Film Adaptation · English Literature

What structural shift occurs when a narrative undergoes what Seymour Chatman defines as a transition from a 'telling' medium (like a novel) to a 'showing' medium (like a film)?

  1. The narrative completely loses its ability to convey chronological time.
  2. The film relies entirely on voiceover narration to explain character actions.
  3. Implicit exposition and inner monologue become explicit visual and sonic signifiers
  4. The scope of the story is forced to expand into an open-ended serial format.
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: Implicit exposition and inner monologue become explicit visual and sonic signifiers

Moving from a 'telling' medium to a 'showing' medium requires translating abstract linguistic descriptions into concrete visual and auditory elements. A novel can describe a character's internal anxiety over several pages, whereas a film must externalize that state through cinematography, mise-en-scène, facial performance, and sound design. This alters how information is paced and parsed by the audience.

Difficulty: Medium Question 3 of 16

Practice all 16 Film Adaptation questions

Keep practicing

More Film Adaptation questions