Dew's Matrix Writing Ideas

Do you need to come up with an idea for an insightful, thought-provoking paper about "The Matrix?" Would you like to ponder the deeper aspects of "The Matrix?" Well, here are various ramblings that may help spur your imagination!

**WARNING: Always be sure you get your teacher's feedback about your choice of topic (including its focus) BEFORE writing. This way you'll know if the topic and its focus is appropriate for the assignment and the teacher can help you make sure that your paper fulfills all of the necessary requirements.




1. Identify at least two ways in which a particular Matrix character changes and evolves. What helps bring about these changes?


2. Pick out a scene in the movie where music is important. What purpose does the music serve in this scene and what type of feeling or mood does the music convey?


3. Select a particular character and define that character's motivations. How do his/her motivations impact his/her actions or choices? Do his/her motivations change at all during the course of the movie?


4. Do you believe in fate? Why or why not? What about Neo--Do you think his opinion of fate changes by the end of the movie?


5. What do you think of the Oracle statement: "Oh, what's really going to bake your noodle later on is, would you have broken the vase if I hadn't said anything?" Do you think Neo would have broken the vase anyway? Explain.


6. Many people complain that there is too much violence in Hollywood movies. How do you feel about the violence that occurs in this movie? Was there too much or too little? Was the violence necessary to the plot? How does the violence in this movie compare to other movies that contain violent content?


7. As the movie progresses, Agent Smith slowly becomes more human. Name the human qualities that Agent Smith reveals throughout the course of the movie. How does these qualities come about and what factors influence these changes? Conversely, study the human characters in the movie and see if you can find anything (particularly quotes) to support the notion that one or more of them takes on machine-like qualities.


8. Read Plato's "Allegory Of The Cave" and analyze the similiarities between it and the movie, "The Matrix." How are Neo and the "Freed Man" alike? How are Plato's Cave and the Matrix similar?


9. Read Descartes's Meditations I and II. Then discuss how Descartes's ideas and theories are interwoven throughout the movie, "The Matrix."


10. The Wachowski brothers have stated that there is an "Alice In Wonderland" theme running throughout the story of "The Matrix." With this in mind, read Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures In Wonderland" and "Through The Looking Glass." In what ways are Wonderland and the Matrix alike? Compare the character of Neo to Alice.


11. Explore the parallels you find between "The Matrix" and another movie. To get an idea of the wide range of movies out there that have some sort of connection to the Matrix, look at my Movies-With-Matrix-Parallels List for ideas. Plus be sure to check out my Analyze Movies With Matrix Parallels Page which contains links to my Movie Assignment Guides that contain specific questions that compare and constrast the Matrix to several of the movies that are found on my Movies-With-Matrix-Parallel list.


12. Look at the pieces of advise that Morpheus, the Oracle, and Trinity give Neo. How do these teachers (and their "lessons") help Neo on his path?


13. Explore the reasoning behind the fact that the words "believe" and "belief" are used repeatedly in the movie, "The Matrix." Be sure to support your ideas by using quotes from the movie.

14. Look at the use of color in the movie and its symbolism. Why was the matrix world predominately green while the real world was blue?

15. Study the religious aspects of the movie.

16. Foreshadowing is one way to help build suspense in a movie. Name some examples of foreshadowing in "The Matrix" and talk about why they are effective/ineffective in building suspense.


© Copyright 1999-2003 by Dew, owner of Dew's Matrix Fan Page. No part of this text may be written, copied or reproduced without express written consent.

Return To Home Page