What are some symbolic elements in the movie "The Green Mile"?

The tiny mouse, also know as Mr. Jingles, encounters the men on The Green Mile. At first Paul and the rest of the guards wanted to kill it, but as the movie progressed the men didn’t feel the same way. They saw the mouse as a friendly creature. Eventually Del takes him in as a pet which shows the compassion that he has. Mr. Jingles could perhaps symbolize the loneliness that the men feel on the Mile. This is the main reason that prevents the men from killing the mouse. Only Percy, who is cruel, still holds a grudge against the mouse and when he stepped on it, he shows everyone that he doesn’t care about anyone other than himself.

The Green Mile

Everybody has got to love Mr. Jungles!

What do you think Mr. Jingles symbolized? And why was he important or necessary for the movie?

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So far, all of the literary works of Magical Realism that we have read in class have had social critques in mind. Do you believe that there is a message that The Green Mile is trying to relay to us? If so, how does that message relate or apply to our society?

How do you think the main theme of family will continue to play a role in The Grass Dancer?

So far throughout the book, family, ancestry and tradition have all played a key role in Harley's life. The Sioux tribe in the book revolves around their traditions in the past and all of the legends and tribesmen/women that came before them. Harley's Father died before he was born and it has become apparent that his absence affects Harley greatly. My question is how do you think this will continue to mold Harley into the person he is/is going to become? Do you think his past will continue to follow him or do you think it will become inconsequential later on in the book?

What to you is the major theme or point the author is trying to portray in the Grass Dancer?

I think that tradition is one of the major themes that is portrayed in the Grass Dancer. Harley wants to be like his ancestry of warriors. This goes along with values that each character has from what background they came from. I also think that life lessons are being taught through the stories of the characters. Harley is still trying to discover himself which is what some people can relate to.

Pan's Labyrinth

I thought the movie was an excellent representative of magical realism. Ofelia's imagination combined a fantasy world with reality. There was a lot of representation within each character, as everyone learned from doing their heads. I think one of the points that the movie was trying to say was to never loose your wonder, and your imagination, no matter how old you get. 

Pan's Lab

As an example of Magical Realism, Pan's Labyrinth happens to be the best movie produced in this literary genre in recent years.

In class we will be discussing the symbolism found in the movie, but in particular, that represented by each one of the twelve characters: Ofelia, Ofelia's Mother, Capitán Vidal, Mercedes, The Doctor, Pedro (Mercedes' brother), The Faun, The Monster in the dining hall, The Sick Tree, The Fairies, The Labyrinth...

I invite each one of my students to share their thoughts on this movie, its characters and their symbolism and what the teaches us about Magical Realism as a whole...