Big Fish Study Guide Big Fish takes us into the imagination of Edward Bloom, who shares his life through captivating and far‐fetched stories. This movie reminds us of the power of stories—to hide and to reveal, to distance ourselves from others, and to inspire people to greatness. Use this discussion guide to look more deeply at the themes of this movie. What does the film say about the tension between reality and imagination? Can we go too far with our storytelling and lose touch with the truth? How can we say things through stories that we couldn’t otherwise communicate? And what happens when we remove fear from our lives? Based on: Big Fish (Columbia Pictures, 2003), directed by Tim Burton, based on the novel by Daniel Wallace, screenplay by John August, rated PG‐13. The Power of the Story Steve Beard (Thunderstruck) says, “Big Fish is an elegant and moving film about the power of story to transform the black and white of life into a colorful journey…In an era when so many films are driven more by special effects than emotion, Big Fish is a movie that is driven by and relies upon the brillance of storytelling.” 1. Why do we feel the need to tell stories? 2. How can our lives become black and white? Give an example. Why is it important to add color? 3. How can storytelling hide something? How can it reveal something? Embellishing the Truth Critic, Jeffrey Overstreet, writes, “Edward Bloom is a natural storyteller, no doubt about it. But his stories revolve around himself, and he tells them to dazzle and impress others. His life seems to be in service of himself…I sympathize with the character of Will, who wants to be noticed by his father. He wants to have a conversation about something other than the past, something other than his father’s spectacular and somewhat fictional adventures, however profound they might be.” 4. Does Edward tell stories mainly because he wants to make his life sound more interesting than it is? What other purposes might his stories serve? 5. Will never felt like he knew who is father really was. Was Edward a neglectful and unloving father? Or did he communicate his love in ways Will failed to realize? The Power of Symbolism Edward Bloom loved to tell the story of the day his son was born. He said he’s been trying to catch a certain big fish his whole life. On the day his son was born he was out fishing, and he caught sight of the big fish again. He used his wedding ring as bait, and the fish
Big Fish Study Guide chomped down. He was then in a predicament—his wedding ring was in the jaws of this great big fish. What would he do? Finally, the fish tossed back the ring and swam away. 6. Why does Edward enjoy telling the story? What does it mean to him? 7. Why does Edward tell this story at Will’s wedding? What does the story reveal about Edward’s feelings for Will? 8. What do you think the big fish represents in the story? Fearlessness When Edward Bloom was a boy, he looked in the magic eye of a witch. IN the eye he saw how he would die. After that, he was unafraid of taking risks and living life to the fullest, because he knew he wouldn’t die before his appointed time. 9. Edward Bloom knew he was made for big things, and he took risks that no one else had the courage to take. Can someone truly embrace this kind of security and fearlessness? On a Final Note 10. What other themes exist in this movie? 11. How does storytelling play a part in your life? Are you one to always tell the truth, or do you embellish it at times for the sake of the story? 12. In writing, what role do you think storytelling plays in narratives?