6:1: David Seidler, The King’s Speech Flashcards
(17 cards)
1
Q
What is the audience?
A
- The actors and the director
- People interested in history.
- People with anxiety or speech impediments themselves.
- Wider audience in general due to the use of Hollywood stars.
- Fans of the director
- Film and acting community as a whole as Colin Firth won an Oscar for it.
2
Q
What is the purpose?
A
- To inform of the history behind King George and Lionel.
- To entertain and inspire others to overcome hardship.
- To tell the story to a new generation who may not be as aware of this part of history.
- To raise awareness about stutters and similar conditions.
3
Q
What is the genre?
A
- Screenplay
- Drama
- Comedy
- Biography
4
Q
Context: The actual history
A
- After his father died and his brother abdicated, Bertie was unexpectedly crowned King George VI.
- Though he already had to do so, this meant he had to speak publicly more frequently.
- Due to his stutter, this posed a large problem as it was a less accepting time (during WW2)
- a king or any royal family member could not afford to appear weak in any way.
5
Q
Context: David Seidler
A
- Born 1937 - so he lived through the events even if he was fairly young.
- Was a stutterer himself as a child.
- British-American playwright, film and TV writer.
6
Q
Voice: What is Lionel’s voice?
A
- Incredibly informal, likely to reinforce that he isn’t of the same status as Bertie.
- There is also a tone of surety of self, which Bertie lacks, creating a large juxtaposition and bringing further emphasis to Bertie’s condition and anxieties due to this contrast.
- It also shows that Lionel is the authority in this conversation, in spite of the class divide.
7
Q
Voice: What is Bertie’s voice?
A
- His tone contrasts what he says, as most of his lines are incredibly formal and appear confident.
- However, there is a tone of insecurity and scepticism towards Lionel.
- This contrast may reflect his inner turmoil, as he knows that he must have the persona of a powerful King, but he is secretly seeking help in a time where men were expected to “man up”.
8
Q
“Know any jokes?”
A
- Lionel opens the conversation(“Know any jokes?”), immediately telling the audience he has the upper hand.
- This shatters preconceived ideas that the King, being the King, would have the authority.
- sentence fragment, so incredibly colloquial. Immediately establishes Lionel’s character as the antithesis of royalty.
9
Q
“Timing isn’t my strong suit”
A
- Bertie also destroys expectations when he responds with a humorous line
- This could be interpreted as either a joke or a self deprecating comment, which humanises him.
10
Q
THE USE OF STICHMYTHIA (dialogue where two characters speak one after the other) AND ADJACENCY PAIRS
A
- creates a fast paced scene, giving it the nature of an interrogation.
- This creates a tense atmosphere, and it conveys to the audience the importance of the event.
11
Q
CLINICAL SEMANTIC FIELD
A
- “Doctor”, “Dr Logue”, “treating”, “treated”, “physicians”, “lungs”, “throat”
- This emphasises that Bertie’s stammer is a medical condition which can be helped.
12
Q
LIONEL’S REPETITION/ECHOING OF “I prefer”
A
- when they’re speaking about names
- once again establishes he has the upper hand
- it is mocking and perhaps a dig at the royal family and all their titles.
- “I prefer” - a polite way of giving an order. Lionel sees straight through this facade, even further emphasising how he has the power and Bertie’s status is not what concerns him.
13
Q
COLLOQUIAL LANGUAGE BY LIONEL (e.g. “Cuppa tea?)
A
- This further conveys to an audience the massive social divide between the two characters
- it shows how much they will have to overcome to see each other as equals.
- This specific example also uses “tea”, a British stereotype. This may emphasise the national divide, and how the two characters are from completely different ends of the Earth
14
Q
SEMANTIC FIELD OF ROYALTY/AUTHORITY
A
- “Your Royal Highness”, “Sir”, “knighted”, “official” and “castle”
- This may be the author trying to remind the audience that even if Lionel doesn’t regard it, Bertie is still a prince
- the juxtaposition of this semantic field and Lionel’s actions is a great way of conveying this.
- The constant reinforcement of this throughout the text is also a reminder of how unusual the proceedings are, as you would never usually find a prince in a non-royal practitioner’s office.
15
Q
“Don’t do that.”
A
- This is already a very harsh line, seeing as it is imperative and towards the prince, the supposed authority in this scene.
- Not only that, but every word is monosyllabic, creating an even more imperative and commanding sentence and it is dental, creating a very powerful voice.
- shows once again who really has the upper hand in the situation.
- also shows how Lionel is ahead of his time, giving him even more power in the audiences eyes.
16
Q
“Sucking smoke”
A
- sibilant and consonant - gives a harsh sound, emphasising the danger of smoking.
17
Q
“(flushes)”
A
- When Bertie “flushes” is significant as the word has several connotations.
- “Flushes” may suggest illness, which even further tells the audience that this is a clinical setting, even if it doesn’t appear so.
- “Flushes” also has connotations of embarrassment as well as anger, two very different emotions, which may suggest the inner conflict Bertie is going through.
