Questions to Ponder
Bridge to Terabithia is an interesting text to study for our Using Your Imagination theme, as the characters quite literally use their imaginations and bring life to their thoughts.
Before delving into the questions below, you might want to refresh your memory of the story line here on Spark Notes or by viewing this video:
REMEMBER: Some things change from the book to the film. We are basing our work on the film, but there are many copies of the book up the back of the classroom for those that would like to read it.
Your Task
Look through the following questions and answer 3-5 of your choice with detailed responses. Don't just provide a basic answer. You should start with your idea and then support it with events from the book, quotes or even with comparisons to the real world or your own life. Each answer should be a paragraph, not one or two dot points. I am looking for quality over quantity, but I am also looking to see who has worked at their appropriate level or challenged themselves.
Questions
- What parts of the story did you like best? If you could change one event, which would you change? Why?
- How does Jess view himself and his life at the start of the story?
- Describe Leslie's personality? How does she deal with people that treat her well? How does she deal with people that treat her poorly?
- Which character do you relate to the most? Make three connections between yourself and the character.
- If you got the chance to interview one of the characters from the story, who would you interview and why? Write down five questions that you would ask them.
- Describe two ways Jess and Leslie chose to deal with the bully in the story. Which one led to a better outcome? Do their methods appear on Bully Stoppers? According to Bully Stoppers, what are two other methods Jess and Leslie could have applied?
- Write down three quotes from the movie that you liked or thought were important. State why you chose each one and what you think the character is saying. (You can look here on IMDB for some quotes if you wish).
- Compare Jess's parents with Leslie's parents. You may wish to present your ideas using a Venn diagram to present your findings.
- Who were the 'helpers' in this story? Which characters helped others? Name two of them. How did they do it? Were they successful?
- What effect does Leslie have on the people around her? Describe how knowing Leslie affects two other characters of your choice.
- In most texts, at least one character undergoes a big change. Choose one character from Bridge To Terabithia and state how they change. Compare their behaviour and attitude from early in the story to near the end of the story. What enabled them to change? Was it a good change?
- What is something you have learned from seeing this film? Was there a message to the audience?
- What happens to allow Jess a 'fresh start in life'?
- What has the author got to say about bullies in this text? Who is seen as the bully? How is the bully treated in the text?
- There are generally considered to be three stages of grieving. The first step is denial, the second step anger and the third step is acceptance. The last step is very important, as it allows the person to move on with their life, often feeling 'better' or 'richer' for having known the person that has passed. Identify whether Jess goes through these three stages. Indicate with quotes or events that show Jess in each stage you think he goes through.
- For which character do you have the most empathy? Why?
- More than once, adults say to Jess that with a mind like his he will be able to create a whole new world. Describe the significance of these quotes and how did the author portray this idea in the film?
- What is a theme? What are the major themes in Bridge To Terabithia?
- How did the author use 'imagination' in the story? What purpose does it serve? What are they telling us, the viewer/reader, to do?
- The last chapter in the book is called Building the Bridge. Explain the meaning of this, both literally and figuratively. Remember, figuratively might mean how this is used as a metaphor.
