A Christmas Story Essay Questions

What is the older Ralphie's attitude toward his younger self?

At the beginning of the film, an adult Ralphie introduces viewers to the setting – his hometown of Hohman, Indiana – as well as to his nine-year-old self, who becomes the protagonist of the film. Ralphie refers to himself as "round-faced" and seems to approach his younger self with a critical tone. However, as the film progresses, he develops a softer attitude toward himself and even begins to indulge in the younger Ralphie's thoughts about the Red Ryder BB gun. By the end of the film, the older Ralphie seems proud of and entertained by the experiences of his younger self, and even suggests that his Christmases since the one he had in the film have not been as fulfilling.

What is the film's perspective on traditional gender roles?

Because the film was made in the 1980s but set in the 1940s, there exists some disparity between notions of gender during the two eras. The film portrays the Parker family as subscribing to relatively traditional gender roles for a 1940s middle-class family: the father works a blue-collar job while the mother takes care of the house and the children. However, the film does not necessarily endorse these roles, evidenced by the scene when Ralphie's father asks for seconds just as Ralphie's mother is about to take her first bite of dinner. These subtle moments in the film showcase the movie's 1980s attitude toward the 1940s understanding of gender, marriage, and family.

How is Ralphie's relationship with his mother different from his relationship with his father?

Throughout the film, Ralphie's relationship with his mother is portrayed as one of kindness and warmth while his relationship with his father is largely based on fear, as his father is the home's primary disciplinarian. Ralphie's mother is patient and thoughtful toward her children while Ralphie's father is mostly quiet, defaulting to Mrs. Parker's parenting. Over the course of the film, however, Ralphie starts to develop more in common with his father, starting with their attempt to change a tire together and ending with his father purchasing him the Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. The film dramatizes Ralphie's maturation from a child (attached to his mother) to a young man, who emulates his father.

How does the child's perspective of the film portray the adult characters?

The film is told from the adult perspective of Ralphie as he narrates the events of his childhood. He often steps directly into the mind of his nine-year-old self, using a type of free indirect discourse to dramatize his younger self's perspective. As such, the adults in the film appear as largely distracted by their own lives – Ralphie's mother with Christmas preparations, his father with the furnace and his prize-winning puzzles, and his teacher with disciplining students. Furthermore, the adults at the mall are portrayed as positively rude and malicious, as they drag children to and from the mall Santa with disgruntled looks on their faces. The film is thus playfully critical of the adult tendency to focus on the stress and tension of the holidays rather than the festivities and experiences that make it memorable for children.

Why is the film titled A Christmas Story?

A Christmas Story is about nine-year-old Ralphie Parker and his quest to receive the Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. However, the film's fame as a holiday pastime stems from its portrayal of a "typical" 1940s Christmas – that is, the film portrays the Christmas season as it would have been for the average middle-class, Midwestern American family. The film's somewhat unspecific title, therefore, points toward its attempt to represent the common experiences of the holiday season and to create scenes that are relatable for its viewers.