Apocalypto Viewing Questions

Apocalypto Video Questions Directions – Answer the following questions as you view the film. You will be tested over the video next week. 1. What are the Mesoamerican tribesmen doing in the opening scene of the film? 2. Who do the tribesmen meet in the forest? 3. What do they want? 4. What happened to the land of the traveling tribesmen? 5. What does Jaguar Paw’s father (Flint Sky) see in him after the encounter with the tribesmen in the forest? 6. What is his remedy for Jaguar Paw? 7. Why do you think children are valued by the tribe? 8. What is the tribe doing around the fire? 9. How did the aggressor tribal warriors conquer the village? What were some of the techniques used? 10. What did Jaguar Paw’s nightmare symbolize or represent? 11. What happens to Jaguar Paw after he hides his family? ` 12. What happens to his father, Flint Sky? 13. What does he say to Jaguar Paw? 14. How are the captives treated by the aggressor tribe? 15. What does one of the aggressors (Middle Eye) name Jaguar Paw? Why? 16. What happens to the children at the river when they can no longer follow their parents? 17. Why does Jaguar Paw ask for it not to rain? 18. What do the aggressors say about the sick young girl they pass on the road? 19. What happens when she sees Jaguar Paw? 20. What does she prophesize or foretell? 21. What happens when the captives arrive at their destination? What are some of the things that they see? (Summarize in a few sentences.) 22. What are some of the depictions of cave paintings on the wall that the captives see as they are lead to the altar of sacrifice? Why are these cave paintings important? 23. What happens as Jaguar Paw is about to be sacrificed to the Gods? 24. What does the aggressor tribe ask of the Gods as the sun is eclipsed? 25. What does the eclipse symbolize to this tribe? 26. What becomes of excess captives after the Gods are satisfied? 27. How does Jaguar Paw escape? 28. What are some of the methods he uses to escape, fight back and survive in the Forest? Give some specific examples. 29. Once he is in his own territory, how does Jaguar Paw use his familiarity with his environment to escape his capturers and survive? (Give two to three specific examples.) 30. What do Jaguar Paw and his family see in the bay? 31. What do you think that this represents? 32. How does this connect to the prophecy told by the sick girl? 33. Write one paragraph interpreting this quote after viewing film “A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within” W. Durant _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ Mesoamerican American Tribes Name Apocalypto Video Notes Teacher Key 1. Write one paragraph interpretation of this quote before viewing film “A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within” W. Durant There may have been some internal contribution to the conquest/annihilation of the Mesoamerican tribes by the conquistadors; namely the sacrificing of their strongest warriors which left them defenseless against outside invaders. 2. What are the Mesoamerican tribesmen doing in the opening scene of the film? Hunting 3. What do they do after they have slain their prey? Give thanks for their successful hunt 4. Who do the tribesmen meet in the forest? Members of another tribe 5. What do they want? Safe passage 6. What do they exchange for safe passage? Fish for meat 7. Why? As a sign of good faith between tribes 8. What happened to the land of the traveling tribesmen? Their land was ravished and now they are refugees seeking a new beginning 9. What does Jaguar Paw’s father (Flint Sky) see in him after the encounter with the tribesmen in the forest? Fear 10. What is his remedy for Jaguar Paw? Don’t engage fear, strike it out and seek guidance with the elders 11. Why do you think children are valued by the tribe? Possible answers; future warriors and family was prized 12. What is the tribe doing around the fire? Sharing tribe history through the oral tradition 13. What does jaguar Paw’s rapid eye movement (REM) represent? He is dreaming 14. What does he see in his dream/nightmare? One of the refugee tribesmen from the ravished lands holding his heart in his hand. 15. What does the tribesman say to him? Run! 16. What happens to Jaguar Paws’ village directly following his nightmare? It is attacked by tribal warriors 17. How did the aggressor tribal warriors conquer the village? What were some of the techniques used? a. Set the village on fire b. Attacked when tribe warriors were still sleeping c. Attack and capture male warriors first so they could not defend the village 18. What did Jaguar Paw’s nightmare symbolize or represent? A warning about the attacks and the impending sacrifices 19. What happened to Jaguar Paw after he hides his family? ` He is captured 20. What happens to his father, Flint Sky? He is killed when Jaguar Paw unwittingly reveals his identity to the aggressors 21. What does he say to jaguar Paw at his death? My son, don’t be afraid 22. How is the captives treated by the aggressor tribe? Very harshly 23. What does one of the aggressors (Middle Eye) name Jaguar Paw? Almost 24.Why does he give him this name? Jaguar Paw almost killed the aggressor Middle Eye 25. What happens to the children at the river when they can no longer follow their parents? They are left to fend for themselves 26. What do some of the parents do after they are separated from the children? They pray for the safe keeping of their children 27.What happens to one of the tribesman on the cliff? He is thrown off by Middle Eye 28. How does the head