Discussion Question

1.          Please explicate the elements of literary form in Annix Proulx’s Brokeback Mountain and link them by offering the concrete examples from Proulx’s short story.

2.          How does the title “Brokback Mountain” suggest?

3.          Please explain the function (s) of metaphors presented in the film such as sheep and closet or other important metaphors.

4.          Try to do a character-analysis by comparing or contrasting the two major male leads Jack and Ennis with concrete examples presented in the film.

5.          There are a lot of thematic issues to be discussed in the film, namely inside/outside motif, politics of silence, and conforming to the society. Please associate them with detailed examples.

6.          Please select 2 or 3 scenes from the script and explain the meaning and function in those scenes.

7.          Could you find a link (s) between Annix Proulx’s original story and Ang Lee’s adapted film?

8.          How do the different environments, such as Brokeback Mountain and downtown, affect the major characters Jack and Ennis?

Websites Reference: Brokeback Mountain

斷背山中文官方網站 http://brokebackmountain.ha-movie.com/

Review: The Secret Lives of Cowboys  http://towleroad.typepad.com/towleroad/2005/10/ever_since_i_re.html

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/fun-facts/B00005JOFQ/ref=imdbdppd_ql_0/104-7496194-2829568?ie=UTF8

Times Online Review on Brokeback Mountain http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/fun-facts/B00005JOFQ/ref=imdbdppd_ql_0/104-7496194-2829568?ie=UTF8

Intereview on Proulx http://www.advocate.com/print_article_ektid23486.asp

Complete Text of Brokeback Mountain behind Cut http://mister-don.livejournal.com/89313.html#cutid1

“ At Close Range with Proulx” (very good) http://www.planetjh.com/testa_2005_12_07_proulx.html

Bibiofemme Review http://www.bibliofemme.com/others/brokeback.shtml

Wikipedia (excellent) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brokeback_Mountain

原著小說、中譯本及其他相關資料 (excellent) www.shulink.com/Get/nantong/162244222.htm

“Masculine Romance” http://www.slate.com/id/2131865/ (good)

On Proulx http://emdashes.blogspot.com/2005/12/original-brokeback-mountain-online.html

“An Affair to Remember” (very good) http://www.nybooks.com/articles/18712

“Replies to An Affair to Remember”

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/18846

Annie Proulx talks Brokeback Mountain

http://www.writerswrite.com/writersblog/wblog.php?wblog=1208051

Annie Proulx http://www.readinggroups.co.uk/guides/Recommended.aspx?id=33254&articleid=6767

The Short Story: “Brokeback Mountain” http://home.earthlink.net/~chicagoblt/broke.htm

“The Imaged Power of “Brokeback Mountain” http://blog.yam.com/noral/archives/1020916.html

南方朔評論http://lifestyle.mingpao.com/cfm/soccul3.cfm?File=20051104/scf/16vzg1h.txt

Ang Lee Talks about Brokeback Mountain  http://movies.about.com/od/brokebackmountain/a/brokeback120605_3.htm

Proulx, McMurty, and Ossasa Talk about Brokeback Mountain http://www.newwest.net/index.php/topic/article/4463/C76/L76

Interview with Ang Lee http://sex.ncu.edu.tw/members/ho/study/2006spring_oraltraining/st2006s_oraltraining-anglee2.htm

The Ultimate Brokeback Mountain Guide (excellent) http://towleroad.typepad.com/towleroad/2005/10/the_towleroad_g.html

The Official Site http://www.brokebackmountainmovie.com/