Find attached questions for the first 8 scenes of
Shawshank Redemption.
You can split up into groups and assign questions to each person. Look up all the bolded terms
before we begin watching, so you know what you are looking for.
Comprehension Questions
Directions: Answer the following questions during or after the movie.
1. In the novella, author Stephen King opens with Red describing who he is and how he can get
people anything in prison. How do the filmmakers open the film adaptation? Why?
2. What role does the opening diegetic song "I Didn't Care" that Andy listens to in his car play?
3.Why do the filmmakers flash-forward to Andy's trial but then flashback to events from that
night? What is the effect of this editing?
Also, explain Andy's behavior/demeanor in court.
4. Why do the filmmakers pan over the jury? What are the facts in Andy's case? How were
Andy's wife and her lover killed?
5.What choices do the filmmakers use as a motif at Red's parole hearings?
List them and explain their effect/meaning. Why is Red rejected?
6.What point of view have the filmmakers used until now? What point of view does the film use
now? Why? Note that this voiceover is how the novella begins.
7. What is the effect of the extreme long, aerial shot of Shawshank Prison? What is implied in
the high angle shots in this scene?
8. Why do the cons call the new arrivals fish? Explain this figurative language. What do the cons
bet on when new cons arrive? Why? How is this action ironic? How does this action indirectly
characterize them?
9. What are Red's initial impressions of Andy? Why? Once Red gets to know Andy, explain how
Andy's looks and actions initially deceived him?
10. What techniques do the filmmakers use to suggest the arrivals' fear?
11. How is the warden indirectly characterized? What is suggested by his emergence and
disappearance from and into the darkness?
12. What are the warden's rules? What type of leader is he? Why?
13. How are the new felons indirectly characterized by their costume?
14. How do the men at Shawshank treat new arrivals? What do they bet on?
How is this treatment ironic? Who breaks down? What happens to him?
15. How is Brooks indirectly characterized? Who is Jake and what can Jake symbolize?
16. What does Andy ask about the fish who cried? Why? What is Heywood's response? Why?
18. What does Andy ask Red to get for him? Why? What does this item symbolize to Andy, and
what does it later symbolize?
19. What is implied that happens to Andy? How and where does the camera move? Why?
20. What event finally gets Andy out of his two-year rut? Why? What does Andy do? Why?
What camera movement and angles are used? Why?
21. What does Andy get for his co-workers? Why? How does this action indirectly characterize
Andy? Why does Red think he helped Hadley?
22. Notice the change in color between this scene and the last. Why is this scene in blue and
the last one in orange? How does each affect mood?
23. What do the Sisters attempt to do and do to Andy? Why is Andy filmed via high angle? What
are the consequences of Bog's actions?