Before You Watch: Discussion Questions
Vertigo

Discuss these questions with your group:

1. Do you have any phobias?  Do you know anyone with phobias?  How do these phobias affect them?

2. What is vertigo?  Have you ever experienced vertigo?  What does it feel like?

3. This film is based on a novel called D'Entre les Morts (literally From Amongst the Dead).  Do you believe in ghosts or spirits?  Could someone out of the past--someone who is dead--return and take possession of someone who is alive?   How would you respond if you thought that this had happened?

4. Have you ever experienced deja-vu?

5. What's the difference between love and obsession?  What behaviors characterize each? 

6. What were the roles of men and women like in the US during the 1950s?

Vertigo

Alfred Hitchcock/1958

1. How does the fact that Scottie has vertigo direct the course of events in this film?

2. Who is Scottie in love with? Did Madeline ever really exist?  Do you think she was just an illusion?

3. How does Hitchcock portray women in this film? How do the men in the film treat women? How do the women respond? Would you accept similar relationships in a contemporary film? Why or why not?

4. How does the idea of obsession figure into this film?

5. What did you like about this film?  What did you dislike?

Orpheus and Eurydice
 

Orpheus, son of Apollo, was a master musician. His playing the lyre and singing charmed wild animals and caused stones and trees to follow him when he wished. He married Eurydice. They were married a year and a day when she died of a snake bite inflicted on her when she stepped on it in the woods, picking flowers. Orpheus mourned her death. He determined to bring her back from Hades, the Underworld. Using his musical talents, he charmed his way past Cerberus, the 3-headed watch dog. Charon, the boat-man of the Styx ferried Orpheus across the river free of charge. Even Hades cried iron tears who granted Orpheus' plea that he be allowed to take Eurydice back with him, provided that he promise not to look at her until they reached home. Orpheus played and sang while Eurydice followed but overcome with fear he turned back to see if she was there. She was. Instantly faded away to become once again only a shade. When Orpheus tried to reenter Hades, his way was barred. He returned to Thrace and served in the temple of Apollo. He soon met his death. He was torn to pieces either by local maidens or raging Maenads following Dionysus. They threw his head in the Hebrus river. Calliope, a muse and his mother, took the pieces of Orpheus' body and buried them at the foot of Mt. Olympus where nightingales sing their sweetest songs