Discussion Question

1.          Can you detail the function of the narrator in the film?

2.          The metaphors of the flower, photo, abstract painting are vividly described. Please explicate their symbolic meaning.

3.          How is a thematic motif of the manners in the Old New York presented?

4.          Please analyze the literary forms in the first chapter in Edith Wharton’s novel. For example, describe the function of the opera, Newland’s character, and the significance of this chapter or other interesting point.

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

6.          How does the title “The Age of Innocence” suggest?

7.          Try to analyze the triangular love relationship among May, Ellen, and Newland with concrete examples.

8.          Please explicate some impressive scenes from the film and their function and meaning.

Website Reference and Bibliography

 “A Film Review by James Berardinelli.” http://www.reelviews.net/movies/a/age_inno.html 

“Spirituality and Practice.” http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/films/films.php?id=3540 

Castellitto. George P. “Imagism and Martin Scorsese: Images Suspended in Time Extended.” Literature Film Quarterly 26.1 (1998): 23-29.

Christe, Ian. “The Scorsese Interview.” Sight and Sound 42.2 (Feb. 1994): 10-15.

Horne, Philip. “The Age of Innocence: Scorsese, Wharton and James.” Film Studies: An International Review 3 (2002): 5-17.

Lee, Robert A. “Watching Manners: Martin Scorsese's The Age of Innocence, Edith Wharton's The Age of Innnocence.” The Classic Novel: From Page to Screen. Ed. Giddings Robert Sheen Erica. Manchester, England--New York, NY: Manchester UP--St. Martin's, 2000. 163-78.

Levine, Jessica. Delicate Pursuit : Discretion in Henry James and Edith Wharton. Studies in Major Literary Authors ; V. 13. New York: Routledge, 2002.

Lukas, Karli. “Creative Visions: (De) constructing “The Beautiful in Scorsese’s The Age of Innocence. ” Senses of Cinema. 8 Sept 2006 ＜http://www.sensesofcinema.com/contents/ctequ/03/25/age_of_innocence.html＞.

Murphy, Kathleen. “Artist of the Beautiful.” Film Comment 29.6 (Nov.-Dec. 1993): 11-15.

Nicholls, Mark. "Male Melancholia and Martin Scorsese's The Age of Innocence." Film Quarterly 58.1 (2004): 25-35.

Olin-Ammentorp, Julie. “Wharton through a Kristevan Lens: The Maternality of The Gods Arrive.” Wretched Exotic: Essays on Edith Wharton in Europe. Eds. Katherine Joslin and Alan Price. New York. Peter Lang, 1993. 295-312.

Skaggs, Carmen Trammell. “Looking through the Opera Glasses: Performance and Artifice in The Age of Innocence." Mosaic: A Journal for the Interdisciplinary Study of Literature 37.1 (2004): 49-61.

Stern, Lesley. The Scorsese Connection. Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana UP, 1995.

Tebbetts, Terrell. “Conformity, Desire, and the Critical Self in Wharton's The Age of Innocence.” Philological Review 30.1 (2004): 25-38.

The Age of Innocence Script. (recommended) http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scripts/a/age-of-innocence-script-transcript.html

Wagner-Martin, Linda. The age of innocence: A Novel of ironic nostalgia. New York: Twayne Publishers, c1996.

Wharton, Edith. The Age of Innocence. New York: Scribner’s, 1970.  

Wikipedia on The Age of Innocence. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Age_of_Innocence_(film)