tribesman (Zero Wolf) respond when he finds out one of the captives are missing? He is angry and threatens to kill Middle Eye 29.What do the captives discuss at night by the fire? They discuss events of the attack, family members that were attacked, what their fate would be and how they would deal with what they suspect will happen to them. 30. Why does Jaguar Paw ask for it not to rain? His pregnant wife (Seven) and young son (Turtle’s Run) is hiding in the deep vertical cave where he put them. He is concerned that it will flood and they may be harmed 31. What do the aggressors say about the sick young girl they pass on the road? She has a sickness 32.What do they do to her? Hit her with a stick and try to chase her away 33.What happens when she sees Jaguar Paw? She prophesizes their fate/future 34.What does she prophesize or foretell? That Jaguar paw will take them to their end. She prophesies the solar eclipse and says that a man running with a jaguar will bring the raiders to those who will scratch out the earth and end their world 35. What happens when the captives arrive at their destination? What are some of the things that they see? (Summarize in one paragraph) They see people enslaved and working in lime quarries, dead bodies, diseased children living in squalor, the elderly being abused and taunted and seeking help and salvation. They also see men being offered up for sacrifice. 36. What are some of the depictions of cave paintings on the wall that the captives see as they are lead to the altar of sacrifice? A visual depiction of ritual sacrifice and what will happen to them on the other side of the cave 37. Why are these cave paintings important? The paintings are a story board depiction of the sacrificial rituals performed by Mesoamerican tribes. 38. What is done during the sacrifice or offering to the Gods? People celebrate, the sacrificial ritual is explained and praised and captured warriors are offered to appease the sun god. The beating hearts of strong warriors are offered to the sun god. 39. Why? To appease the sun god so that the god would allow the sun to be visible and provide it’s nourishing effects to the people and earth (eclipse) 40. What does Jaguar Paw say to his brother as he is taken to the sacrificial altar? That he will not die now 41. sky darkens) What happens as Jaguar Paw is about to be sacrificed to the Gods? A solar eclipse (the 42. What does the aggressor tribe ask of the Gods as the sun is eclipsed? A sign that the sun god is pleased. (By returning the light to the sky) 43. What does the eclipse symbolize to this tribe? Displeasure of the gods when the sky is dark and that the sun god is pleased and appeased when the eclipse passes and the sky is light again 44. What becomes of excess captives after the Gods are satisfied? They are released and take part in hunting games where they are the prey 45. List some things that what happen to Jaguar Paw, his brothers and tribesmen then? They are cut loose and told to run, they are attacked for sport by the aggressor tribe. They are taunted and many are killed for sport 46. How does Jaguar Paw escape? He uses unpredictable strategic movements to outsmart the aggressor tribe and escape 47. What are some of the methods he used to escape, fight back and survive in the Forest? Give some examples. Some answers might include a. He runs in a zig zag formation when escaping his captors b. Leads a Jaguar to attack the aggressors c. Uses forest herbs/remedies to treat his wound 48. What does Jaguar Paw say once he jumps off and survives the waterfall? He proclaims his authority, asserts his identity status and lineage. He re- claims the forest and challenges his aggressors 49. Once he is in his own territory, how does Jaguar Paw use his familiarity with his environment to escape his capturers and survive? Give some 2-3 examples. a. Camouflages his body with black quicksand/mud b. Attacks the aggressors with a wasp hive c. Shoots the aggressors with poison taken from deadly frogs d. Set hunting traps for the aggressor tribesmen 50. What happens to Jaguar Paw’s wife, Seven and son, Turtle’s Run? They are attacked by a wild monkey, but he eventually recues them 51. What does Jaguar Paw and his family sees in the bay? Spanish ships with conquistadores 52. What do you think that this represents? First contact and the coming of Spaniard ships and conquistadores into The Americas 53. How does this connect to the prophecy told by the sick girl? She stated that Jaguar paw would lead them to their death. As they chased him they encounter the conquistadores who will greatly contribute to the annihilation of the Mesoamerican tribes 54. What do him and his families do after seeing the strange newcomers? Go into the forest 55. What does Jaguar say to his son? “Come on Turtles’ Run” 56. Can turtles run? No 57. Is there any possible symbolism in this name? Possible answers; may symbolize that even though Jaguar Pay and his family are escaping to the forest, like slow walking turtles the descendants of Jaguar Paw (Turtle’s Run) may not be able to outrun the impending annihilation of the Mesoamerican tribes and in fact may not survive to live in the Jungle like his forefathers. 58. Write one paragraph interpreting this quote after viewing film “A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within” W. Durant There may have been some internal contribution to the conquest/annihilation of the Mesoamerican tribes by the conquistadors; namely the sacrificing of their strongest warriors which left them defenseless against outside invaders