Physical descriptions associate him with cold and ice. The reader is thrust right into what might well be the climax of a more traditional story. Perhaps staying in a new place for a few days or you might nurture a new hobby. The story opens with mitty as the dexterous and skilled commander of a navy hydroplane he is flying it through a harrowing storm, and fearlessly trying to keep it steady as he is cheered on by his crew. See plot diagram summary the commander the setting of the opening scene of the secret life of walter mitty is aboard a navy hydroplane seaplane, where the commander has just announced that he will safely steer his crew through an impending hurricane. What is the structure of the story the secret life of walter. In the secret life of walter mitty, thurber tells the story of walter mitty, a man who lives in a dream world to escape from the routines and humiliations he suffers in everyday life. The film was adapted for the screen by ken englund, everett freeman, and philip rapp, and directed. All at once, a large machinethe hospitals new anaesthetizerbegins to malfunction.
Mitty steps into the drugstore to grab some last minute item, mitty stands against the wall outside and imagines that he is standing before a firing squad. The secret life of walter mitty plot summary course hero. The most famous of thurbers stories, it first appeared in the new yorker on march 18, 1939, and was first collected in his book my world and welcome to it harcourt, brace and company, 1942. In 1939, james thurber wrote a captivating story entitled the secret life of walter mitty. The secret life of walter mitty 20 plot summary imdb. The short story deals with a vague and mildmannered man who drives into waterbury, connecticut, with his wife for their. Best movies like the secret life of walter mitty bestsimilar.
The plot in the secret life of walter mitty revolves around walter mitty, an employee of life magazine. Older filmgoers will recall danny kayes 1947 mitty, also based on james thurbers 1939 new yorker story. Not only has the story created such a buzz throughout all these decades, but the character of walter. Thurber loosely based the character, a daydreamer, on his friend walter mithoff. Nov 25, 2015 about a short story, the elements created using powtoon free sign up at create animated videos and animated presentat. It was made into a film in 1947 starring danny kaye, with a remake directed by, and. The secret life of walter mitty is one of the touchstones of american culture, and there are references scattered throughout literature and the pop scene to the passiveaggressive dreamer who escapes into. The secret life of walter mitty full text intensive english 1. The story was again adapted for the stage in 1964, this time by joe manchester. That film was a series of loosely connected sketch pieces about a henpecked. In this lesson, we will learn more about what makes walter special in a summary of james thurbers the secret life of.
The question and answer section for the secret life of walter mitty is a great resource to. The other week, based on a few recommendations from friends, we tried out the secret life of walter mitty. In this lesson, we will learn more about what makes walter special in. The action takes place over the course of a single day, during which walter mitty and his wife go on their weekly shopping trip. Structure and conflict in the secret life of walter mitty dissecting a story can reveal strange and wonderful things. Get all the key plot points of james thurbers the secret life of walter mitty on one page. While helping his mother sell her piano, mitty recounts his story but. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in the secret life of walter mitty, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Pritchardmitford congratulates mitty on his book about streptothricosis. James thurbers the secret life of walter mitty presents a story in which fantasy intrudes upon the boundaries of reality in an episodic fashion the reader can delight in mittys creative. Mitty also has a crush on a coworker named cheryl, but never has the nerve to tell her his feelings towards her. If you watch the trailer alone you might feel a little confused like i was, and wondering what the heck the plot is about. Act i ends when the hero is fully committed to his journey, yet walter mitty never fully commits to any journey. This title, in a way, belongs to walter mitty, because hes the one who sees his fantasies as a secret life, not as mere foolish daydreams. You could argue that his journey is his imaginings, but the story begins and ends with a man already committed to fantasy instead of reality. The secret life of walter mitty 20 plot synopsis imdb. Wanda deffenbaugh july, 18 2011 in the short story the secret life of walter mitty the themes identified are. The secret life of walter mitty 1939 is a short story by james thurber. The theme of failure occurs in this short story because walter fails to live life to the fullest so the dayreams come replace the reality of normallife with fantasies of scenarios where he someone very heroic and lively. Plot summary walter mitty and his wife take their usual trip into town so she can get her hair done. Study guide for the secret life of walter mitty 20 film the secret life of walter mitty 20 film study guide contains a biography of director ben stiller, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Synopsis through his imagination, a man leaves behind his humdrum life for the road to high adventure.
