Theme Message and Symbolism in Pay it Forward

Theme, Message and Symbolism in Pay it Forward Learning Objectives To be able to: • To identify theme, message and symbolism in Pay it Forward • To understand how to construct a film review using religious interpretations

Symbols: what do the following mean to us?

Key Words – In pairs, try to come up with definitions for the following key words: • Theme • Message • Symbol and symbolism • Allegory

Key Words • Theme: main ideas in a piece of fiction or a talk • Message: an important moral or political idea that a film maker or author is trying to communicate to his audience • Symbol and symbolism: images or objects that represent something that is often abstract or intangible

Allegory = Story with an underlying meaning • What are the allegories in the following books/films? The Chronicles of Narnia • Can you think of any other films/books which are allegories?

The Jesus Allegory = the symbolic expression of deeper meaning through a story or scene acted out by a human, animal or mystical character

Pay it Forward Continue watching the film from scene 1 hour (Scene 20) until the end of scene 29 (1 hour 33 mins). As you watch and listen, think about and discuss: • • • Themes Christian teachings The music and lyrics The images and symbols Camera techniques