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Awakenings Movie Analysis Questions

This document contains 21 questions about the film "Awakenings" that assess key plot points, themes, and characters: 1) The symptoms of the main character Lenny in childhood and adulthood, and those of another patient Lucy, are described and compared to schizophrenia. 2) Dr. Sayer's "will theory" about patient reactions and its link to schizophrenia is explained. 3) The various stimuli that affect the patients are identified. 4) The reasons for their "atypical schizophrenia" diagnosis are provided. 5) The cause of the patients' disorder revealed to be an epidemic illness rather than schizophrenia.

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484 views2 pages

Awakenings Movie Analysis Questions

This document contains 21 questions about the film "Awakenings" that assess key plot points, themes, and characters: 1) The symptoms of the main character Lenny in childhood and adulthood, and those of another patient Lucy, are described and compared to schizophrenia. 2) Dr. Sayer's "will theory" about patient reactions and its link to schizophrenia is explained. 3) The various stimuli that affect the patients are identified. 4) The reasons for their "atypical schizophrenia" diagnosis are provided. 5) The cause of the patients' disorder revealed to be an epidemic illness rather than schizophrenia.

Uploaded by

watevermoron
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Awakenings Video Questions

1. Describe the symptoms of the character “Lenny” in childhood as


well as adulthood.
2. Describe Lucy’s symptoms.
3. In Lenny’s, Lucy’s and the other similar cases, how do their
symptoms compare with those of people with schizophrenia?
4. Describe Dr. Sayer’s “will” theory in regard to his patients’
reactions to the ball. Relate this to the “will” of some people
with schizophrenia.
5. What various stimuli make these patients react?
6. Why might these patients have been diagnosed as suffering from
“atypical schizophrenia”?
7. Unlike the case of schizophrenia, we know what caused these
patients’ disorder. What was it?
8. The older doctor says these patients aren’t thinking, “the virus
didn’t spare their higher faculties.” Dr. Sayer asks how he knows
that. The older doctor replies, “Because the alternative is
unthinkable.” What does he mean by that? What effect did this
point of view have on these patients’ diagnosis and treatment?
Can you relate this to schizophrenia or mental illness in general?
9. Why does it bother Dr. Sayer that Lucy was drawn to the window
rather than to the drinking fountain? Can you relate this to
Maslow?
10. The EEG indicates what about Lenny?
11. Dr. Sayer uses an unusual technique to assess his patients.
What is it?
12. What finally moves Burt?
13. Why does the poem, “The Panther,” have special
significance for Lenny?
14. What is L-Dopa? It is used for the treatment of what
disorder?
15. Dr. Sayer parallels Parkinson’s and his patients’ disorder.
Describe this.
16. The dopamine circuit is affected in opposite ways in
Parkinson’s and schizophrenia. Phenothiazines taken for a long
period produce Parkinson-like symptoms in the person with
schizophrenia. Knowing this and knowing the effect on
phenothiazine on the dopamine circuit, explain why you think L-
Dopa “awakes” Dr. Sayer’s patients.
17. What are the various psychological reactions the patients
have to their “awakenings”?
18. What Parkinson-like symptoms does Lenny exhibit when he
develops tolerance to L-Dope?
19. One doctor describes Lenny as being paranoid. How does
Dr. Sayer explain this?
20. What ethical questions are raised in this movie regarding
treatment? What is your opinion?
21. What is the second “awakening” Dr. Sayer refers to at the
end of the movie? What does this suggest about the treatment
of mental patients?

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