Walter mitty, american literary character, a meek and bumbling man who spends much of his time lost in heroic daydreams the short story the secret life of walter mitty 1939 by american author james thurber begins with its protagonists fearlessly leading a navy crew through an aircraft takeoff amid nearhurricane conditions, only to reveal that the scene is merely his fantasy. Spoilers walter mitty is a negative assets manager at life magazine who daydreams of adventures to get away out of the tedium of his boring job. Walter mitty is a negative assets manager at life magazine who daydreams of adventures to get away out of the tedium of his boring job. The secret life of walter mitty analysis essay sample. Walter james mitty is a fictional character in james thurbers first short story the secret life of walter mitty, first published in the new yorker on march 18, 1939, and in book form in my world and welcome to it in 1942. In this lesson, we will learn more about what makes walter special in a summary of james thurbers the secret life of walter mitty. The film stars danny kaye as a young daydreaming proofreader later associate editor for a magazine publishing firm and virginia mayo as the girl of his dreams.
The plot line for the secret life of walter mitty by james thurber found in pretince halls timeless voices, timeless themes gold level 2005. Walter mitty is a negative assets manager at life magazine who daydreams of. About a short story, the elements created using powtoon free sign up at create animated videos and animated presentat. The secret life of walter mitty a comparisson essay of the movie and the short story. The secret life of walter mitty is a 1947 technicolor comedy film, loosely based on the short story of the same name by james thurber. Born in ohio, he joined the staff of the new yorker magazine in 1927. The secret life of walter mitty is a short story by james thurber, which explores the fantastical daydreams of the. In the secret life of walter mitty, walter is an elderly american man who is retired and has nothing better to do but to follow his wife around. When the light changes, a cop snaps at him to hurry, and mitty puts the gloves back on before he drives away.
The secret life of walter mitty, and the public one of. The short story deals with a vague and mildmannered man who drives into waterbury, connecticut, with his wife for their regular. Ben stiller directs and stars in the secret life of walter mitty, james thurbers classic story of a daydreamer who escapes his anonymous life by disappearing into a world of fantasies filled. The secret life of walter mitty versus the story of an hour. He feels that his life does not have much meaning or adventure, and decides to create a. Walter mitty does not fit the threeact plot breakdown. What is the plot in the secret life of walter mitty by. The secret life of walter mittyby james thurberthe literary work a short story set in a suburban connecticut town during the mid to late 1930s.
Walter unintentionally gets involved with a dangerous ring of spies that are seeking a black book with notes about a hidden treasure. Review the secret life of walter mitty offers family. Also have an eye for beauty whether it is a place, a per. The secret life of walter mitty short story plot line by. In this comedic adaptation of james thurbers short story, ben stiller stars as walter, a milquetoast proofreader for a magazine publishing firm. As walter mitty and his wife run errands, walter daydreams. The secret life of walter mitty is an immensely popular short story which since the late 1930s has inspired numerous other stories, a stage play, and also two movies, one in 1947 and the more recent 20 version with ben stiller as the lead. Walter attempts to contact cheryl via eharmony but todd maher. The focus of this story is to represent a fantasy world opposed to a reality. Mitty is a ordinary man that seems to live a simple life which he is happy nor sad about. Recommendation engine sorted out humorous, semi serious, romantic and clever films with plots about mentor, storytelling, destiny, life philosophy, romance, love story and dialogue mostly in comedy, romance and drama genres. The synopsis below may give away important plot points. The secret life of walter mitty questions and answers.
The secret life of walter mitty some of the deepestdyed thurber fans may squeal since theres naturally considerable change from the famed short story on which the screenplay is built. It also allows the story to start off midfantasy without tipping its hand that it is midfantasy. The secret life of walter mitty vs the story of an hour. The secret life of walter mitty 1947 plot summary imdb.
