Frankenweenie — Viewing Questions & Motif Tracking

Active viewing made easy.

Guide your students through Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie with structured, act-by-act questions that highlight horror and suspense techniques, recurring motifs, and character-driven themes. Perfect for Halloween, film study units, or building visual literacy in middle and high school ELA.

What’s Inside:

• Printable & digital versions (PDF + Google Docs)
• Act 1, 2, and 3 viewing questions (50 total)
• Motif tracking guide: lightning/electricity, grief, parody/humor, fear, and Burton’s “cute + grotesque” aesthetic
• Prompts on characterization, theme, symbolism, and sound design
• Flexible use: assign for independent note-taking, discussion, or guided class viewing

Skills Covered:

• Active viewing and close analysis of film
• Identifying motifs, tone, and mood
• Understanding genre conventions (horror, parody, gothic)
• Connecting cinematic choices to theme and character development

Why It Works:

✅ Keeps students engaged during the film
✅ Builds transferable analysis skills across literature and film
✅ Works in classrooms, homeschools, or co-op groups
✅ Easy to differentiate — use motif tracking for younger grades, full act-based questions for deeper analysis

Best For:

• Grades 7–10
• English Language Arts, Film Studies, or Media Literacy
• Halloween film lessons, gothic/literature tie-ins, or genre studies

Duration:

• Use across the full film (split over 2–3 class periods)
• Can be shortened by focusing on selected motifs or questions

⚠️ Note: Film not included. You’ll need your own copy of Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie to use alongside these materials.