realized her real journey.
She did well although the reputation of being blond.
She had a great enthusiasm pushed her forward into her goals.
on the scene that her professor kicked her out the class she didn't give up trying to be good as she should be to beat his new girlfriend

[UCLAcynthia]

At the beginning, just like the film’s title “Legally Blonde”, the protagonist, Elle Wood, just gives the audience similar impressions: beautiful but shallow. She is a pretty girl with natural blonde, slim figures and strong sense to fashion, which makes her be the Queen of the school and the president of her sorority, but at the same time, what she cares about is just to make herself more beautiful and become Mrs. Warner Huntington III, and even when she is heartbroken after hearing “breakup” from Warner, she still cares about her shoes. However, at the end of the movie, after she bravely faces a series of difficulties and embarrassed situations to achieve the success in study, love and career, she becomes more determined, confident and full of passion towards study as well as life. Besides, she realizes that Warner is not the one who she really loves. In my opinion, the filmmaker demonstrates that change is to reverse the Americans’ bias towards the blonde girls that all the blonde girls are just beautiful outside and empty inside. The filmmakers depict this change by setting endless indignities in study, life and career for Elle to deal with. For me, the most representative scene is that Elle returns to the court to defend Brooke Taylor Windham. Although Elle is hurt heavily by Professor Callahan who wants to hit on her, with her friends’ encouragement and Brooke’s trust, she finds new faith in herself, which means she finally shakes off the fetters of the prejudice to the blonde and begins to trust people as well as herself. Elle uses her action to show “the first impressions are not always correct”, so this film is called “legally blonde”.
Among the quotes, I am interested in “Whoso would be a man must also be a non-conformist.” In my opinion, everyone should trust himself and not be controlled by some outdated regulations and customs. If we try, then our life will be changed and the world will take on a new look.