He wore his fulldress uniform, with the heavily braided white cap pulled down rakishly over one cold gray eye. That story is taking place aboard a naval hydroplane equipped with eight engines and facing what appears to be a lifeanddeath situation. Mitty thinks walter is sick and wants to get medicine for him. The secret life of walter mitty summary supersummary. The secret life of walter mitty analysis 4 april 2017 theme and narrative elements in the short story patrick powell eng. The theme of failure occurs in this short story because walter fails to live life to the fullest so the dayreams come replace the reality of normallife with fantasies of scenarios where he. Source for information on the secret life of walter mitty. Walter daydreams about a life that he wishes he had. The secret life of walter mitty 1947 film wikipedia. As mitty and his wife are on their way to do some errands. The secret life of walter mitty 127 james thurber was a rare writer who expressed his comic genius in both words and pictures. He is walter mitty the undefeated facing the firing squad. The secret life of walter mitty by james thurber plot summary.
As the pounding of the cylinders increasestapocketapocketapocketapocketapocketacrew. The secret life of walter mitty tells the story of the aging walter mitty on a trip into town with his overbearing wife, mrs. The secret life of walter mitty the secret life of walter mitty 1939 is a short story by james thurber. Most similar movies to the secret life of walter mitty the list contains related movies ordered by similarity. Aug 11, 20 a short film based on the short story by james thurber cast benjamin sansom walter mitty kristen sansom mrs. The secret life of walter mitty by james thurber plot. A naval commander is captaining a huge, hurtling, eightengined navy hydroplane through a terrible storm. What is the core theme or message of the movie, the secret.
The secret life of walter mitty by james thurber were going through. May 19, 2014 the other week, based on a few recommendations from friends, we tried out the secret life of walter mitty. The secret life of walter mitty is a short story by james thurber, which explores the fantastical daydreams of the mundane walter mitty. The secret life of walter mitty was a spry short story written by james thurber back in 1939 and spinning the tale of a henpecked fantasist in humdrum connecticut.
The secret life of walter mitty summary gradesaver. Alfred prufrock on, to costar adam scotts fussily styled fake beard, to the overall depiction of how a print magazine worksworked, to the consoling midtownmanhattan. Mitty works with photojournalist sean oconnell, whose images are highly regarded. Born in ohio, he joined the staff of the new yorker magazine in. It also allows the story to start off midfantasy without tipping its hand that it is mid fantasy. Dec 31, 20 the secret life of walter mitty, which opened on christmas day, is just such a picture, with plenty of funloving adventure, humor, and earnest sentiment to make it entertaining for everyone. The secret life of walter mitty summary the secret life of walter mitty tells the story of the aging walter mitty on a trip into town with his overbearing wife, mrs. The secret life of walter mitty in honor of design. Dec 28, 20 the secret life of walter mitty was a spry short story written by james thurber back in 1939 and spinning the tale of a henpecked fantasist in humdrum connecticut. Its important to note that the secret life of walter mitty both begins and ends inside walters fantasies.
What is the resolution of the plot of the secret life of. A short film based on the short story by james thurber cast benjamin sansom walter mitty kristen sansom mrs. The secret life of walter mitty 20 film questions and answers. The secret life of walter mitty a naval commander is captaining a huge, hurtling, eightengined navy hydroplane through a terrible storm. Producers often use a book as a springboard for a movie idea or to earn a specific rating. The firing squad that he is waiting for is mittys wife. The secret life of walter mitty, which opened on christmas day, is just such a picture, with plenty of funloving adventure, humor, and earnest sentiment to make it entertaining for everyone.
Mitty puts on his gloves when his wife asks why he isnt wearing them, but takes them off as soon as she has gotten out of the car and he is stopped at a red light, out of sight. Walter mitty is a character from the book the secret life of walter mitty. The secret life of walter mitty 20 rotten tomatoes. The secret life of walter mitty, thurbers bestknown story, is, like most of his fiction, short, requiring only five or six pages. He wrote stories, plays, essays, and poems, and he was also a great cartoonist. The question and answer section for the secret life of walter mitty 20 film is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. Instead of living cooped up in your house all your life, try something new. Because of this, a movie may differ from the novel. What is the structure of the story the secret life of. Another way to interpret this is as a sort of victory on mittys part, as far as the story is concerned.
805 1596 568 1246 1015 327 97 1521 555 1446 484 149 919 935 649 11 1071 1452 132 1538 772 1077 1397 1533 1471 1476 441 1319 844 13 704 1654 662 5 561 332 440 1306 240 208 1328 671 1249 499