Home Alone Literary Elements

Home Alone Literary Elements

Director

Chris Columbus

Leading Actors/Actresses

Culkin Macaulay, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern

Supporting Actors/Actresses

John Heard, Catherine O’Hara

Genre

Family comedy

Language

English

Awards

American Comedy Awards, USA (Funnies Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) – Macaulay Culkin. BMI Film Music Award – John Williams. British Comedy Award (Best Comedy Film). Casting Society of America, Usa (Best Casting for Feature Film, Comdy) – Jane Jenkins, Janet Hirshenson. Chicago Film Critics Association Awards (Most Promising Actor) - Macaulay Culkin. Kids’ Choice Awards, USA (favorute movie). Young Artist Awards (Most entertaining Family Youth Motion Picture), (Best Young Actor Starring in a Motion Picture) - Macaulay Culkin.

Date of Release

16th of November, 1990

Producer

John Hughes

Setting and Context

Chicago, 1990

Narrator and Point of View

The film runs in a traditional third-person narration type.

Tone and Mood

The tone is funny and heartwarming.

Protagonist and Antagonist

The protagonist is Kevin McCallister, and the antagonists are the robbers – Harry and Marv.

Major Conflict

The main conflict resides in the burglars’ desire to rob the McCalisters’ house, but young Kevin does everything to prevent this possibility.

Climax

The climax is when Harry and Marv catch little Kevin and want to kill him, but old Marley appears and hits them with a shovel, thus saving Kevin.

Foreshadowing

In the beginning when Harry, dressed as a police officer, comes out of the McCallisters’ house and sits into the car to Marv, they discuss a robbery, it becomes obvious that Harry is not a cop. This scene foreshadows that some illegal actions will take place.

Understatement

Kevin’s feelings and emotions are understated in the film, though he is a brave young boy. He is still a kid, and his fear is understated.

Innovations in Filming or Lighting or Camera Techniques

N/A

Allusions

Allusion to an old crime film “Angels with Dirty Faces” is present in the film, but in “Home Alone” it is called “Angels with Filthy Souls,” which is a parody of the film.

Paradox

The main paradox is that neither the police nor any of the neighbors could get in touch with Kevin when he stays alone. There are attempts, but they turn out to be in vain.

Parallelism

N/A

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